Born a twin on the 300,000 acres of the Fernandez ranch, Bita grew up with the Spanish and Navajo, not speaking English until she was six. She attended the University...
Sister was a true Arizona pioneer. Overcoming tremendous hardships, she spent over forty years teaching in rural one-room schools in southern Arizona. She homesteaded ranching property in the 1930s, doing...
Barbara’s photographs of the ranching West realistically portray ranch life in the modern West. Raised on the family’s Montana ranch, she learned ranch life as a participant, with photography as...
A world champion barrel racer, Marlene has been riding or showing horses since she was six. Inspired by Dale Evans, Marlene wanted to be a cowgirl and ride horses. Entering...
Beginning her career in show business singing for a Memphis radio station, Dale (born Frances Smith) made her way to Chicago where she was ”discovered” by Paramount scouts. She came...
A fourth-generation rancher, Linda grew up in the drought of the early 1930s on the family ranch in New Mexico, learning ranching up close as a ranch hand. Linda attended...
Ten-time World Champion Cowgirl Trick Rider and World Champion Bronc Rider, Florence made more than 500 rodeo appearances – bronc riding, trick roping, trick riding and roman riding. A petite...
Mattie was a pioneer in the sport of rodeo, raising the status of performers through her own rodeo contracts. She was a daring trick rider known for her speed and...
Wilma became the first female principal chief in the history of the Cherokee people. Born in Oklahoma, her family moved to California as part of the BIA Relocation Program. Returning...
Margaret took over leadership of the newly formed National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1976, expanding the Hall’s focus to honor all Western women and changing the name of the...
