SKU: 14140492863

Chronicles of the Big Bend: A Photographic Memoir of Life on the Border

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Description

Chronicles of the Big Bend: A Photographic Memoir of Life on the BorderAs a young teamster on a pack mule train, Wilfred Dudley Smithers saw the Rio Grande's Big Bend for the first time in 1916, and it captured his imagination forever. For decades thereafter he returned to Texas' last great frontier the great bend of the Rio Grande on the Texas Mexico border chronicling the region and its people in words and photographs. After half a century of photography, Smithers' superlative collection of nine thousand images ended

As a young teamster on a pack-mule train, Wilfred Dudley Smithers saw the Rio Grande's Big Bend for the first time in 1916, and it captured his imagination forever. For decades thereafter he returned to Texas' last great frontier-the great bend of the Rio Grande on the Texas-Mexico border-chronicling the region and its people in words and photographs. After half a century of photography, Smithers' superlative collection of nine thousand images ended up at the University of Texas at Austin, and in 1976 more than one hundred of these were reproduced in Chronicles of the Big Bend, a critically acclaimed work that until now has long been out of print. The years that Smithers chronicled in the Big Bend were sometimes violent ones. Pancho Villa and Chico Cano were among the many "bandits" playing hide-and-seek with the U.S. Cavalry-events Smithers recorded. He was also an eyewitness to liquor-running and smuggling during Prohibition. His principal subjects, however, were the people of the Big Bend: local ranchers, Mexican American and American families, miners, Texas Rangers, and others living simple lives in this harsh and beautiful land. With words and camera Smithers wanted to capture "vanishing lifestyles, primitive cultures, old faces, and odd, unconventional professions. Before my camera I wanted huts, vendors, natural majesties, clothing, tools, children, old people, the ways of the border." He also told his own life story along with that of the Big Bend. There are illustrated chapters on the military, law enforcement, curanderos (healers), liquor smugglers, avisadores (secret-message senders), and the national park. Smithers' word sketches and black-and- white photographs capture the harsh reality and stark beauty, the dust and the mystery of the frontier era of the Big Bend that ended in 1944 when it became a national park. Chronicles of the Big Bend is a rare documentary look at a frontier region as it was known by only a few and as it will never be seen again. It is a deeply personal human portrait of the majestic Big Bend. WILFRED DUDLEY SMITHERS (1895-1981) was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in 1895. He began taking photographs at age fifteen while living in San Antonio, and later worked as a teamster, joined the U.S. Army, operated a photo studio, served as a news correspondent, and helped pioneer aerial photography.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Texas State Historical Assn
Published: 03/15/2013
ISBN: 9780876112618
Pages: 160
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 9.80h x 7.00w x 0.40d
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SKU: 14140492863

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Mad Jack
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Inexpensive walls.
Color: Grey, Size: 34" - 3 Panel, Color: Grey, Size: 34" - 3 Panel
We had a hot request for a workstation in the warehouse with some privacy. These have worked great. Easy to assemble. They are lightweight and stable. This was an inexpensive solution that looks professional. Our client loved it.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2025
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Amber
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 1
Dont wait! Assemble right away! Just in case you need to return it.
Color: Black, Size: 22" - 4 Panel
Ok, I like the idea of this but the assembly is frustrating. One side lined up perfectly with the holes however, the small bars that connect the screen to base is not lining up. I think it's do the fabric the screen or divider is made of. It's not stretchy. I brought this months ago and just opened it today. I'm upset and don't even think returning it is possible. If the material was a bit longer or stretchy to give a little room to work with this divider would be great. However, I'm not sure what I can use it for since I'm unable to attach it to the bottom. Beware! Don't wait like me. Tip for the manufacturer. Next time invest in Velcro dividers so the fabric can be adjusted with ease. Literally if I take the screen off the frame aligns perfectly. However, it defeats its purpose of privacy. I might buy some material myself and create a more flexible divider. Or I'll buy Velcro myself and attach to the bottom. I don't know yet.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2025
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Keith leadbetter
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Looks great, easy install
Color: Rgb, Size: 15.5in
These shelves look great and easy to install. Want to order a few more to finish out the man cave.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
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Ambitious Minds Productions
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great product
Color: Rgb, Size: 15.5in
This is a very good decoration multi purpose shelves. Looks perfect in right settings
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Mike
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 4
App control and system memory sucks.
Color: Rgb, Size: 15.5in
These shelves are sick! I do have gripes about them. For some reason, you select your color or scene, after a few hours they start doing a breathing scene and totally change colors. Then when you go to switch it back, its like the device loses communication with the app. Also not a fan of it needing to be connected to wifi. Would much rather bluetooth so thats an odd one. Edit* the seller did reach out and offered a full refund for the product without me getting in touch and without wanting the shelves back. Updating from 3 stars to 4 for outstanding customer service.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2026

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