Oral history interview with Ollie F. Osborn
- SR 9350
- Collection
- 1981-09
This oral history interview with Ollie F. Osborn was conducted by Harriet Baskas in Union, Oregon, in September 1981. The interview was conducted as part of a series of interviews used in the radio program "Don't Fence Me In, the Cowgirls of Eastern Oregon," which aired on the Portland community station KBOO on December 8, 1981.
In this interview, Osborn discusses her career as a professional cowgirl on the rodeo circuit and in Wild West shows between 1913 and 1932. She talks about learning to ride as a child, describes various rodeo events, and discusses the cowgirls she toured with. She talks about passing up the opportunity to star in rodeo movies; describes the clothes the cowgirls wore; and shares funny stories from her rodeo days. She speaks about the death of Bonnie McCarrol in the 1929 Pendleton Round-up, and discusses the lack of women riders at the time of the interview in 1981. She closes the interview by talking about the inaccuracy of cowboy stereotypes; looking at photos from her rodeo days and discussing them; and discussing the differences in the treatment and payment of cowboys and cowgirls.
Osborn, Ollie F. (Ollie Frances), 1896-1989