Thanks to a generous gift from the Walton Family Foundation, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame has been gathering first-hand, reliable accounts of historical events from Hall of Fame Honorees since 2000.

Their oral histories provide us with a unique source of documentation about extraordinary women — pioneers, artists, writers, entertainers, ranchers and rodeo cowgirls whose positive contributions span from the mid-1800s to the present.

Today, our Oral History project has expanded to include not only primary players but observers as well. Relatives of Honorees, nominees to the Museum’s Hall of Fame, important authors and many others are helping to preserve the history and impact of these remarkable Western women for present and future generations.

Our Archive

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame has established an archive of oral history interviews conducted with more than 70 women. Stored in our library as tapes, DVDs and transcripts, they are available to the public for purposes of education and research. Original recordings were made on mini-digital videocassettes and then transferred to DVD format for viewing. Transcripts may be read, quoted from, cited and reproduced for purposes of research. They may not be published in full except by permission of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

Why Oral History?

Oral history is the preservation, through recorded interviews, of first-hand accounts from participants in important political, cultural and social developments. It’s the oldest form of historical inquiry (predating the written word) and one of the most modern – conducted with tape recorders since the 1940s.