Cowboys, Ranchers and the Cattle Business: Cross-Border Perspectives on Ranching History

A.A. den Otter is a professor of history at Memorial University of
Newfoundland and the author of The Philosophy of Railways.

Ever since L.G. Thomas and David Breen advanced the thesis that the
Canadian ranching frontier was distinctly different from the American
version, no one has seriously challenged that notion. This collection of
carefully written essays examines the supposition but does not arrive at
a definitive conclusion.

To be sure, the opening essay by Professor Terry Jordan-Bychkov
provides compelling evidence that the international boundary had little
impact on the nature of ranching. Similarly, Joy Oetelaar’s fine study
notes how the American-born cattleman, George Lane, moved easily among
his peers on both sides of the border because their societies were so
alike. Warren Elofson provides a compendium of examples to imply that
Western Canadian ranching society was as disorderly and violent as that
in the western United States. Simon Evans demonstrates that the American
cowboys on Canadian ranches provided a measure of continuity between the
two countries, but he also recognizes eastern Canadian and British
contributions. In contrast, Brian Dippie notes that the pre-eminent
cowboy artist, Charles M. Russell, portrayed the differences in frontier
culture on both sides of the border. Lastly, Lorain Lounsberry’s
fascinating account of Wild West shows demonstrates that, while there
was considerable cross-border traffic, Western Canada did develop a
distinctive adaptation of the genre.

The remaining papers focus more narrowly on the Canadian ranching
frontier. Alan McCullough reinforces the Thomas/Breen thesis by
emphasizing the role of eastern capital in Canadian ranching in his
study of Fred Stimson, the manager of the Bar U Ranch. Henry Klassen
provides a compelling overview of two family-owned ranches—the Rocking
P and the Bar S—over a century of operations. Max Foran highlights the
struggles of Western Canadian cattlemen during the 1920s and 1930s. And,
as provocative postscripts, Sarah Carter and Bill Yeo highlight a number


of topics—such as the history of women and aboriginal people, as well
as race and ethnicity on the ranching frontier—as gaps in the history
of ranching.

As a collection of scholarly articles replete with the requisite
footnotes and references, Cowboys, Ranchers and the Cattle Business will
appeal to an academic audience.