Explore Texas history and the impact of the
Vaqueros on Texas!
Tour the FW-Central library’s exhibit!
Learn about Public Art projects, like the Vaquero sculpture in the historic
Fort Worth Stockyards!

Vaqueros of Texas history:
El Vaquero – the mounted herdsman of the Spanish colonial period and his
Mexican counterpart of the nineteenth century, has attained romantic features and near-mythic historical stature.
In reality, Vaqueros faced harsh working conditions and had more in common with
Anglo Cowboys than is traditionally recognized.
In Texas this was the case because Anglo stock raisers were heavily influenced by the Spanish ranching institutions that they found upon their arrival in Texas.

Vaqueros of Texas history:
Over a period of time, (between 1821 and the trail-driving era), Spanish stockhandling techniques shaped the Anglo way of doing things.
The distinctions between the two traditions blurred as Vaquero traditions became commonplace on all ranches.
Spanish Vaqueros in colonial times were generally viewed by society as a rough and rowdy lot. Many of them operated outside the law and preyed upon the unbranded cattle that roamed the vast estates of northern Mexico. http://americancowboy.com/article/history-vaquero

Vaqueros of Texas history:
They were noted for their horsemanship and stock-tending skills. As ranching made its way north to Texas through the tier of provinces along the Rio Grande, these herdsmen were the vanguard of
Hispanic colonization.
In many cases they attached themselves to a
(an influential rancher who owned a grant of land from the king), married, and built a shack on his property. Their children were raised in service to the
; an arrangement that sometimes spanned generations.
Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=981ZbWyhekY

Vaqueros of Texas history:
Through their working association with
Vaqueros, young Anglo Cowboys learned their techniques and adopted them as a matter of course.
From the era of the Texas Revolution and beyond, South Texas abounded in wild longhorn cattle noted for their stamina and adaptation to the land.
After the Civil War, these herds increased dramatically, and when rounded up and branded, formed the basis for a number of prosperous huge ranches.

Vaqueros of Texas history:
Hired Vaqueros figured prominently in this process, as well as in the drives to rail heads and northern markets.
Not only did they ride for Anglo bosses, they also took herds north for Mexican operators. Around 15% of cattle drivers were of Hispanic decent.
By the 1870s, the Vaquero's saddle, chaps, bandana, sombrero, lasso, and spurs were so widespread that they lost their Hispanic identity and became simply "Texan."

During the Revolution, a number of Hispanic citizens played large parts securing Texas’
Independence. These included the following
Mexican-Texans who died defending the Alamo:
Juan Abamillo - a native Texan, who volunteered to serve under Juan Seguin.
Juan Antonio Badillo - born in Texas, and also served under Seguin.
Carlos Espalier - born in Texas and the protégé of
Jim Bowie, he was only 17 when he was killed at the Alamo.
Antonio Fuentes - born in San Antonio, and was recruited by Seguin.

Esparza
Mexican-Texans at the Alamo (continued):
Jose Maria Esparza -(also known as Gregorio
Esparza) was born in San Antonio. He was one of the few defenders whose family were able to claim his body for a proper Christian burial.
Damacio Jimenez - native Texan in Seguin’s militia, served with Travis at Anahuac as well.
Jose Toribio Losoya - was actually born in the
Alamo on April 11, 1808. He deserted the Mexican army to join Seguin. His wife and 3 children survived the siege in the mission chapel.
Andres Nava- a native Texan, enlisted during the siege of Bexar, and later died at the Alamo.
Toribio Losoya

Juan Seguin
Martin de Leon
The most famous Tejano to fight for independence was Col. Juan Seguin.
During the battle of San Jacinto, Seguin commanded an entire regiment of
Mexican-Texans during the battle.
Land Empresarios such as Martin de Leon, helped to fund the revolution contributing
$35,000 (almost a million dollars in today’s money).
Out of the 59 men who signed the Texas
Declaration of Independence, 3 of these
Texas freedom fighters were of Mexican-
Texan (Tejano) descent.

Vaqueros of Texas history:
They were Lorenzo de Zavala, Jose Antonio
Navaro, & Jose Francisco Ruiz.
Jose Francisco Ruiz was San Antonio’s first school master.
Navaro, the nephew of Ruiz, served in the
Texas Senate, Navarro County is named in his honor.
De Zavala went on to become the first Vice
President of the Republic of Texas.
Learn more about these heroic Texans at: http://www.texastejano.com/

Vaqueros of Texas history:
Texas without Mexicans would not be
Texas as we know it . This ethnic group is so essential to defining Texas culture that sometimes it is impossible to separate
"Tex-Mex.”
Rodeo, chili, barbecue, ranch, macho, fiesta, tacos: these are words, foods and events that now belong to all Texans.
If there is a common thread, it is a proud acknowledgement of "la raza," the concept of a unique group in history, born out of the discovery of the New
World and the mixing of European and native tribal civilizations.

Vaqueros of Texas history:
While originating in Mexico, celebrations such as Cinco de Mayo, in Texas, are more a statement of cultural roots in Texas than any political or patriotic statement. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the defeat of the last Europeans to rule in Mexico.
On May 5, 1862, forces loyal to President Benito
Juarez, defeated the French at the Battle of
Puebla. The victorious commander, Gen. Ignacio
Zaragoza, was born in Goliad Texas .
Learn more about Zarazoza: http://www.presidiolabahia.org/zaragosa.htm

Vocabulary Of Vaqueros
Spanish Words Used in Texas
Armadillo (literally, "the little armed one")
Bandit ("bandido"; a robber or highwayman)
Bravo (from Old Spanish, fierce or brave)
Bronco (means "wild" or "rough" or "rude")
Burrito (literally "little donkey")
Burro (a donkey)
Chaps (from Mexican Spanish chaparreras)
Chocolate (xocolatl, from an indigenous language)
Desperado (a bold or desperate outlaw)
Hammock (from jamaca, Caribbean Spanish word)
Jerky ("charquí" - roughly equivalent to "tasajo")
Lariat (from la reata, braided rawhide rope)
Lasso (from lazo)
Mesquite (tree from Nahuatl mizquitl (mixed)

Vocabulary Of Vaqueros
Spanish Words Used in Texas
Mosquito (an insect)
Mustang (from mesteñas, - a wild horse)
Patio (In Spanish, an inner garden or courtyard.)
Ranch (Rancho - a settlement, ranch or camp.)
Remuda (regionalism for a relay of horses)
Renegade (from renegado)
Rodeo (roundup / show of skills - verb to encircle)
Shack (Mexican Spanish jacal, Nahuatl xcalli)
Sombrero (sombra, "shade," - any kind of hat, )
Stampede ("estampida" - panicked herd;)
Tornado (from tronada, thunderstorm)
Vaquero (or "baquero"; - regional term)
Vigilante (from adjective for "vigilant")
Wrangler (caballerano, one who grooms horses)

Creative Western Influences
Spanish Influence in Silversmithing
Western silversmithing in North America began in
Mexico. Cortes discovered silver there in 1522. It is believed that the working of silver into adornments began after Cortez’s discovery.
It is recorded that Coronado and Cabeza de Vaca,
(Spanish Conquistadors), made it to what is now
Arizona and New Mexico by 1542 in search of silver and gold. From a fusion of Native American culture and the Spanish ability to work silver came the western tradition of silver adornments.
A lot of the authentic antique “Vaquero” jewelry is very collectible and hard to come by.

Creative Western Influences
Spanish Influence Leatherwork
Although the earliest forms of working leather for ornamentation date from ancient Egypt, legend maintains that Spanish Moors decorated their homes with hand-carved leather.
During the time of the Aztecs, artisans tooled leather items as well as carved similar patterns in stone. Many modern raised-flower designs can be traced back to Aztec patterns.
Leather tooling became popular among cowboys and ranchers of the "Wild West" for its ornamentation and expression of personal style.
Elaborately tooled saddles helped express pride in their owners' horsemanship and identified individual possessions among Vaqueros with no horses of their own.

Creative Western Influences
Evolution of Spanish Spurs
Some of the earliest spurs known are believed to have been used by the Roman Legions of Julius
Caesar, which have been unearthed in
England. The Romans developed spurs in order to have a way to steer their horses with their legs, while leaving their hands free to fight.
The revolving rowel used in modern western spurs originated in France around 1200. By 1600 in Spain, armorers developed large and ornately decorated spurs with rowels. Some of these designs came to the new world with the conquistadors.
Vaqueros preferred large rowel spurs, which signified status as a horseman who walked, only when necessary. The influence of ornate early
Spanish design is still evident today.

Fort Worth Central Library:
To celebrate
, students will explore the history and culture of the
Vaqueros or Mexican cowboys.
Participants will experience a tour of library resources, vaquero-based trivia, a proctored tour of specialized photographs and artifacts, and a special character presentation focused on the allure and the contributions of the Vaqueros to Texas and its rich history.

Fort Worth Central Library:
anyone under the age of
18, enrolled in a FWISD school, is eligible for a free FW Library card.
Fill out the application emailed to your teacher for a free library card. Have your teacher send it to ICFW, and when you attend the Vaquero exhibit it will be ready for you to collect!
Being a library member means you can check out books, study guides, movies, and use the computers. The rewards are endless. Enroll today!

Fort Worth Central Library:
Be sure to use authoritative sources!
1. Who was the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Congress?
2. Who was the first Hispanic player voted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame?
3. Who was the first Hispanic woman to become an astronaut?

Fort Worth Central Library:
Hispanic Trivia Continued
4. According to the 2010 Census, what percentage of the U.S. population is
Hispanic or Latino?
5. Did Vaqueros carry guns as part of their jobs?
6. What does the word “vaquero” mean?
7. What does the word “sombrero” mean?
8. How long have Vaqueros been tending cattle?

What is public art?
The term Public Art refers to works created by artists and can include sculptures, murals, memorials, monuments.
Generally public art is designed to be permanent and accessible to all.
What distinguishes Public Art is the unique ability to engender dialogue and transform public space.

What is public art?
Public Art Continued:
Intended to appeal to diverse audiences, a public art project frequently includes community input, is located on public property and is funded with public dollars.
Public art can express community values, explore and shape creative expression, commemorate history, heighten awareness of shared places, and build identity.

The Vaquero Sculpture:
The sculpture,
, is located on North Main St. at Central
Ave. in the historic Northside. The project developed in response to community pride in the Vaquero’s contribution to the success of
Cattle Business in the Fort Worth
Stockyards.
"Vaquero de Fort Worth" is part of the Fort Worth Public Art collection .
FWPA provides maintenance and conservation for this artwork and others in the collection, assuring that it will be enjoyed by generations to come.

Texas Vaquero curriculum:
Luis Jimenez
Newton & Bustos
Vaquero Sculpture Project
Compare Texas artist Luis Jimenez’s
Vaquero sculpture with Newton &
Bustos’s sculpture here in Fort Worth.
Why do you think these artists took a different approach to the same subject?
What would your vaquero sculpture look like? What aspects of the vaquero’s life would you focus on?
Sketch your own vaquero sculpture.

Texas Vaquero curriculum:
Immigration Project: A Trip to the Past
Imagine you are an immigrant who comes to
Texas in the 1800s.
Create a journal of your life.
Your journal should have the following: (include bibliography and URL resources used).
#1: Describe what your life was like in your previous home, where did you live, what did you do for a living, your family, and generally how you feel about the life you left behind.
#2. Family Tree: Create a family tree dating back to your great- grandparents.
#3. Make a list of reasons why you decided to come to Texas.
#4. Map: Create a map and trace the route you took. Where do you live in Texas?

Texas Vaquero curriculum:
Immigration Project Continued
# 5. Describe what you packed to bring with you and how did you got here (wagon, horseback…).
#6. Describe what you saw upon your arrival, was it what you expected?
#7.Make a simple drawing of your new home in
Texas with captions to explain.
#8. Explain whether or not you are glad to be in
Texas. How is your life different? How is your life better or worse than before you arrived?
#9. Cover: Your diary must be in a creative cover.
No modern folders! You are from the 1800s.
Enjoy your journey though time and remember to include your resources on each journal entry.

Donor Page Etc
$25,000+
Sid W. Richa rdson Founda tion
$10,000-$24,999
Arts Council of Fort Worth & Ta rra nt County
Rosentha l Founda tion
Willia m E. Scott Founda tion
Community Founda tion of North Texa s
Ellison & Edwa rd La sa ter Trust
Texa s Commission for the Arts
Texa s Educa tion Agency
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
$500 - $9,999
Armstrong Founda tion
Ba tes Conta iner
Jill Bla ck
Communities Founda tion of Texa s
Frost Ba nk
Ja ck La rson
Rozell Spra yer Ma nufa cturing
Sertoma Club of Downtown Fort Worth
Ta rget Founda tion
Virginia Street Smith Trust
Arts Council of Northea st Ta rra nt County
BBVA Compa ss Founda tion
Colonia l Country Club Cha rity
Fort Worth Convention a nd Visitors Burea u
Ma ry Potishma n La rd Trust
Mollie & Ga rla nd La sa ter Trust
Rya n Founda tion
Joe P. Stra in
Texa s Associa tion of Pa rents & Educa tors of the Dea f
Wells Fa rgo Founda tion