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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Jane Gray
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
good quality
Size: 4" - Black, Style: Open Hooks
Really strong magnets. Holds up stall cleaning forks on the trailer wall even when under way
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026
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M&M
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Look good and do the job
Size: 11.25 INCH
Great sturdy bracket.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2026
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cody
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for bookshelves!
Size: 9.25 INCH
Heavy duty and super sturdy. The brackets feel solid and well made, and once installed they hold shelves very securely. Great quality and exactly what I was looking for for an industrial-style shelf setup.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Great feel and quality, will buy again
Size: 5.5 INCH
These are gorgeous! The thick, heavy look and feel that I was hoping for, great screws to match (we used different anchors, since the provided anchors are not the strongest style). Similar ones at the local big-name hardware store are at least three times the price and are no better quality. I would (and will) definitely buy these again for more projects. Originally bought the six of these even though I only needed two because the price was still the best I could find, and ended up using all six almost immediately. They look so good, I found more projects for them!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
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Anderson
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 4
Nice looking. A bit too much flexibility. Did the job.
Size: 11.25 INCH, Size: 11.25 INCH
We made use of these shelving brackets in our kitchen remodel. They turned out great. We used 2x12 Douglas Fur boards that were sanded and painted to show contrast with the brackets. The brackets installed easy enough with a level, tape measure, pencil, and a drill for pilot holes. Other reviewers are correct: the mounting screws that come with it are essentially junk. I had read this and ordered black wood screws ahead of time with the hopes of returning them. I used the 1" screws to secure the shelving to the brackets. The 2-1/2" screws get to go back as we were able to use the included screws to secure the brackets to the wall. But, two of the first three heads on the 1" screws popped off... so, we quickly moved away from those included. There is a little more flex in the brackets than I had expected... they're just a little too thin for 11-1/2" shelves. It won't affect anything for us as we'll just be placing dry food and canned goods on them in our pantry. But, if I were using them for the garage or the shop I'd probably buy a different brand OR decrease the space between brackets. I spaced mine out 12" from each edge and then 12" on center. Works well for our pantry.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020

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