Illustated Public Lectures

Chili Bar

by Dr. Richard W. Slatta

  • Dr. Slatta has lectured at major western museums, universities and other sites, including the Albuquerque Art Museum, Autry Museum of Western Heritage (Los Angeles), Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Cody, WY), Duke University, Glenbow Museum (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), Loyola University (Baltimore), National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration (Lubbock, TX), South Dakota Historical Society (Pierre), South Dakota Celebration of the Book (Deadwood), Texas Tech University, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, University of Tulsa, and in Austria, Argentina, and elsewhere. Slatta served as historical consultant for the video documentary "Cowboys of the Americas" (Disney Channel, Warner Western, 1993). He appeared onscreen in "The Columbian Exchange" (WGBH-TV/PBS, 1991), "America's Horse" (ESPN, 1992), and "Cowboy Tech" (Discovery Channel, 2004). Dr. Slatta
  • All of the following lectures are illustrated with color slides or PowerPoint. Lectures can be adapted to any audience and audience level: general public, cruise ship travelers, academic specialists, school children, etc. Feel free to contact me for scheduling and pricing information, telephone 919-513-2229.
  • I am also working on several teaching workshops, appropriate for middle and high school as well as college teachers. I won the 1999-2000 Lonnie and Carol Poole Award for Teaching Excellence, presented by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at NC State University. I have participated in the Hewlett Continuation Project and in the Campus Writing and Speaking Program seminar series. I would like to share what I've learned about improving active student learning, undergraduate research, engaging a variety of student learning styles, incorporating electronic technologies in the classroom, and much more. Watch this space for specific teaching workshops.

    Lecture Areas: See Specific Titles Below:

    1. Cowboys of the Americas
    2. Latin American History and Culture
    3. Cruise Ship Lectures
    4. Lecturer's Other Activities

    Cowboys of the Americas

    1. "The New Old West: Changing Interpretations of the American West" -- a summary of the new, challenging research that has radically changed our views and assumptions about Western American history. Focus on ranching frontiers.
    2. "Long Hours and Low Pay: Cowboy Life on the Northern Great Plains"-- a realistic portrait of life in the range in the 19th and 20th centuries. Illustrates work and play life on the trail and ranch. Features many historical photographs from the South Dakota Historical Society.
    3. "Hispanic Roots of the American Cowboy"-- a look at five centuries of cowboy culture and the ranching industry, tracing the important Hispanic roots of American ranching in Mexico's vaquero and charro traditions.
    4. "A Fast Ride with Cowboys of the Americas" -- compares the gaucho of Argentina, the llanero of Colombia and Venezuela, the vaquero and charro of Mexico, the huaso of Chile, and the American cowboy. Concludes with a look at the cowboy's impact on popular culture.
    5. "Social History in the Saddle: Problems in Frontier Research" -- a look at where history comes from. An examination of the research problems involved in rural social history and the sources and methods used to solve these problems. Images and illustrations from North and South America.
    6. "The Gaucho: Argentina's Cowboy"-- contrasts the historical and mythical gaucho, a figure as important to Argentina's culture as the cowboy is to the US.
    7. "South Meets West: Origins of the Quarter Horse -- the history of the Quarter Horse, which developed in colonial North Carolina and Virginia. Slaves served as expert jockeys, grooms, and horse trainers for the fast Quarter Horses of the 1600s and 1700s.
    8. "The Cowboy’s Ride from History to Myth" -- contrasts the realities of life for working cowhand in the US with the images arising from his transformation into popular culture, especially through movies and TV.
    9. "Popular and Political Images of Cowboys of the Americas" -- a look at how advertising, popular culture [rodeo, film, literature], and political rhetoric have reshaped images of cowboy in several countries.
      Chili Bar

      Latin American and Caribbean History and Culture

    10. Pirates of the Caribbean, part 1: the Early Years
    11. Pirates of the Caribbean, part 2: the Dutch Masters, the Golden Age, and the End of Caribbean Piracy
    12. "Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean" -- a guided tour from Mexico to Central America, through the Panama Canal, and on to several Caribbean islands. Highlights the historical, cultural, and geographical diversity of the area.
    13. "The Wonders of South America" -- a tour from Colombia down the Andean countries to Paraguay, Brazil, concluding in Argentina. Program shows the varieties of Latin America's lands and peoples and explores major current problems facing the region.
    14. "The Many Latin Americas" -- combining images from lectures 1 and 2 above, this program illustrates the geographical and cultural diversity and richness of Latin America from Mexico to Argentina.
    15. "US-Latin American Relations Through Political Cartoons" -- political cartoons of the time show changing policies, issues, and attitudes in US-Latin American Relations from the Spanish American War of 1898 to the present.
    16. "The Many Caribbeans" -- a look at the Amerindian, African, Dutch, Spanish, and US influences and cultures of the Caribbean.
    17. "Costa Rica and Panama" -- compares and contrasts peaceful, progressive Costa Rica with Panama, its often politically troubled neighbor.
    18. "Past and Future Trends in US-Latin American Relations"
    19. "A Voyage through the Panama Canal -- enjoy a cruise through this historic canal. Also traces the difficulties in building the Canal and shows how ships are lifted 85 feet above sea level to make the isthmanian transit.

    Lecturer's Other Activities

    Slatta is author of Cowboy: The Illustrated History; The Cowboy Encyclopedia; Cowboys of the Americas; Bandidos: The Varieties of Latin American Banditry; Gauchos and the Vanishing Frontier; and Comparing Cowboys and Frontiers. He is available for museum, classroom, and even Cruise Ship Lecturing. Call upon the one and only "Cowboy Professor"-- or if you prefer the "Snorkeling Professor."

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