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.

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.

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 intact ruins in the Presidio desert; the structure is a long rectangle with a square opening. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "El Apostol Santiago built, with Indian labor, a mission on the north side of the Rio Grande in 1684" (p. 3).

Photograph of a tree and bushes in Presidio desert. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "El Apostol Santiago built, with Indian labor, a mission on the north side of the Rio Grande in 1684" (p. 3).

Photograph of images hanging on a wall in a Presidio museum. There is a painting of an Apache Indian on the left and a photograph of an older Indian seated among desert cacti and brush on the right. Text is printed below the images, but is not readable. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "After the death of the Apache chief, Victorio, the Big Bend was relatively safe. Fort Davis was decommissioned in 1891, after outliving its usefulness" (p. 5).

Photograph of the remains of several stone buildings that are part of the remaining ruins of a Presidio ranch. The ruins are next to a road lined with small posts, visible in the lower-right corner, and desert mountains are visible in the background. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "These are the ruins of the ranch house of another West Texas settler whom the land defeated. Manuel Musquiz tried to homestead in the canyon near the present town of Ft. Davis in 1854. Continued Indian raids drove him back to the security of the East" (p. 4).

Photograph of the ruins of a small stone fort that were part of a ranch in Presidio. The ruins are in a desert landscape and rocky mountains are visible in the background. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Besides farming, [John W. Spencer] ran several stores in Ojinaga and Presidio" (p. 4)

Photograph of a Big Bend museum display titled "Raiders from the North." Clockwise from far left corner: photo of Indian standing; small map of Texas with Jumanos' paths outlined; picture of Jumanos Indian on horseback; picture of Indians on horseback; tall leather moccasins; knife and woven knife pouch; horse saddle; picture of people sitting and on horseback. A small display of a bow and arrows are in the far left side of the photograph. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Comanche and Apache raiders enslaved the peace-loving Jumanos, and the Jumanos disappeared as a distinct tribe" (p. 3).

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).

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 several large rocks including ancient mortars lined up on the dirt to the right of a long, white wall. Several of the flat stones have small, smooth stones on top and one of the mortars has a pestle. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "[The Jumanos] Indians were primarily farmers, whose filed lined the banks of now dry rivers and creeks" (p. 3).

Photograph of an oval, white soapstone Indian artifact carved with the shape of a small canine. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The first tribe of Indians to be recorded were called the 'Basketmakers.' They quickly faded into the background with the coming of the Jumanos" (pp. 2-3).

Photograph of a white stone Indian artifact in the shape of a man, or an ape. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The first tribe of Indians to be recorded were called the 'Basketmakers'" (p. 2).

Photograph of a statue artifact in the shape of a dinosaur. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Early man, who created these artifacts, entered West Texas while the mammoth roamed free" (p. 2).

Photograph of a desert landscape at Big Bend National Park, with mountain ridges in the background. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "In the mountains the beautiful trees provide a pleasant contrast from the brush in the lower lands" (p. 2)

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 several bluebonnet plants (Lupinus havardii) in the desert near Marfa, Texas. 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).

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.

Photograph of the town of Marfa taken from a distance. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Marfa's twenty-five hundred citizens are a blend of three ethnic groups" (p. 13).

Photograph of three unidentified male Marfa students wearing hooded sweatshirts and sweatpants. Two of the students' sweatshirts have logos with the text "Marfa Shorthorns." The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Besides football, basketball, tennis, and golf wins, several members of the track team have gone on to higher competition" (p. 13).

Photograph of an outdoor athletic field, taken from across a Marfa street. Four unidentified Marfa High School students are practicing tennis. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "Besides football, basketball, tennis, and golf wins, several members of the track team have gone on to higher competition" (p. 13).

Photograph of several unidentified students gathering near the Hunter Gymnasium at Marfa High School. There is a flag pole with the American flag and another flag in front of the building. The image accompanied a written speech, with the caption: "The students themselves take pride in their town by winning awards in nearly all activities. Junior Historians are creating a museum to honor their founders" (pp. 12-13).