Letter by Philip Cole to Nancy C. Russell; describes the paintings by Charles M. Russell for which he needed titles. Typed on the front of three pages.

March 14, 1934. Mrs. Charles M. Russell, 735 Michigan Blvd., Pasadena, Calif. Dear Nancy, As you know, I have been collecting, framing, and storing away lithographs of Charley’s paintings. I think I have almost a complete collection of them. In going through them and trying to give them their proper titles I have come across three for which I am unable to find titles. I am going to give you a very crude description of these three with the hope that you may be able to help me identify them. The first one I am sure you can identify for I believe you still have it in your possession. It shows the Sheriff with leveled gun surprising two men sleeping on the ground. They are covered with a red blanket. The one man is kneeling with his hands raised, the other is rubbing his eyes. A horse is shown in the distance. The second shows a band of cattle on a hillside being rounded up by some cowboys. A cow has been roped and held by the far rider. The rope has been caught under the tail of a horse between the cow and the rider, who is snubbing the cow to the horn of his saddle. The horse with the rope under his tail is just ready to buck. The third unknown lithograph shows a man in the foreground lying on his stomach, putting his hand on his revolver. There is a calf behind him roped and held by its hind legs (snubbed to the horn of the saddle on a black horse). There is a man behind the horse, just about to level his gun at something. Either of these latter two pictures might possibly be Wound Up The Tenderfoot The Slick Ear A Serious Predicament Heads or Tails The Cinch Ring Cowboy Life The Hold Of course either of these pictures might have some other title which I do not have on my list. Usually the lithographs have the title at the bottom. If these have them they are covered by the frame of the picture. If not too much trouble I wish you would help me try to dope [over] Page 2. Mrs. Charles M. Russell. March 14, 1934 this out. Incidentaly [sic] I am always interested in adding to these lithographs, though I think I have almost all of them. You will be interested to know that I recently acquired a really fine Remington. I don’t need to tell you that Charley is to my way of thinking, miles ahead of Remington in every direction; however Remington also did some wonderful things – particularly his night scenes. This one is called “Stampeded By Lightning”. It is a large canvas, showing through the light from a streak of lightning a couple of cowpunchers dashing to get them to milling. I am sure that Charley would have liked this picture. I haven’t heard anything from you lately about “Carson’s Men” or the other things you thought you had in sight. As you know, I am still interested – though only in acquiring at a reasonable price items which will improve the collection rather than be carried by it. Everything is well with me and mine. We all send our best to you and yours. As always, [signed] Philip Dr. Philip G. Cole MVB P.S. I have also come across five black and whites for which I do not have titles . I will give you a short description of them below and if you can give me the titles of any of them I will appreciate it. 1. Two men in the rain with slickers on, tightening the pack on pack horse, their saddle horses standing, the reins are down on each side of the pack horse. 2. A battle, apparently between two tribes of Indians, one in the foreground just having fallen from his horse which is running on, at the left an Indian on a black horse stabbing an Indian on a white horse, a large number of Indians fighting in the distance. 3. In the foreground a mad cow roped by the horns and held by a cowboy on a white horse, while the cowboy on the left on a black horse has just thrown a lasso around the hind legs of the cow, cowboys in the distance driving a herd of cattle. 4. A group of Indians in front of a Fort which looks like Fort Benton, all except three are dismounted and apparently making the sign of peace, one squatting in the foreground holdin a pole upright. Page 3. Mrs. Charles M. Russell March 14, 1934. 5. In the foreground a cowboy has apparently been shot and is just falling to the ground, his horse on the right with legs braced is holding a calf roped by the hind legs thrown and snubbed to the horn of the saddle , on the left a man crouches at the side of his horse with his gun in the right hand and holding the reins of his horse , looking toward a bunch of young cattle. Apparently a cattle stealing.

[Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2011-11-02]

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