| Interview with Larry D. Ball |
Larry D. Ball Receives WWHA Award for Lifetime Contribution to Wild West History
You have a wonderful legacy of writings about the wild west. When did you first get interested in this field?
Like many wild west aficionados, I began to read western stories at the age of ten or eleven. Since I grew up in a small farm/timber village in eastern Arkansas, I had a lot of time to read. The West--at least the novelists' image of that distant place--fascinated me. When my parents took me to a nearby town that had a drug store (and accompanying paperback book stand), I went straight for it. Occasionally, a piece of non- fiction, such as Walter Noble Burns' "Saga of Billy the Kid" or "Tombstone: An Iliad of the Southwest"--appeared on the book rack. These volumes interested me more, and I began to look for additional facts about the characters in these stories. Soon, I stumbled onto magazines, such as "True West" and "Frontier Times." These magazines not only introduced me to researchers, such as Phil Rasch, but with opportunities to order books, such as those of Ed Bartholomew and Father Stanley. When I reached college, I had many questions but few answers. However, the college and university libraries opened up enormous new possibilities for research, and I have been captivated ever since.
What was your first published book and date of publication?
My first book was "The United States Marshals of New Mexico and Arizona Territories, 1846-1912," which the University of New Mexico Press published in 1978. This work began as my doctoral dissertation in the History Department of the University of Colorado (Boulder). While it may be dated in some ways by the work of subsequent researchers, it probably remains my best work. I was very fortunate in having access to new and untapped sources in the Department of Justice documents in the National Archives, in Washington, DC. At the same time, the work of many western authors, who had written extensively about personalities associated with the U. S. Marshals in the Southwest, helped to flesh out my subject.
Are you currently researching or writing your next book or project? Can you share some information about it?
As for present research, I have just completed a manuscript concerning Tom Horn and submitted it to the University of Oklahoma Press for consideration. In spite of the fact that many writers have taken up this subject, I have found Horn very difficult to write about. This difficulty arose in part, because of the controversary that surrounded his activities (and execution) in Wyoming, and again, because his life has not been fully documented. Previous writers often relied uncritically on Horn's autobiography, which is highly exaggerated and sometimes untruthful. I hope that I have been able to at least bring the facts of his life into sharper relief, although I confess I cannot resolve the controversy over his death.
What recommendations would you offer the novice writer who hopes to be published?
As far as advising aspiring young writers, I would suggest that, first, you should read, read, read, and then read some more. By becoming immersed in what has been written about your subject first, the young writer should have many (unanswered) questions about his/her subject. It is these questions that should be answered and will prove as points of departure for even more research. I would also suggest that the novice author should try to find untapped sources and thus present his/her reader with fresh, new points of view. While academics are often accused of producing only "dry as dust" monographs, I did find the advise of my professors very helpful in many ways. One of the most meaningful pieces of advise that I recall from graduate school days is to remember that we are writing for the reader (and not for mere personal satisfaction). When we begin to write and questions arise as to what we should include in the article or book, we might ask ourselves the question: "Do I Owe It To My Reader?" By attempting to answer this question first, our writing task should be much easier.
You have attended NOLA and WOLA conventions, as well as last year's first WWHA Roundup. What was your impression of this year's program and social events? Any suggestions for WWHA in the future?
I enjoyed the NOLA and WOLA meeting over the years, although I was unable to attend all of them by any means. I was very happy to see the creation of the WWHA since it brings together a wider range of researchers and aficionados of the West. I find the meetings very stimulating, the enthusiasm of attendees very satisfying. The meeting also provides the opportunity to tap the latest research in the field. People in attendance are always anxious to pass on the fruits of their research, and I am very happy to reciprocate. The programs have been well balanced and very informative. I wish the organization the greatest good fortune in the future.
