Mister R. Cartledge ("Mister Wayne") is posing with some of his favorite pictures. He is leaning against a television set.

Mister R. Cartledge ("Mister Wayne") is working at his desk in front of a typewriter.

Research paper written for a history class at Marfa High School about the first San Antonio-El Paso mail run, which required thirty days to cover 673 miles by stage coach and heavily armed frontiersmen of ward off attacks. Diedrick Dutchover was one of the men that accompanied the stage coaches on horseback to protect the mail carriers from threats.

This is a research paper written by Richard Hewitt for an American History Class at Marfa High School on December 10, 1969. It includes stories about Indian attacks in west Texas, the location of petroglyphs, and descriptions of different arrowheads and their uses.

Research paper written by Lupita Valenzuela for a class at Marfa High School on December 7, 1969. The paper is about the history of the Catholic Church in Marfa, Texas.

Report written by Lupita Valenzuela for a history class at Marfa High School on December 7, 1969. The report tells about the early missions and priests, the first churches

Research paper written by Roxanne Baker detailing the life of Hub Castleberry as a camp cook for the McElroy or Y ranch.

Paper written by Freddie Ceniceros chronicling the life of Jose Ceniceros.

Hunting license issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to Gene West of Marfa in 1969. This was included in a research paper by Harvey Slaton for an American History class in 1971.

This is a research paper written by Albert Garcia for an American History Class at Marfa High School in 1969. It chronicles the life of John Conners.

Research paper written for a history class at Marfa High School about Mary Coe Daniels, pioneer of West Texas, and her family. Daniels and her husband and children made their home in West Texas, despite threats of bandits and influenza. She kept house, ran a successful store, delivered babies, and even became a U.S. mail carrier. At the time this paper was created, Mary Cole Daniels was 76 year old and still greeting customers in her general store.

Letter written by Fritz Kahl to Debbie Bates of Grapevine, Texas. The letter is dated February 25, 1969. The letter concerns aviation and the various skills a pilot needs to be successful. It is a response to a letter written earlier by Debbie Bates.

Photograph of Fort Leaton ruins in the Big Bend desert, near Presidio, Texas. Several wood support beams of varying lengths support the wall structure. A stone marker near the photograph's left quadrant describes the structure. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The mission was successful, and Christianized many of the tribes until the Padres were called back from this wilderness in the eighteenth century" (pp. 3-4).

Photograph of a flagpole, viewed from the ground looking up with an American flag at the top and a Texas state flag below. A cloudy sky is visible above the pole. The image accompanied the conclusion of a written speech, with the caption: "To those who would protest the American life of challenge and accomplishment, I would remind them, our land has never been easy. [...] The land is rich, not only in landscape, but also in the heritage of those who have tried to tame it. This is My Land, My Heritage, My Hope" (p. 14)

Pphotograph of a barren Big Bend crater. Several edges of the crater contain sparse tufts of grasslands and a mountain range is visible in the far distance. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "These Indians were primarily farmers, whose fields lined the banks of the now dry rivers and creeks. The sites of the Jumano pueblos are still a source of artifacts" (p. 3).

Photograph of a grassy, barren Big Bend landscape, with mountains in the far distance. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The chief engineer gave the honor of naming the newly-created water store to his wife, who was reading a Russian novel" (p. 6).

Portrait of Ben Leaton and Juana Pedraza posing together. Juana is wearing a dark-colored dress and is seated in a wooden chair; Leaton is wearing a dark colored suit, standing to her left, with one hand on her arm. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "An exploratory group headed by John W. Spencer met in Chihuahua and came into the Big Bend" (p. 4).

Photograph of a Big Bend cave painting that includes a picture of a cave buffalo in the upper-left quadrant, a small picture of a buffalo in the upper-right quadrant, and a picture of a caveman in the lower-left corner of the photograph. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The climate changed, and food shortages caused the Jumanos to become buffalo hunters, as evidenced by this cave painting" (p. 3).

Photograph of wildflowers and grasses in a canyon near Presidio County, Texas. There is a large bush of pink wildflowers in the foreground with green grasses and bushes behind. A rocky mountain range features prominently in the background and extends the width of the photograph. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Bluebonnets, our State flower, and sage bloom early in the year-round warmth in the Big Bend Park on the Rio Grande" (p. 2).

Photograph of seven stone items -- fossils of prehistoric shells and bones, and Indian manos (grinding stones) -- displayed on the bottom of a metal tub sitting on a grassy plain. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Water-dwelling dinosaurs, such as those related to the modern crocodile, and bird-like reptiles have been excavated from their rock prisons" (p. 1).

Photograph of a desert landscape in the Big Bend area, including trees and bushes with mountains in the background. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The Big Bend really began to open up when in 1882 the Southern Pacific Railroad planned to lay rails through Ft. Davis on its way to the ocean. The city fathers didn't want the noise of the trains to disturb their beautiful, quiet town, and the plan was revised so the tracks would be laid twenty-five miles south" (p. 6).

Photograph of farm fields in front of a mountain range, located in the Big Bend area. Several tractors and wagons are visible on dirt roads around the fields and desert scrub is visible in the foreground. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The two to three hundred acres behind the mission have been given the title of 'the oldest piece of land continuously used for farming in North America'" (p. 4).

Photograph of a desert landscape in the Big Bend area with a prominent mountain in the center. A dirt road is visible in the foreground as well as an unidentified building. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The city fathers didn't want the noise of the trains to disturb their beautiful, quiet town, and the plan was revised so the tracks would be laid twenty-five miles south" (p. 6).

This report gives a brief overview of the life of Jesse Blackwell, telling about his family and career as an educator.