Ace Reid

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The Wittliff holds an extensive collection of original “Cowpokes” artwork by Ace Reid along with important artifacts belonging to the artist. Donated by Reid's widow, Madge Reid, this collection includes over 100 original pen and ink cartoons, along with 14 original watercolors by Reid, a 6-foot oil painting of Reid, his drawing table, chair, and parade saddle. There are several photographs of Ace Reid by himself and with others, as well as photographs of notables such as Governor John Connally, Hank Thompson, and Slim Pickens.  For more information about Ace Reid and Cowpokes visit the Cowpokes website

 

 

PRELIMINARY ARCHIVAL INVENTORY:

 

ACE REID COLLECTION

 

Accession 2018-157

 

Box 1 / Unprocessed box 2896

 

Photographs

 

Folder 1:

 

Ace Reid at drawing table; creating watercolor of horse and cowboy similar to the

drawing in framed item 072

Ace Reid on horse with saddle, badge, and leather cuffs. Photographer: Jerry Sinise,

Globe-News Pub. Co, Amarillo, TX

Ace Reid in publicity photo for Mooney Aircraft; plane and saddle

[Ace Reid] in hat and bandana

Ladybird Johnson holding Cowpokes; Ace Reid holding A White House Diary, Keller’s

Studio, Fredericksburg, TX

Rex Allen and Ace Reid at the Draggin S Ranch, February 1968

Ace Reid and Charlton Heston at a black-tie event

Ace Reid and Joel McCrea at a black-tie event

Ace Reid and Will Rogers, Jr. (digital copy)

Ace Reid in “formal attire” at Charles Schreiner Party. Man next to him is holding

Cowpokes Wanted

Charles Schreiner, Marshal House of Dodge City, and Ace Reid

Ruidoso Downs; Horse is wearing the “1st Annual Ace Reid Purse” banner, 1967

framed item 081

Peter Hurd visits Kerrville, gathering at party. Photographer: Lafayette Reed, Kerrville

Hank Thompson portrait, signed: “To my friend – Ace Reid ‘sure enjoy your cartoons!’” Slim Pickens, signed: “To Madge and Ace, my very best always”

Texas Governor John Connally holding framed Ace Reid watercolor of a steer, 1965

Billboard for the West Texas Rehab Center, Abilene, TX. “Cowpokes cartoon has been

used for the 57^th year”

 

Loose Foam-mounted Photographs

 

Ace Reid, Jerry Palen (cartoonist), and Baxter Black (author, speaker), signed

Slim Pickens, Ace Reid “in the movies”

John Erickson (author, Hand the Cowdog) and Ace Reid

Ace Reid and Will Rogers, Jr. in Kerrville

Ace Reid and others at Ken Curtis “Festus” in Kerrville

Ace Reid and Kinky Friedman “No smoking event,” Kerrville.

Hondo [Crouch], Green Brothers, Windy Ryon of Fort Worth at Kerrville

Jerry Lackey (San Angelo Standard Times), Tumble Weed Smith (radio personality)

Photographer: Enochs

Rex Allen signed, “Ace, you go to “hell”

Dahlberg (Kerrville sculptor). Signed, “To Madge and Ace, Good Friends for a long time.

Many thanks,” 1979

 

Award: “National Cowboy Symposium and celebration: Cowboy Culture Award,” 1992, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

           

Box 2 / Unprocessed box 2897

 

Original pen and ink cartoons on paper

 

“Boy, I bet this ole country could shore look tough in a drought!” 8 ½” x 8 ½”

“Come on in, Maw! Here’s a sale on chain saws and I want you to try one for size.”

9” x 9”

“Shore, there’s a future for a cowboy on this outfit…work 16 hours a day ‘til you’re 65

and you might get to be foreman and maybe even git your picture in the local

paper…that’s if you don’t git crippled up too bad.” 8 ¾” x 9”

“Wul yeah, they’re headin’ out fer a round up…to round up lost deer hunters!” 10” x 10”

“Yes, yes, I’m gonna ride your old bronc, but I jist remembered I ain’t seen my dear old

Mother in eight years and I’m gonna pay her a little visit!” 9 ½” x 10”

 “Now it looks like that ole boy got elected by promisin’ to balance the budget and he’s

seven payments behind to Sears and Roebuck!” 10” x 10”

“Naw, I don’t git my exercise by joggin’.. I’m always juggin!” 10” x 10”

“Now Mr. Banker, jist because you were the one that loaned me the money to buy them

calves that I jist lost money on…I want you to know that I ain’t made at you!”

10” x 10”

“Naw they ain’t from some old folks’ home…they’re young folks from Ft. Worth that’s

been huntin here fer a week!,” November 23, 1967 [possibly unpublished],

10” x 11”

Cowpoke portrait (head only) 11” x 11”

“Reckon why the boss threw such a fit about that old cow being near the fence?” 1956.

11” x 11

“The President is always eatin’ somethin’ and makin’ the price go up. Reckon he

couldn’t help the hoss market?” 1956. 11” x 11”

“If you’re looking for a tax write off this is the place! The tax people don’t know it exist.”

11” x 11”

“Jake, come look thru these, my deer looks a lot bigger!” 1994. 11” x 11”

“Looks to me like that old boy is gonna hafta quit watching them late T.V. shows er get

into some other kind of work!” December 27, 1987. 11” x 11”

“Oh, I’m shore glad it’s you Sherriff! You can help us return my neighbor’s cattle that

some thief done put in our pickup.” 1963. 11” x 11”

“Awright Jr., now I know why I’ve spent my whole life working hard to save… so in my

old age I can give it to my doctor!” 11” x 11”

“Whatta you mean you’re wantin’ a washin’ machine when you know good and well I’ve

got to buy a new saddle?” 11” x 11”

“Banker Tufernal, all them live ones is yore collateral, and the dead ones is your

interest!” 1976. 11” x 11”

“Now if I work fer $200 a month fer 5000 months, that’s a million dollars. Are you sure

you have that much money?” 11” x 11”

“Now look at that…time are good, grass is deep, but that no good son won’t leave;

makes his Maw support him and nearly starves his baby brother to death!”

11” x 11”

“I’m takin’ care of im’ few a friend, the first nite he got foundered, then cut a leg half off,

then wuz snake bit on the nose. Now I’m bein’ sued by my friend!” January, 14, 1990 [pencil sketch on reverse side] 11” x 11”

“Quit it Jake, you know I can’t stand anybody abusin’ a saddle like that!” January 6,

1985 11” x 11”

“Wul, you’re about as close to being a world’s champion as you ever was!” 11” x 11”

“Wul it’s discouragin’ when yer bookkeeper tells you how much money er losin’ when

yer runnin’ 500 cows. Then he tells about his neighbor that runs 50 cows and jist

bought a Cadillac!” 11” x 11”

“Now Maw, I just finished tellin’ them ole boys how sweet, tender and understandin’ you

were, then you made a liar out of me!” 11” x 11”

“If them ole boys would ever graze their place like us, they wouldn’t have to be fightin’

grass fires all the time!” 11” x 11”

“This has been a great year… the cow market and the skirts went up at the same time!”

1967. [alternate caption on back] 11” x 11”

“I shore wish one of you fellers would loan me a pocket knife to cut loose from this ole

steer, before one of us gits hurt!” 11” x 11”

“Nope, my client wuz not drinkin’ when he ran off that bridge, he wuz fixin’ a taco!”

January 21, 1990. 11” x 11”

“Out here we can tell which way the wind blown’ jest by the way the posts are leanin’!”

11” x 11”

“It’s a ‘git well’ card from yore banker. It sez, git well or else!” 11” x 11”

“My gosh, Zeb, we’re tryin’ to get the cow out! We’re not tryin’ to see what all we can git

in here with her!” February 9, 1964. 11” x 11”

“Wul we have driven 24 miles to the mail box to git a notice to drive 45 miles to town, to

pay 3 cents postage due on a bill from the feed store!” 11” x 11”

“They’re tranquillizers! The druggist says if I can take enough of ‘em, I won’t even worry

about sellin’ my calves two months too soon fer two dollars below market price.” 1958. 11” x 11”

 

Posters

 

West Texas Boys Ranch, San Angelo. Annual round-up, circa 1960s.

Pony Express Rider screening. Guest-starring Ken Curtis, Slim Pickens, and Ace Reid (among others in Kerrville)

 

Other Ephemera

 

Cowpokes Cartoons brochure

Visions West, Summer 1994 with article about Ace Reid

Foam-mounted copy of the article from Visions West

 

Proclamations

 

H. S. R. No. 20, August 12, 1961. Resolution commending Ace Reid “for his wit and facility and mettle and skill in depicting the Old West and in giving future generations assurance and confidence in the past to insure their trust and faith in future.” Jim Nugent, Representative. Signed by James A. Turman, Speaker of the House.

 

H. S. R. No. 553, May 22, 1963. Resolution commending Ace Reid [same text as 1961]. Jim Nugent, Representative. Signed by Byron Tunnell, Speaker of the House.

 

Framed Items

 

001      “Jake, I’m leaving my husband – he just don’t pay…” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

002      “Jake, tell me one more time how much fun we’re havin!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

003      “Let’s come back some other time!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

004      “Oh, my gosh, hoss, we musta hit the back of the …” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

005      “Pull him more to the left ‘er your not gonna be able…” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

006      “Shore he’s a good fast hoss…he beats anything I’ve…” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

007      The way you jist sit there a sayin’ nuthin takes all the…” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

008      To think 6 hours ago we wuz in a heck of a drought!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

009      “What do you mean pay some more on my principle, I’m doin’ well…” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

010      “Wul ole pony, at least it beats a sand storm!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

011      “Wul yeah, I can tell it’s a crossbred…but with what?” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

012      “Yeah, I’m gonna examine you jist as soon as I examine…” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1

 

013      “Oh me, these critters seem to know I’m getting slower every year!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

014      “Jist shows you ole hoss, these wide open spaces ain’t always so wide!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

015      “Jake, Mr. Bank Examiner says that after examining your notes, he wants to examine my head!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

016      “When a stupid cowpoke ropes a crazy cow on an ignorant hoss, this outta happen to em!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

017      “Smile Jake, the audience thinks you’re part of the clown act!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

018      “Hey, turn down that transistor radio; I think I hear a deer coming!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

019      “I was jist sittin’ in there a swattin’ flies and wul…” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

020      “Yeah, you shore throw wide loops - - now lets see if you’re gonna throw that fence back in shape.” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

021      “Banker, you said before you’d loan me any money I’d hafta bring in my book keepin’ system you just don’t know what heck I had takin’ the barn door off!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

022      “This loop’s big enough, I don’t really want to catch ‘em!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

023      “Wal, he wasn’t much of a salesman anyhow!” Framed, 17” x 17” x 1½”

 

024      So they can shoot one another, but we’ll git in a bunch of trouble if we shoot a coyote!” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

025      “Aw quit naggin’ at me Ma! I was gonna build a new fence anyhow!” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

026      “Wilbur, if you want to lose weight so bad why don’t you eat what you feed yore ole cows!” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

027      “Don’t complain, Bull. That’s the road you promised last election.”  17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

028      “Awright Tufernal, quit callin me when I’m overdrawn _ _ _ I don’t call you when I make a deposit!” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

029      “Man, after I pay my doctor and buy new clothes I’ll nearly have enough to git to the next rodeo.” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

030      “Son, I’m letting you have this loan but it’s gotta be paid back in less than 500 years!” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

031      “Jake, I jist guaranteed he’d jump into a trailer … _ nothing wuz said about him jumpin’ out!” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

032      “Dang, Lem, do something! She’s up but I’m down!” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

033      “My doctor told me to exercise a lot _ _ _ _ that a-way I can die healthier.” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

034      “Cow prices musta took a jump, the banker just tipped his hat to us.” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

035      “I just had to make a marginal land loan _ _ _ _ put in a slug of scotch in his Maalox.” 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

036      “Boy, this rain is shore wonderful. Look at maw…Just overcome with joy!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

037      “Wut the skunks got my chickens, coyotes got my calfes, and the eagles got my lands _ _ _ _ won’t be long till us ranchers will be the endangered species. Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

038      “I remember this as a little town _ _ _ _ before it grew up big and impersonal!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

039      “I’m sellin that ole ranch! We’re makin more money pickin up cans than we do raising cows! Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

040      “Yep, Jake, it looks hopeless, but I think it’s serious!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

041      “Naw I ain’t give up drinkin’, but after that horse race I’ve shore quit gamblin’! Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

042      “Naw, you didn’t ride longer than anybody _ _ _ but he throwed you farther!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

043      “The only worries I ain’t had on this ranch was income taxes!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

044      “Pin, would you git back and hold this calf….besides you’re standing on my piggin’ string!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

045      “Wul… I couldn’t make it in the cow business so the bank financed me to a bait shop. Now the lake’s gone dry.” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

046      “Now maybe them guys will understand that I want this gate closed!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

047      “No use openin’ that gate any wider Zep, I believe I’m the only one comin’ thru!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

048      “My gosh, can’t you understand nothin’?” I said keep that gate shut!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

049      “Gosh, fer a minute  I thought he’d pulled off both of my legs!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

050      “You misunderstood me, I didn’t say this place would  run 7,000 head of cattle, I said it takes that many to pay for it.” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

051      “Even with yore soft brown eyes, it don’t seem possible them hunters would take you for a deer.” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

052      “Jake, what makes this saddle a bargain is … I’m throwin’ everything that’s in it!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

053      “The Boss just called from Las Vegas and said, “Just repair it, can’t afford to replace it.” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

054      “Well I guess it would be ridiculous to wrap this pipe…Now!” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

055      “This here is my “Famous Diet Breed” _ _ They give skin milk and lean meat.” Framed, 17 ½ x 17 ½ x 1”

 

056      “You wanta check the fence, make shore there ain’t no place calves can get out!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

057      “It’s all ole Wilburs fault…he said that we steal ‘em cheaper than raisin ‘em.” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

058      “Now this place is mine and that one’s my bankers” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

059      “Wul, we didn’t have no trouble getting’ into orbit I fear the splash down is gonna be messy!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

060      “Act dumb” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

061      ‘I thought you said this wuz the happy hour!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

062      “Wul, that ole wool was so full of seed it just took a shower to keep the milk cow fed for a few weeks.” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

063      “Clyde, you’re sure lucky! The boss thinks you’re the best horse shoe’r on the place!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

064      “Wul, when you said that wuz a kid pony had no idea you meant Billy the Kid!” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

065      “Ain’t it sumpin’ this ole horse wont let anybody but you and Ma shoe him” Framed, 15 ½” x 15 ½” x 1 ½”

 

066      Ace Reid sitting in his studio drawing a cartoon. Color Framed Photograph: 18 ¾” H x 22 ½” W

 

067      3 Cowboys, bartender and horse in bar, Cowboy drinking beer, horse eating from cowboy’s lunch. Color Framed Original: 18 1/8” H x 23 3/5” W

 

068      Cowboy in Western wear shop trying on boots, Salesman holding his nose. Color Framed Original: 19 ¾” H x 23 ¾” W

 

069      Cowboy being bucked off at cooking station, chuck wagon and cook in background, 2 riders on the right. Color Framed Original: 19” H x 23” W

 

070      Cowboy on ground under broken clothes line, Lady standing behind, horse bucking with clothesline on saddle horn. Color Framed Original: 14 ¾” H x 21 ½” W

 

071      Cowboys sitting on ground eating, One cowboy on horse, Cook leaving on chuck wagon. Color Framed Original. 20” x 25” x 2”

 

072      2 cartoons: left: cowboy on bucking horse holding his hat; Right: cowboy bucked off, laying on ground. Black and White Framed Original with red border: 14 ½” H x 23 ½” W

 

073      Cowboy riding brahma bull holding bull’s tail; yellow chaps, yellow rigging. Color Framed Original (book cover): 17 ½” H x 16 ¼” W

 

074      2 cartoons - right: Cowboy being dragged by roped steer; Left: Cowboy roped steer and rope got tangled on hind leg. Framed Black and White Red Border: 27 ½” x 15”

 

075      Cowboy taking a bath in a puddle. Color framed original: 19 ½” H x 24 ¾”W

 

076      Cowboy riding right to left, jackrabbit running same direction. Color framed original: 10 ½” x 24 ¾”

 

077      Cowboys in bunkhouse taking bath shaving and cutting hair. Color framed original: 18 3/8” H x 22 3/8” W

 

078      Cowboy on horse bucking roped calf; cow in front of horse, rider on white horse behind. Color framed original: 17 ¼” H x 21 ¾” W

 

079      Cowboy on bucking horse at rodeo arena, #3 and 4 chutes in background. Colored framed original: 24” x 22”

 

080      3 cowboys getting their picture taken; man behind camera has black and white checkered vest on. Color framed original 22 ½” 16 ½” x 1 ½”

 

081      Pink Banner (first Ace Reid annual rodeo, 1967) Ace Reid Purse, Ruidoso Downs. Framed: 22” H x 36” W

 

082      Watercolor by Ace Reid showing calf roping, dated 1953. Framed: 34” x 25” x 2”

 

083      Watercolor by Ace Reid, dated 1952. Madge says this painting hung in Ace’s mother’s house. Framed: 24 ¾” x 35” x 1 ½”

 

084      Oil painting of Ace Reid by Lois Raymer of Kerrville. Madge Reid says this painting was commissioned to hang over her fireplace but it turned out to be two times too tall to fit into the space. Framed: 31 ½” x 72” x 2”

 

085      “Ma, I know you jist spent $3 gittin yre hair fixed, but you don’t want me to git my $25 hat wet!” Framed, 17” x 21”

 

086      “Jist think, if fences hadn’t been invented, we might be unemployed!” 

Framed, 17” x 21”

 

087      “Sir, it ain’t exactly our fault. It’s them taxes bein’ so high a feller hasta steal to pay ‘em!” Framed, 17” x 21”

 

088      “Jake, you know that ranch fifty miles west of here you wanted to look at _ _ wul git to lookin’ this is it goin’ by!” Framed, 17” x 21”

 

089      “Mr. Bookkeeper, I started out forty years ago workin’ fer $1 a day, now yore showin’ me my profit for the year and I’m still workin’ fer $1 a day!” Framed, 17” x 21” [rancher with no hat]

 

090      “Mr. Bookkeeper, I started out forty years ago workin’ fer $1 a day, now yore showin’ me my profit for the year and I’m still workin’ fer $1 a day!” Framed, 17” x 21” [rancher with hat]

 

Artifacts

 

Drawing table used by Ace Reid

Chair with Rawhide Seat, used by Ace Reid at his drawing table

Leddy Parade Saddle belonging to Ace Reid, inlayed #33537