Haley, J. Evetts (James Evetts), 1901-1995

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Born July 5, 1901. Raised in Midland, Texas. Worked his family's ranch along the Pecos River. Graduated West Texas State University. Fired from University of Texas in 1936 for denouncing President Roosevelt. Director of Institute of Americanism at Texas Technological College. Known for his books and articles on Southwestern frontier. Author of A Texan Look at Lyndon: A Study in Illegitimate Power (1964).

From the description of Letter, 1954. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 54962372

Born July 5, 1901, in Belton, Texas, Haley moved with his parents, John and Julia (Evetts) Haley, to Midland at an early age. He graduated from West Texas State and University of Texas with B.A. and M.A. degrees and invested in rangelands and cattle in West Texas and Arizona. Known for his numerous books and articles on the Southwestern frontier and its heroes, Haley became involved in Texas politics and made an unsuccessful bid for the governor's chair in 1956. For several years he was field secretary of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon and later established the Haley Library in Midland in memory of his wife Nita, who died in 1958.

From the description of Papers, 1932-1964. (Texas Tech University). WorldCat record id: 25513630

Established in 1882, the XIT Ranch was owned by members of the Capitol Syndicate, a group of investors who received land in the Panhandle region in return for financing the construction of a new capitol building. The syndicate created the ranch in order to make a profit from the land before it would be sold. The previously unsettled land of the XIT Ranch spanned nearly 220 miles. Herds of longhorn cattle were raised on the ranch, and the name XIT is derived from the brand that Abner P. Blocker designed that could not be easily changed if any cattle were stolen. At its peak, the XIT Ranch reportedly had over 150 cowboys who rode over 1000 horses and branded 35,000 calves a year. The members of the ranch had considerable influence in local politics, and its reputation and size earned the ranch a prominent place in western histories.

In 1927, the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company hired James Evetts Haley (1901-1995) to write a history of the XIT Ranch. Two years later, he published The XIT Ranch of Texas and the Early Days of the Llano Estacado . Although the book gained a great deal of popularity, it incited several libel suits against Haley due to his depictions of various cowboys, ranchers, and events at the ranch. In 1931, the first suit was tried in Lubbock, and although Haley was acquitted of all charges, he agreed to withdraw the book from the market and paid the remaining plaintiffs $17,500.

Sources:

Anderson, H. Allen. XIT Ranch. Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed December 17, 2010. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/apx01 .

Price, B. Byron. Haley, James Evetts, Sr. Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed December 17, 2010. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fhahj .

From the guide to the James Evetts Haley and XIT Lawsuit Scrapbook, 1930-1936, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Established in 1882, the XIT Ranch was owned by members of the Capitol Syndicate, a group of investors who received land in the Panhandle region in return for financing the construction of a new capitol building.

The syndicate created the ranch in order to make a profit from the land before it would be sold. The previously unsettled land of the XIT Ranch spanned nearly 220 miles. Herds of longhorn cattle were raised on the ranch, and the name XIT is derived from the brand that Abner P. Blocker designed that could not be easily changed if any cattle were stolen. At its peak, the XIT Ranch reportedly had over 150 cowboys who rode over 1000 horses and branded 35,000 calves a year. The members of the ranch had considerable influence in local politics, and its reputation and size earned the ranch a prominent place in western histories.

In 1927, the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company hired James Evetts Haley (1901-1995) to write a history of the XIT Ranch.

Two years later, he published The XIT Ranch of Texas and the Early Days of the Llano Estacado. Although the book gained a great deal of popularity, it incited several libel suits against Haley due to his depictions of various cowboys, ranchers, and events at the ranch. In 1931, the first suit was tried in Lubbock, and although Haley was acquitted of all charges, he agreed to withdraw the book from the market and paid the remaining plaintiffs $17,500.

From the description of James Evetts Haley and XIT Lawsuit Scrapbook, 1930-1936 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 716120190

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Templeton, John A. Templeton, John A., Papers, 1861-1868, 1930 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Ryan, Tom, 1922-. Tom Ryan papers, 1859-2002. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
referencedIn Templeton, John A. Papers 1930., 1861-1868, 1930 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Daugherty, James Monroe, Papers 66-125., (1863-1905) 1933 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Woolridge, Floyd Alpheaus, 1906-1986. Papers, 1925-1966, 1957-1963. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Cattle and Ranch Collection. Cattle and Ranch Collection, 1847-1940 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Censure Records, U 38. 1., 1956-1966 Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
referencedIn Cattle and Ranch Collection 90-251; 2001-240., 1847-1940 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Haley, James Evetts, 1901-1995. James Evetts Haley and XIT Lawsuit Scrapbook, 1930-1936 University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Pearce, William Martin, Jr., 1913-. Papers, 1932-1974. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Crane, Edward, 1883-1959. Crane, Edward, papers, 1883-1963. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Newcomb, Samuel P. Diaries of Samuel P. Newcomb and Susan E. Newcomb and a few miscellaneous papers [microform]. University of Texas at El Paso
referencedIn Milton, Jeff, 1861-1947. Milton papers, 1920-1962. Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
creatorOf Haley, J. Evetts (James Evetts), 1901-1995. Papers, 1932-1964. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Betty Wilke Cox Papers AR. 2005. 009., 1910-2008, 1996-2006 Austin History Center , Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas, 78701.
creatorOf Anderson, Tom, 1910-. Papers, 1943-1986. University of Oregon Libraries
referencedIn Hertzog, Carl. J. Carl Hertzog papers, 1901-1985. University of Texas at El Paso
creatorOf Reynolds, Jack E. Jack E. Reynolds papers, 1950-1977. University of Arizona Libraries
referencedIn Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Franklin D., Letters, 1933-1945 University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Sonnichsen, C. L. (Charles Leland), 1901-1991. C.L. Sonnichsen papers, 1861-1991, bulk 1921-1991. University of Texas at El Paso
creatorOf Jones, Clifford B. (Clifford Bartlett), 1885-1972. Papers, 1836-1973, 1919-1972. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Works Progress Administration Records 1940s through 98-337. 35824959., 1933-1943 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Roosevelt, Franklin D. Letters 66-115; 71-165; 2012-196., 1918, 1933-1945 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf James Evetts Haley and XIT Lawsuit Scrapbook, 1930-1936 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Allred, Berten Wendell, 1904-1976. Papers, 1880-1975. University of New Mexico, Los Alamos, UNM-Los Alamos Library
creatorOf Haley, J. Evetts (James Evetts), 1901-1995. Letter, 1954. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Crane (Edward) Papers 80-51. 29884535., 1883-1959 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Boulder Daily Camera. Stagecoaches printed materials 1910 and [ca. 1956]. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Biggers, Don Hampton, 1869-1957. Collection, 1919-1961. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Allred, B. W. (Berten Wendell), 1904-. Allred papers, 1880-1975. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
creatorOf Haley, J. Evetts (James Evetts), 1901-1995. J. Evetts Haley, candidate for Governor of Texas. University of Houston, M.D. Anderson Library
referencedIn Biography -- Haley, J. Evetts. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allred, Berten Wendell, 1904-1976. person
associatedWith Allred, B. W. (Berten Wendell), 1904- person
associatedWith Anderson, Tom, 1910- person
associatedWith Biggers, Don Hampton, 1869-1957. person
associatedWith Boulder Daily Camera. corporateBody
associatedWith Cattle and Ranch Collection corporateBody
associatedWith Cox, Betty Wilke, 1928-2006 person
associatedWith Crane, Edward, 1883-1959 person
associatedWith Daugherty, James M. (James monroe), 1850-1942 person
associatedWith Haley, J. Evetts, Jr. person
associatedWith Haley, Nita Stewart. person
associatedWith Hertzog, Carl. person
associatedWith Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973. person
associatedWith Jones, Clifford B. (Clifford Bartlett), 1885-1972. person
associatedWith Love, Thomas B. person
associatedWith Milton, Jeff, 1861-1947. person
associatedWith Newcomb, Samuel P. person
associatedWith Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Pearce, William Martin, Jr., 1913- person
associatedWith Reynolds, Jack E. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. person
associatedWith Ryan, Tom, 1922- person
associatedWith Sonnichsen, C. L. (Charles Leland), 1901-1991. person
associatedWith Templeton, John A. person
associatedWith Templeton, John A. person
associatedWith Texas Technological College corporateBody
associatedWith Texas Technological College. Institute of Americanism corporateBody
associatedWith Woolridge, Floyd Alpheaus, 1906-1986. person
associatedWith Works Progress Administration. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
XIT Ranch (Tex.)
XIT Ranch (Tex.)
Texas
Texas
Midland (Tex.)
Texas
Canyon (Tex.)
Texas
Subject
Authors
Political campaigns
Political candidates
Cowboys
Frontier and pioneer life
Libel and slander
Libel and slander
Political activists
Ranches
Wheat trade
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1901-07-05

Death 1995-10-09

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