SKU: 14140492863

Chronicles of the Big Bend: A Photographic Memoir of Life on the Border

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Description

Chronicles of the Big Bend: A Photographic Memoir of Life on the BorderAs a young teamster on a pack mule train, Wilfred Dudley Smithers saw the Rio Grande's Big Bend for the first time in 1916, and it captured his imagination forever. For decades thereafter he returned to Texas' last great frontier the great bend of the Rio Grande on the Texas Mexico border chronicling the region and its people in words and photographs. After half a century of photography, Smithers' superlative collection of nine thousand images ended

As a young teamster on a pack-mule train, Wilfred Dudley Smithers saw the Rio Grande's Big Bend for the first time in 1916, and it captured his imagination forever. For decades thereafter he returned to Texas' last great frontier-the great bend of the Rio Grande on the Texas-Mexico border-chronicling the region and its people in words and photographs. After half a century of photography, Smithers' superlative collection of nine thousand images ended up at the University of Texas at Austin, and in 1976 more than one hundred of these were reproduced in Chronicles of the Big Bend, a critically acclaimed work that until now has long been out of print. The years that Smithers chronicled in the Big Bend were sometimes violent ones. Pancho Villa and Chico Cano were among the many "bandits" playing hide-and-seek with the U.S. Cavalry-events Smithers recorded. He was also an eyewitness to liquor-running and smuggling during Prohibition. His principal subjects, however, were the people of the Big Bend: local ranchers, Mexican American and American families, miners, Texas Rangers, and others living simple lives in this harsh and beautiful land. With words and camera Smithers wanted to capture "vanishing lifestyles, primitive cultures, old faces, and odd, unconventional professions. Before my camera I wanted huts, vendors, natural majesties, clothing, tools, children, old people, the ways of the border." He also told his own life story along with that of the Big Bend. There are illustrated chapters on the military, law enforcement, curanderos (healers), liquor smugglers, avisadores (secret-message senders), and the national park. Smithers' word sketches and black-and- white photographs capture the harsh reality and stark beauty, the dust and the mystery of the frontier era of the Big Bend that ended in 1944 when it became a national park. Chronicles of the Big Bend is a rare documentary look at a frontier region as it was known by only a few and as it will never be seen again. It is a deeply personal human portrait of the majestic Big Bend. WILFRED DUDLEY SMITHERS (1895-1981) was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in 1895. He began taking photographs at age fifteen while living in San Antonio, and later worked as a teamster, joined the U.S. Army, operated a photo studio, served as a news correspondent, and helped pioneer aerial photography.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Texas State Historical Assn
Published: 03/15/2013
ISBN: 9780876112618
Pages: 160
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 9.80h x 7.00w x 0.40d
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SKU: 14140492863

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San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
faux leather container for men
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It's a very well made container happy with purchase
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Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2026
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Color: Black, Size: Rectangle, Color: Black, Size: Rectangle
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Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2026
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Natalie R.
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Looks great, doesn't hold much so measure carefully
Color: Gray, Size: Rectangle
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2026
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Rin
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Just what I needed. The size is perfect as I didn’t want anything too large to place my watches and other accessories inside near the corner of my desk. Its size is essentially 7x7, and the design is sleek compared to other organizer holders. I got the color in blue and it looks stunning with the rest of my setup. I’m unsure about other reviewers, but mine came safely and the leather walls are decently thick, so it’s not too flimsy when buttoned together which holds very securely. There are hole spaces at the bottom corners once assembled, so if you have super small items such as beads or really small jewelry, they could potentially fall out, but most of my items are large enough that won’t be of concern. If you have a wire charger near by, the holes could be used to charge your smartphone inside, which has its own practical usage. Overall, I’d definitely recommend it if you’re on a lookout for a sleek but compact organizer holder, and I personally will consider getting another one in the future for myself for other household belongings.
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Ginger
Louisville, US
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very happy with my purchase
Color: Brown-F, Color: Brown-F
The quality and craftsmanship of this tray are amazing! I bought it mainly for jewelry photography, and the results turned out even better than I expected ✨ The matte finish is exactly what I needed because it doesn’t reflect light, which makes photographing jewelry and pearls so much easier and gives the photos a much more elevated look 📸 I took these photos at night under white lighting, and I’m honestly so happy with how they turned out. The background looks clean, soft, and aesthetic. Sharing some of my photos here for reference — highly recommend!
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