Article provides context to the recollections of the author's grandmother, Mrs. M. E. Rogers, who was a survivor of the flood at Frazer in Old Greer County that resulted in the founding of Altus, Oklahoma.

Article provides and introduction to and includes an excerpt of the autobiography of Otto Koeltzow, a migrant from Germany who homesteaded Greer County, Oklahoma Territory and weathered many difficulties to establish a community there.

Photograph of a large field subject to severe wind erosion recently deep-plowed. Note the clay subsoil brought to the surface by deep-plowing. OK-1523-9.

Photograph of "a Loamy Breaks range site in good condition. The soil is Loamy Broken land; soil symbol 28w."

Photograph of a grassy landscape of Hollister soils in foreground, Tillman soils in background, and Rough broken land in far background. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Soils – Typical landscape of Hollister soils in foreground, Tillman soils in background on gently sloping areas, and land type, Rough broken land in far background."

Photograph of youthful badland soil/Eroded Red Clay range site showing rawness of material in foreground, and sparseness of vegetation. The limited vegetation shown in photograph includes mesquite and prickly pear. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Soil – Badland, showing rawness of material in foreground, and sparseness of vegetation. Usually some scattered mesquite and prickly pear occur on this raw, youthful soil. This in the Eroded Red Clay range site. Land Capability Class VIIs."

Photograph of a field subject to severe wind erosion that has recently been deep-plowed. Note clay subsoil brought to the surface by deep plowing. OK-1523-10.

Photograph of a working cotton stripper. Cotton making 1/2 bale.

Photograph of a grassed water outlet.

Photograph of feed stalks left as a protective cover from wind erosion on Springer-Miles loamy fine sand, undulating.

Photograph of feed stalks left as a protective cover from wind erosion on Springer-Miles loamy fine sand, undulating.

Photograph of deep plowing. This field subject to severe wind erosion, has recently been deep plowed. Note clayey subsoil brought to the surface by deep-plowing.

Photograph of a 19" diameter, 3,900 gallon concrete stockwater tank at corral serving 5 pastures.

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Mr. E. L. Jones is a genial, friendly front tower guard despite the formidable appearance of his firearms."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper.

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Rehabilitation is difficult for 85 percent of the inmates at Granite when guards in these towers must carry loaded guns to cope with the other 15 percent"

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Appointment Thursday of Dr. Anthony M. Opisso as chief medical officer of Oklahoma State Reformatory his first assignment as a full fledged phsician surgeon, marged the first time in the 43 year history of the institution that a doctor has been employed on a full time basis to care for the physical needs of the inmate personnel now numbering 625."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Making cowboy boots is popular almong inmates at Granite."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper.

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Frank McKay, right, instructs a leather craft trainee in the reformatory saddle shop."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Greer County Republican committee chairman Joe McDonald was wearing a vertically - striped black and white shirt."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Frank McKay has been leather crafts training instructor at the Granite prison for 12 years."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Dick McRee fire department dispatcher"

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Legislators and reformatory officials leave building during tour at Granite."