Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Abe Morris papers, 1980-2024
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Morris, Abe
- Title
- Abe Morris papers
- Dates
- 1980-2024 (inclusive)19802015
- Quantity
- 5.58 cubic ft. (17 boxes) + 1.43 GB + Website
- Collection Number
- 11256
- Summary
- The Abe Morris papers contain material relating to his career as one of the first African-American bull riders to be on the professional rodeo circuit. He was also a rodeo announcer, television commentator, and he was a writer for various rodeo-related magazines.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Abraham J. Morris, Jr. was born in 1956. He started riding calves when he was eight years of age and he rode his first bull when he was ten years old in Woodstown, New Jersey. He joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1977, and he won a college rodeo championship for the University of Wyoming rodeo team in 1978. He was a qualifier in numerous bull riding events including the Dodge National Circuit and the Mountain States Circuit Finals. He was champion of the Open to the World bull riding event in 1990, but he had to retire in 1994 after a major hip injury.
He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a B.A. in Business Management in 1980, and he earned a PRCA announcer’s card in 1982. He was a color commentator for the Prime Sports and Fox Networks, and he wrote columns for several rodeo magazines.
After retirement, Mr. Morris worked as a licensed and registered representative in the telephone service center for TIAA-CREF - a Fortune 100 pension and retirement savings company.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains resumes, rodeo memorabilia (paper), correspondence, articles, interviews, video, and books by or about Abe Morris.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Restrictions on Use
Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in CollectionsThe American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.
Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Collection Name, Collection Number 11256, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
There are no other known archival collections created by Abe Morris at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
This material was received from Abe Morris from 2003–2022.
Processing Note
The collection was processed by John Hanks in January 2005 and updated by Jamie Greene in November 2016, June 2018, May 2020, and May 2024.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | |||
| 1-5,7,10-14, and 16-17 | Articles about Abe Morris |
1980-2021 | |
| 3 | Artifacts |
undated | |
| 4 | Artifacts: Name tags from events attended by Morris |
undated | |
| 1 | Biographical: Resumes and paper memorabilia |
1980s-1990s | |
| 17 | Book: "Black Cowboys of Rodeo: Unsung Heroes from Harlem to Hollywood and the American West" by Keith Ryan Cartwright |
2021 | |
| 15 | Book: "Cowboys of Color" by Don Russell |
2016 | |
| 14 | Business Cards: "Cowboy Chute Out Cookies" and "Core Financial Wealth Management Services" - Abe Morris |
undated | |
| 1-4,6,8,10-12 | Correspondence (traditional and e-mail) |
1980-2010 | |
| 4 | Correspondence: personal |
2003 | |
| 3 | Correspondence: professional |
2001-2003 | |
| 14 | Correspondence: Letters from State Representative and National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum |
2010, 2015 | |
Cowboy Chute Out Cookies: |
|||
| Box | |||
| 16 | Advertisement stickers and packaging labels |
2018 | |
| 16 | Articles: "Cowboy Cookies" by Rona Johnson - Abe Morris, former PRCA bull rider, plans to start a cookie business - Fence Post, Vol. 39, No. 16, p. 18 |
April 16, 2018 | |
| 16 | Articles: "Abe Morris: From Bulls to Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies" by Matt Naber, ProRodeo Sports News, p. 42 |
March 22, 2019 | |
| Digital | ahcdm_11256_001 | Interview by Fox31 Denver with Abe Morris |
February 12, 2020 |
| Box | |||
| 2 | Manuscripts: unpublished works (final drafts) |
2002 | |
| 14-15 | Newsletters: "Hactics" U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs |
January - February 2015 | |
| 9 | Pamphlets |
2010-2011 | |
| 14 | Pamphlets: Colorado House of Representation, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, "72nd Annual Jubilee Days" |
2012-2015 | |
| 6 | Programs of appearances by Morris |
2008-2009 | |
| 11 | Publications: miscellaneous |
2004-2005 | |
| 4-5 | Publications, scripts, music or other materials written by Morris |
2007-2008 | |
| 14 | Publications: "Bull Riding Magazine" |
May 2013 - December 2014 | |
| 2,4-6,9,12-14 | Publications: "Humps N’ Horns: Bull Riding Magazine" (containing articles written by Morris) |
2004-2014 | |
| 12 and 14 | Publications: "PSN: ProRodeo Sports News" |
2005-2009 | |
| 5 and 12 | Publications: "Rodeo News" |
2005-2008 | |
| 6 | Publications: "Western Legends" |
2008-2009 | |
| 14 | Publications: "The Voice of ProRodeo" PRCA Pro Rodeo |
2009 | |
| 1 | Videotape of Abe Morris |
undated | |
| Digital | Website: www.abemorris.com
|
2020- | |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- African American rodeo performers
- Bull riding
- Rodeos
Corporate Names
- University of Wyoming
Processed by John Hanks
2006
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
