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Buddy Mays papers, 1950-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Mays, Buddy
Title
Buddy Mays papers
Dates
1950-2016 (inclusive)
Quantity
20.38 cubic ft. (35 boxes) + 1.69 GB
Collection Number
05664
Summary
Contains writings and photographs by Buddy Mays as well as professional correspondence and other materials relating to his career as a travel writer and photographer.
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

Material marked restricted (Box 24) may not be opened until Buddy Mays' death.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Buddy Mays was born in 1943 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After high school, Mays served in the Coast Guard until 1965. Afterward he studied vertebrate zoology at New Mexico State University, where he began working as a photographer for the Las Cruces Sun News. After college he became a photographer for the Albuquerque Tribune, and stayed there until 1972. Since then, Mays has been a freelance travel writer, author, and photographer. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1978 for a series of photographs on American Cowboys. The bulk of his work concerns the American Southwest, Southwestern history, wildlife, outdoor recreation, whitewater rafting, and southwestern Indians. In 1996, Mays moved from New Mexico to Bend, Oregon.

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Content Description

This collection contains both published and unpublished essays, articles, and books by Mays, most from the 1970s. Manuscripts for two of Mays' books, "A Pilgrim's Wildlife Notebook" and "Wildwaters" are included. It also contains photographs taken by Mays of travel, outdoor activities, people, wildlife, and images of the Southwest. There is a collection of photographs titled "Cowboy Life in the Southwest: a Vanishing Heritage." There is also correspondence with publishers, colleagues, and friends, and professional files (including notebooks) documenting Mays' work as a travel writer and photographer.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The 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 Collections

The 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, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Buddy Mays at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Buddy Mays in multiple accretions from 1977-2024.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Laura Uglean Jackson in December 2012 and updated by Brittany Heye in February 2026.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and Subjects

Subject Terms

  • Cowboys -- Photographs
  • Cowboys -- Southwest, New
  • Indians of North America -- Southwest, New
  • Nature photography
  • Outdoor recreation
  • Rivers -- Recreational use
  • Travel photography
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Wildlife photography

Geographical Names

  • New Mexico
  • Southwest, New -- Description and travel
  • West (U.S.) -- Description and travel

Form or Genre Terms

  • Drawings
  • Photographs

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Mays, Buddy : Pilgrim's notebook
    • Mays, Buddy : Wildwaters

Processed by Laura Uglean Jackson
2012

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

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