Descriptive Identification

Abstract:

Graves Peeler was born on May 28, 1886 to Thomas Madison and Alice Jane Irvin Peeler in San Antonio, Texas. He grew up on his family's ranch in Atascosa County, Basin Hill Ranch. Graves attended school in Pleasanton, graduated from West Texas Military Academy in San Antonio, attended the San Marcos business school for two years and then went to Texas A&M for a short time.

Graves Peeler's life was always centered around ranching and hunting. He collected hunting trophies throughout his life and amassed a collection of 264 mounts of North American game. He managed the family's ranch for his mother during World War I, since his father had been murdered in 1897. Graves went to work for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser's Association from 1920 to 1930 and traveled throughout Texas, Mexico and Arizona tracking down cattle thieves.

While Graves Peeler was ranching he was approached by J. Frank Dobie and Sid Richardson in 1932 to help them find authentic Texas Longhorn cattle and reestablish the breed before it could become extinct. He is the rancher credited with bringing the Texas Longhorns back from the brink of extinction. He died at the age of 90 years old in 1977.

The Graves Peeler Collection (1949-1982) consists of approximately 2.5 cubic feet of materials. The largest part of the collection (approximately 2 cubic feet) are the materials that visually document many of Graves Peeler's travels and hunting trips during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s throughout North America. There are 1,098 slides, eight 16mm motion pictures and 20 photographs.

The remaining half cubic foot of materials is small amounts of correspondence, printed materials, biographical information about Graves Peeler and the Peeler family and 17 audio cassette tapes of interviews with Graves Peeler in 1968.

Creator Sketch

    Graves Peeler was born on May 28, 1886 to Thomas Madison and Alice Jane Irvin Peeler in San Antonio, Texas, the third of seven children. He grew up on his family's ranch in Atascosa County, Basin Hill Ranch. Graves attended school in Pleasanton and later graduated from West Texas Military Academy in San Antonio. He attended the San Marcos business school for two years and then went to Texas A&M for a short time.

    Graves Peeler's life was always centered around ranching and hunting. Graves was an avid hunter from a young age, reportedly shooting his first deer at the age of eight. He collected hunting trophies throughout his life and amassed a collection of 264 mounts of North American game. He experienced the responsibility of running a ranch when he managed the family's ranch for his mother during World War I, since his father had been murdered in 1897 while confronting cattle thieves and his older brothers were in the military. Graves went to work for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser's Association in 1920 as a field inspector. He later was promoted to range inspector and traveled throughout Texas, Mexico and Arizona tracking down cattle thieves. He quit working for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser's Association in 1930.

    While Graves Peeler was ranching he was approached by J. Frank Dobie and Sid Richardson in 1932 to help them find authentic Texas Longhorn cattle and reestablish the breed before it could become extinct. He assembled a herd of thirty cows and three bulls. This herd was split into three herds of ten cows and a bull each. Two herds were placed on state parks and Graves kept one on his ranch. He bred Texas Longhorns from then until his death on March 11, 1977 at the age of 90. He is the rancher credited with bringing the Texas Longhorns back from the brink of extinction.

    The Graves Peeler Collection (1949-1982) consists of approximately 2.5 cubic feet of materials. The largest part of the collection (approximately 2 cubic feet) are the materials that visually document many of Graves Peeler's travels and hunting trips during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s throughout North America. There are 1,098 slides, eight 16mm motion pictures and 20 photographs.

    The remaining half cubic foot of materials is small amounts of correspondence, printed materials, biographical information about Graves Peeler and the Peeler family and 17 audio cassette tapes of interviews with Graves Peeler in 1968.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The Graves Peeler Collection was received in four donations:

A1981-052 donated 8/5/1981 by Thomas E. Peeler.
A1985-012 donated 7/7/1985 by Leonard Stiles.
A1988-019 donated 8/16/1988 by Leonard Stiles.
A1990-018 donated 3/8/1990 by Fannie Grace Hindes.

Access Restrictions

All materials are accessible in this fonds, subject to a reference interview.

Use Restrictions

Unrestricted use for scholarly research with proper citation.

Preferred Citation

A1981-052

.1 Correspondence - handwritten "Hal to My Good Friend," August 26, 1952 and typewritten "Boone and Crockett Club" to Mr. Peeler, February 15, 1952. (5 leaves)

Descriptive Identification

Series II

A1981-052

.2 Magazine Articles, (41 leaves). Includes:

- "50 Years Behind a Badge" (parts I & II), The Cattleman, August 1979.
- "Return of the Texas Longhorn", American Vignettes, 1976.
- "Putting on the YO Brand", The Cattleman, June 1979.
- "Bred to this Land", Texas Highways", August 1978.

Descriptive Identification

Series III

A1981-052

.3 Biographical Materials. Copied items from the Texas State Archives, biographical sketches, and copies of newspaper clippings about the Conner Museum Exhibit. (58 leaves)
.4 Newspaper Clippings. Articles about Graves Peeler. (30 leaves)
.5 Articles by Walter Schoo. Copies of magazine articles about Graves Peeler.
.6 Magazine Article. "Graves Peeler & Texas Longhorn Cattle One and the Same", two issues of Longhorn Scene - 6/1982 and 8/1982. (23 leaves, 2 items)
.22 Journal Excerpts. "Hunts of Phil Tom, 1959-1968", narratives of hunts with Graves Peeler. (71 leaves)
- Yukon, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1966
- British Columbia, 1960, 1962, 1963
- Alaska, 1961
- Arizona, 1967
- Alberta, Canada, 1967
- Vermejo Park, New Mexico, 1959, 1963

A1985-012--------------------------------------------------

.7 Typed transcript of oral history interview.

Descriptive Identification

Series IV

A1985-012

.8 - .21 Audio Cassette Tapes of Graves Peeler discussing his collection of heads and horns: April and May 1968.

.8 Items 1-40
.9 Items 40-76
.10 Items 77-126
.11 Items 126-187
.12 Items 187-256
.13 Items 256-324
.14 Items 324-355, followed by anecdotes.
.15 Indian Subjects.
.16 Graves Peeler: conversation with Leonard Stiles.
.17 Graves Peeler: conversation with Leonard Stiles about brands and related topics. (2 tapes)
.18 Graves Peeler: conversation with Leonard Stiles about work as cattleman Association Field Inspector.
.19 Graves Peeler: conversation with Leonard Stiles about his life on ranch and Longhorn cattle. (2 tapes)
.20 Graves Peeler: conversation with Leonard Stiles.
.21 Graves Peeler: conversation with Leonard Stiles. (2 tapes)

Descriptive Identification

Series V