Little Cowpuncher: Rural School Newspaper of Southern Arizona

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Drawing, Ciara, From Little Cowpuncher, Redington School, November 20, 1932
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A work in progress, this site presents the southern Arizona school newspaper, Little Cowpuncher. Created by Anglo and Mexican American ranch children, from kindergarten through 8th grade, between 1932 and 1943 at five neighboring Arizona schools (Redington, Baboquivari, Sasco, San Fernando, and Sopori), the newspapers present the original and unedited stories, poems, and illustrations of students about their community and school life. The site includes a map that identifies the location of the five schools and users may select which newspaper they wish to examine by school and by year.

The newspapers include many stories about holiday celebrations, especially Halloween and Christmas. Also frequently featured are tales of rodeo activities and issues dedicated to graduating classmates. Other local events, such as an outbreak of chicken pox and droughts offer a unique perspective on the students' isolated rural lives.

Although the site is simply designed, middle and high school students and teachers will find that the newspapers present an opportunity to study pioneer Mexican and American ranch families and understand the bilingual and bicultural communities they created in Southern Arizona.

Mission to Arizona, 1916–1940: Father Augustine Schwarz, O.F.M.

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Photo, Fr. Augustine on location with film Westerners
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This exhibition presents photographs taken by Father Augustine Schwarz (1887–1946) while he served as a Catholic missionary to American Indians in Arizona. The images, donated by the Schwartz family, depict missionary scenes and workers, church buildings, and other landmarks.

The site focuses on three American Indian groups—Pima, Papago, and Apache Indians—and serves as an accessible portal to Catholic missionary activities among those three groups. Many of the photographs are accompanied with brief descriptions and annotations by Father Schwarz. A brief biography of Father Schwarz is included.

Along with images of Whiteriver Apaches of northern Arizona taken by Father Schwarz's brother, Arnold Schwarz, the entire collection consists of 179 images.

Fort Bowie National Historic Site [AZ]

Description

Fort Bowie commemorates the bitter conflict between Chiricahua Apaches and the U.S. military—a lasting monument to the bravery and endurance of U.S. soldiers in paving the way for settlement and the taming of the western frontier. It provides insight into a "clash of cultures," a young nation in pursuit of "manifest destiny," and the hunter-gatherer society fighting to preserve its existence.

The site offers exhibits and tours.

Wupatki National Monument [AZ]

Description

Less than 800 years ago, Wupatki Pueblo was the largest pueblo around. It flourished for a time as a meeting place of different cultures. Yet this was one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau, offering little obvious food, water, or comfort. How and why did people live here? The builders of Wupatki and nearby pueblos have moved on, but their legacy remains.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and educational programs.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument [AZ]

Description

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument preserves an ancient Hohokam farming community and "Great House." Created as the nation's first archeological reserve in 1892, the site was declared a National Monument in 1918 "in order that better provision may be made for the protection, preservation, and care of the ruins and the ancient buildings and other objects of prehistoric interest thereon."

The site offers a short film, exhibits, tours, and educational programs.

Tonto National Monument [AZ]

Description

The Tonto National Monument is the site of cliff dwellings that were occupied during the 13-15th centuries. After these prehistoric peoples vacated the valley, the valley was home to other native peoples and eventually Spanish colonists. Today, the cliff dwellings are open to visitors year round. The national monument is also home to a visitor center which offers exhibits and interpretive activities.

The national monument offers field trip programs, ranger-led tours, self-guided tours, exhibits, and special events. The website offers a history of the site, curriculum guides and materials for teachers, and visitor information. In order to contact the monument via email, use the "contact us" link located at the left side of the webpage.

Navajo National Monument [AZ]

Description

The Navajo National Monument preserves three Navajo cliff dwellings. The cliff dwellings are open to the public year round, and showcase Navajo life prior to European settlement. The monument is also home to a visitor center and museum of Navajo life.

The monument offers ranger-led tours of the cliff dwellings, guided tours of the museum, and exhibits and presentations in the museum and visitor center. The website offers visitor information and historical information regarding the monument. In order to contact the monument via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Sedona Heritage Museum [AZ]

Description

The Sedona Heritage Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Sedona, Arizona, from its founding in 1876 up to the present day. The museum is located in an old farmhouse, and serves as a museum of local history, with artifacts, documents, and pictures which document the history of the town.

The museum offers guided tours, exhibits, hands-on workshops for schoolchildren, and special events including periodic presentations. The website offers a history of Sedona, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Mesa Historical Museum [AZ]

Description

The Mesa Historical Museum was opened in 1987, and is located in the buildings of the old Lehi School, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum chronicles the history Mesa, Arizona.

The museum offers field trip programs, exhibits, educational programs, and special events such as historic home tours. The website offers a history of the museum, visitor information, an online exhibit, a collection of oral histories, and an events calendar.