On to the third match in our Rumble in the Stacks!  This bout is between two actual historical figures, Buffalo Bill and the (in)famous Tom Horn–who do you think would win in a fight?

Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill Collection, #264, Box 4. UW American Heritage Center.

Claim to Fame: Buffalo Bill Cody, the man behind the “Buffalo Bill Wild West” show was essential to the establishment and development of the city of Cody, WY.   He was instrumental in securing water rights from the Shoshone River for Cody, WY and the surrounding area.  The Shoshone Dam was later renamed the Buffalo Bill Dam in his honor.

Special Skills: Hunting, showmanship, marketing expertise, business acumen

Collection Connection: The AHC holds the “Buffalo Bill Letters to George T. Beck,” a collection that contains a detailed account of Cody’s efforts to establish the irrigation canal on the Shoshone River, as well as the Buffalo Bill collection, which contains materials on the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show.

Tom Horn

Tom Horn tying lariats. Photofile: “Horn, Tom,” Negative Number 1267. Tom Horn, UW American Heritage Center.

Claim to Fame: Military scout and interpreter, deputy sheriff, Pinkerton detective, hired gun. Arrested for the murder of 14-year-old Willie Nickell and hung in 1903 after a trial and appeal.

Special Skills: Marksmanship, Apache language skills, comfortable on both sides of the law, calm under pressure, flexible conscience

Collection Connection: The AHC holds the Joe Le Fors papers (Le Fors was the man who captured Tom Horn), and there are project files on Tom Horn research from the Wyoming Council for the Humanities records at the AHC, too.  In addition, the George Banks papers contain a statement by George Banks that he overheard talk of a murder planned by Tom Horn—and these are just a few collections!