Ron Querry Papers

In 2004, Ron Querry donated extensive literary archives to the Southwestern Writers Collection, including materials relating to his celebrated novels The Death of Bernadette Lefthand and Bad Medicine. Querry is a mixed-blood descendant of the Choctaw Nation, and his novels have drawn strong praise for their portrayals of the Southwest's native peoples.

Querry is also the author of the memoir, I See By My Get-Up, and the editor of the anthology Growing Old at Willie Nelson's Picnic and Other Sketches of Life in the Southwest.

photograph: Elaine and Ron Querry, Puerto de Luna, New Mexico. 1984.

Querry's archives include manuscript drafts, research notes, galley proofs, character and place sketches, correspondence with writers, editors, friends and family, cassettes from readings and conversations, and materials relating to foreign language editions of Querry's novels, including the French edition of The Death of Bernadette Lefthand, published as Le Dernier Pow Wow (The Last Pow Wow.) Also included in the archives are a number of photographs by Elaine Querry, a noted Southwestern photographer and the wife of Ron Querry.

The Ron Querry papers are available for research. Arrangements can be made by contacting the Archivist, Southwestern Writers Collection.

A preliminary inventory of the Querry gift is detailed below:

(compiled by Tina Ybarra, Archival Assistant, Southwestern Writers Collection)

Box 1
Photos:
- black medium sized 3-ring binder that contains 40 b/w most photos taken by Elaine Querry, circa 1984. University of New Mexico press used some of these photos for Querry's memoir I see by my get-up. Photos have been removed from binder and re-housed in mylar sheets but kept in original order.
Description and caption of photos listed below:
- b/w 5x6 photo of "Ron Querry, 1948"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Lefty at work Ron and Moonshine out for a stroll"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "The big wedding at Lake Ranch, May 14, 1984. From left to right: Travis, Navata, Elaine, Ron, Lanita, The Reverend Mailman, Domino, and Lefty"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "The old mare, Comet"
- b/w 7x10 photo of "Lefty and Ron"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Matchmaker (Josie's first foal) and Moonshine"
- b/w 6.5x8 photo of "The Chair"
- b/w 5x5 photo of "Elaine on Comet beside her grandfather"
- b/w 6.5x9 photo of "Josie and Rumshop"
- b/w 8.5x6 photo of "Elaine on Comet beside her grandfather"
- b/w 6.5x7 photo of "A young George Bibb (probably taken about 1910)
- b/w 6.25x4 photo of "Elaine and her grandfather caking from the pickup about twenty-five years earlier"
- b/w 6.25x8.75 photo of "Ron caking from the pickup"
- b/w 5.25x7.25 photo of "Orphaned antelope summer, 1957"
- b/w 7x10 photo of "George Bibb on Satan (about 1920)
- b/w 6.5x8.25 photo of "Ron back when he was a practicing farrier"
- b/w 6.5x5.5 photo of "Fearless"
- b/w 6.75x4.75 photo of "This steer is just about to get his nose nipped by a little cow dog who figures he's got no business stickin' it in his truck"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Branding Left to right: A.T., David Mair (in chute), Ron, Elaine"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "The Happy Rancher' (Caking cattle is just a real nice job)"
- b/w 6x7 photo of "Domino is very proud of this bone he's found out in the pasture"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Gypsy and her hour-old calf, Trouble"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Val (Yes, she was born on February 14th)
- b/w 6.75x7.5 photo of "Ron's fixing to gather those
- b/w cows that Rumshop's watching so alertly"
- b/w 7.5x8.25 photo of "A.T. Austin 'Ponying' a race colt off Rumshop"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "You're right a wreck is about to happen"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Ron with January and Startled and Asa and Brett and some of our other wild cows"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Ron and A.T. castrating a bull calf (Domino likes to eat what the fellows are removing"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Branding (the smoke behind Elaine means the iron was hot)"
- b/w 6.5x9 photo of "The mountain from our backyard"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Comet"
- b/w 9x6 photo of "Catch Moonshine and the rest will follow (except Comet, of course, who pretends she's not coming)"
- b/w 7.5x4.75 photo of "Antelope"
- b/w 5x7 photo of Ron Querry and dog
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Ron on Moonshine"
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Muffy' Elaine gave this cow to Ron's daughter, Isabel (note monogrammed ear tag)
- b/w 8x10 photo of Ron Querry and horse
- b/w 8x10 photo of "Lefty under his truck"
- b/w 6.5x7.5 photo of "Elaine and Ron"
- b/w 5x7 photo of "Lefty and Ron"
- b/w 5x7 photo of Ron Querry with cattle
Materials related to Get Up
- 7 page annotated original typescript of Larry L. King's foreword to Querry's book titled Get-Up
- typed pages of earliest draft manuscript of Get-Up by Querry
- typed annotated pages of Larry L. King's edit of Querry's first pieces for Get-Up. Also included with draft is a typed letter from King addressed to "Doctor Querry" dated May 29, 1985. These items were essential to the final writing of the Querry's book.
- typed annotated early version manuscript titled Get-Up. This is a copy-edited manuscript with some shuffling done of the chapters and some new additions.
- complete typed slightly annotated final manuscript titled Get-Up, housed in black report cover folder. Includes copy of typed letter from John Nichols to Ron Querry, dated July 22, 1986.
Materials related to Growing Old edited by Ron Querry
- clean complete typed manuscript in black report cover folder. Various pages marked with yellow sticky notes. Querry carried this and taught from it at the University of Oklahoma.
Materials related to The Killing of Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry
- complete typed annotated copy-edited manuscript. Annotations suggest changes in which Querry refused to make.
- clean complete typed (1st real draft) early manuscript, dated 01/31/1989. Manuscript is housed in black report cover folder.
- complete set of corrected galleys pages (housed in white medium sized box)
Materials related to Bad Medicine by Ron Querry
- complete first edit draft that was sent to Beverly Lewis on August 16, 1996 and was returned back to Querry on November 1st, 1997.

Box 2
Materials related to Bad Medicine by Ron Querry
- rewrite and final draft with last made revisions
- final manuscript as "Foul Matter". Manuscript is heavily annotated and along with manuscript are relevant letters and faxes between the author, editor and agent. Also included are maps, datelines, letters; all pertinent to the book.
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Writers" - various letters of correspondence to/from various writers such as: Larry McMurtry, Leslie Silko, Barbara Kingsolver, Craig Womack, Donley Watt, W.S. Penn, Alan Velie, Jill Giller and others, dates range from 1982 1995.
- "Red Crane Books" (2 folders) - correspondence to/from book publisher (Red Crane) regarding Querry's book, book catalogs, and royalty statement receipts.
- "Contracts" - copies of contracts to/from various publishers regarding Querry's books, dates range from 1982-1998.
- "Choctaw Proposal/ Notes, etc." correspondence, notes, draft proposal, clippings all related to the Choctaw people.
- "Odds and Ends" various certificates, newspaper clippings, invitations, articles, photocopies of receipts, KKK materials, business cards, and other odds and ends
- "Certificates" certificates and awards from: Colorado State University (also included with certificate are seven 3.5x5 b/w photos of Ron Querry collecting stallion semen for artificial insemination) , Border Regional Library Association, Armed Forces of the USA, Penitentiary of New Mexico, and New Mexico State University.
- "Interview Materials" reviews and interview questions/answers

Box 3
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Salem Press / Magills Lit. Annual" Discrimination: Native Americans Struggle for Equality by Ron Querry, chapter outline, press reviews and correspondence
- "Catalogues" Kruger Fruhjahr 1996, Bantam Trade Books Summer 1995, Batam Literature, Nuage Rouge Le Mail 1996.
- "Readings" various thank you notes from different places where Querry has done readings
- "Get Up Publicity" publicity for Querry's book titled I See By My Get-Up
- "Eastlake / Borgo Press" correspondence, clippings
- "Western Writers of America" correspondence, newsletters, directory and reviews
- "PEN" directories, reviews, correspondence, PEN newsletters, PEN magazines
- "Southwest Montage" introduction and book catalogues
- "Contract Growing Old" contract and correspondence from publisher
- ""Vicinanza Agency" correspondence and royalty statements
- "Photo materials: Growing Old" correspondence, fee guidelines, research materials, photocopies of photos
- "Permissions Growing Old" correspondence with different publishers and magazines and receipts
- "Publicity Growing Old" publicity for Querry's book titled Growing Old
- "Notes/Receipts for Growing Old" notes, receipts, etc.
- "Amerind Museum Exhibit" brochures, invitations, draft and introduction to exhibit
- "Photos: Growing Old" numerous b/w photos used for the making of Growing Old
- "Proposal (with Le Anne Howe) on Choctaw book for OU Press" correspondence, brochures, notes.
- "Bad Med Publicity" publicity for Querry's book titled Bad Medicine
- "Bernadette Publicity" newspaper clippings, catalogues, correspondence, ads featuring Querry's book, newsletters, press releases, reviews.

Box 4
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Walk Tall America" b/w 8x10 photo of Kirk "Butch" Purcell introducing Querry to "Uncle Willie" who entertained (played the harmonica and danced) at "Buford T. Pusser Walk Tall America-Big Stick Awards Ceremony" in Ft. Worth, TX dated December 1983, two typed letters address to Larry King from Querry dated Nov. 1983, photo copy of an ad for The Anti-UnAmericanism Crusade, Querry's blue cotton t-shirt for the Panther City Methadone Center bowling shirt (shirt was presented to Querry by lawyer Kirk Purcell at the "Buford T. Pusser Walk Tall America-Big Stick Awards Ceremony" Ft. Worth December 1983.
Materials related to Bad Medicine by Ron Querry
- VHS cassette titled "48 hours 'In the Danger Zone'" dated 8/31/1994 (viruses)
- VHS cassette titled "Ebola, etc, CNN" dated 05/14/1995
- book titled Federal Health Care (With Reservations!) by Robert L. Kane and Rosalie A. Kane
- book titled Navajo Taboos by Ernest L. Bulow book is signed by author
- VHS cassette titled "Hot Zone / Day 1 / 02/23/1995
- VHS cassette titled "Hantavirus", n.d.
- book titled The Navaho by Clyde Kluckhorn and Dorothea Leighton
- book titled Conversational Navajo Dictionary by Garth A. Wilson
- audio cassette titled "Navajo Place Names / Mesa Fatara to Zuni Mountains"
- audiocassette titled "Conversational Navajo Dictionary Pronunciation Guide"
- notes, research material, post cards, road maps, and typed clean manuscript Bad Medicine, calendar time line, clippings, newspaper articles, memorandums, book reviews and print outs, research material on the Hantavirus Infection, photocopies of clippings, correspondence to Querry, typed first (false) start on Bad Medicine.
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Choctaw Walk 06/1992" - correspondence with the Chief of the Choctaw Nation, research material for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, photocopies of articles, on the Choctaw Nation, postcards.
- "Choctaw / Misc" Native Writer's Circle of the Americas directory 1993, application for certificate of degree of Indian blood, correspondence, photocopies of clippings, postcards, brochures, and other miscellaneous research material. Also included are Readers' reports for book proposal to OU Press.
- "(1992) Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians" postcards, research material, programs, newsletters.
- "Choctaw Business" photocopies of research from the Dawes Commission Roles at the Oklahoma Historical Society Archives

Box 5
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Saint Malo. France" seven 3.5x5 photos of Peter and Sabine (and Ron and Elaine) at their drive through Brittany after Saint-Malo and other photos, articles, correspondence from/to Elaine and Ron Querry, receipts
- "France Publicity (oversized)" drawing of Querry, photocopies of clippings, book covers for Querry's book Le Dernier Pow Wow- all in French
- "Daniele Laruelle (French Translator)" Daniele Laurelle was the French translator for Querry's Bernadette book mostly correspondence
- "Spello, Italy" notes, photos, correspondence, brochures.
Books:
- When Buffalo Free the Mountains: The Survival of America's Ute Indians written and photographed by Nancy Wood. Book contains 2 photos that were the basis for Querry's novel.
- Bordertowns photographs by Marc Gaede. Book was used for Bernadette research.
- Redneckin' by Kathryn Jenson.
- The American Prison as Portrayed in Popular Motion Pictures of the 1930's Doctoral Dissertation by Ronald Querry
- The Death of Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry
- The Death of Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry (this is an advance reading copy very rare)
- Das kurze Leben der Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry (hardback copy). Book is signed by author and translator Berdn Samland.
- Das kurze Leben der Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author.
- Discrimination: Native Americans Struggle for Equality by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author.
- I See by My Get-Up by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author.
- Le Dernier Pow Wow by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author and inscribed by the book's translator.
- Der Tanz Des Kojoten by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author.
- Der Tanz Des Kojoten by Ron Querry (hardback copy). Book is signed by author.
- I see by My Get-Up by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author and photographer, Elaine Querry.
- I See by My Get-Up by Ron Querry. (hardback copy) Book is signed by author and Bill Gersh who was commissioned by UNM to paint the cover image. 5x7 b/w photo of Gersh taken by Elaine Querry is laid in.
- La Tablette sacrée by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author.

Box 6
Books:
- The Death of Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry. (hardback copy) Book is signed by author.
- The Death of Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry. Book is signed by author.
- Bad Medicine by Ron Querry advanced reading copy. Book is signed by author.
- Bad Medicine by Ron Querry note from editor, Beverly Lewis, laid in. Book is signed by author.
- Bad Medicine by Ron Querry (hardback copy). Book is signed by author.
- Growing Old at Willie Nelson's Picnic and Other Sketches of Life in the Southwest edited by Ronald B. Querry. (hardback copy) Book is signed by several of the author's included.
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Publishers/Agents (Rejections mostly)" correspondence 1989-1990
- "Speedhorse Magazine" tear sheets, magazine, handbooks
- "French Photo Book Project" correspondence 1996-1997
- "Bulgaria" correspondence 1999
- "Isabel Schneider (German) Dissertation" copy of Isabel Schneider's dissertation titled "We Have a Commonalty and a Common Dream"
- "Foreign Rights" correspondence 1995-1997
- "France Morlaix (after Saint-Malo)" correspondence, postcards, reviews of "Bernadette", booklet titled "On the Trail of Ron Querry's Pow Wow" (written in French?)
- "French Publicity" clippings, magazines, tear sheets
- "Germany" ticket stubs, receipts, correspondence
- "German Publicity" clippings and articles of reviews
- "Foreign Correspondence Misc." correspondence 1996-1997
- "Travel to Europe" correspondence and receipts

Box 7
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Workshops / Fairs" brochures, correspondence, directories, newsletters
- "Returning the gift Indian Writers' Conference" correspondence, photocopies of articles
- "Mexico-notes, sketches, etc." typed rough draft and handwritten notes.
- "Europe on Our Own" receipts, correspondence
- "Paris" receipts, postcards, correspondence
- "Moccasin Telegraph" newsletters
- "Calendars" 1990 & 1992 calendar
- "Choctaw Writers Guild" correspondence
- "Choctaw CDIB" correspondence 1991-1994, receipts
- "Scott Morrison Leanne Howe/ Choctaw Writers" correspondence, and articles written by Morrison and How
- "D.L. Birchfield / Choctaw Writer" copy of article written by Birchfield
- "Raven Chronicles" correspondence, magazines
- "Chicago Tribune" correspondence, newspaper clippings
- "Tucson Citizen / Heat Strike" correspondence and articles
- "Marshall Cavendish" correspondence, receipts
- "Amado Pena Fund Raiser" correspondence 1995
- "Royalty Statements, various" copies of royalty statements, receipts, and correspondence
- ""Reviews, etc" photocopies of reviews made by Querry, newspaper clippings and articles
- "Bernadette Reviews, etc." newsletters, newspaper clippings
- "Bernadette/Permissions" correspondence 1992
- "Bantam / Jamiesan, etc. O.P. Contracts" correspondence 2001-2003
- "Other Writings" contains various articles written by Querry and others

Box 8
Miscellaneous materials. Original folder title, given by artist, is in " " and its contents is listed after.
- "Get-Up related misc." book titled A Book of Days for the Literary Year, 2 journals and one receipt sales book
- "Scraps of notebooks/Mexico" 10 notepads (of all sizes) containing various handwritten notes
- "Bits of notebooks/Bernadette" one journal and one spiral pad
- "Butler Scribblings" notes and typed manuscript titled "Serving Suggestions" by Wina Vee Bodine
- "Sketches" record book and typed manuscript
- "Mexico / Misc. receipts" various receipts
- "Mexico" record book, note cards with handwritten notes, typed manuscript "Mexico Novel", FM-3 applications from Mexico.
- " Notes" various notes and working manuscripts
- "Bad Med correspondence" correspondence 1997-1998
- "Correspondence / Growing Old" correspondence 1982-1983
- "Sharon Freidman / Agent" correspondence, photocopies of clippings, receipts
- "Get-Up correspondence" correspondence 1985-1995
- "OU Press Correspondence" correspondence 1992-2004
- also included various other folders containing correspondence

Box 9
Miscellaneous materials.
- folders containing correspondence to/from Larry King, along with audiocassette tapes
- typewriter paper box containing various sketches but Mexico mainly (material was kept in original box it came in)
- box containing a "personalized" Bullie Bag. Elaine and Ron Querry received this as a gift from Lewis Kinkead.
- bound galley pages from Bad Medicine

Box 10
Miscellaneous materials.
- b/w matted photo of 3 men and 1 female, under photo there is a caption that reads "Anthropomorphism being what it is, castration is the part that fascinates and bothers unaccustomed spectators most - especially male ones." John Graves, "Nineteen Cows". Along with photo is an envelope with an enclosed scrotal sac from a steer. Querry writes "I believe the first one I 'cut' during that summer of 1984 the one pictured here"
- one envelope containing various negatives
Audio and videocassettes.
- "Books & Company October 1994"
- "Books & Co. Ron Querry"
- "I See By My Get-Up' PBS-TV Show: 'On Assignment' good piece with Ron & Elaine at the Ranch then a piece on 'mental health', then short reprise of ranch" On Assignment #2005 "Ron Querry", "Mental Health", "Return of Ron Querry"
- "RQ Sherman Alexie Annie Hansen Reading: Seattle 11/92"
- "Growing Old" 1st piece on this tape is "Houston Live" show with me, William C. Martin, and Kirk Purcell when Growing Old was published.
"Bad Medicine Dr. Ron Querry"
- "Ron Querry reading "Death of Bernadette Lefthand" 05/05/1994
- Kuat Feature with Ron Querry "The Death of Bernadette Lefthand" aired 6/30/1993
- Ron Querry Arts Upbeat 08/1993 / Bobbie Clark piece KUAT Tuscan
- "The Death of Bernadette Lefthand / Ron Querry / KSFT 90.7 FM"
- micro cassette in envelope, which reads "Part 2 of taped conversation (part 1 has apparently been lost). Panasonic micro-cassette. John Nichols (author), Michael Martin Murphy (singer), Shel Hershom (photographer), Ron Querry. 7 January 19896, Murphy's house in Taos, New Mexico interview for Albuquerque Journal never published."
Miscellaneous materials.
- small print that was handed to Querry in Paris wrapped as it is when he was signing copies of "Le Dernier Powwow"
- two small trinkets that were handed to Querry at book signings at different times, by different women. One is meant to represent a left hand and the other is a crystal "New Age"
- various writers, editors addresses and phone number cards from Querry's file ludex.
Photos:
- nine 5x7 b/w photos of images from Querry's trip to Cuba in February of 1999. Each photo is annotated on the back.
- ten 4x6 photos of images from Querry's trip to Cuba in February of 1999. Each photo is annotated on the back.
- Also included are numerous photos of various sizes, each with a description written on the back.

Box 11
Posters & articles:
- two 13x16 posters featuring The Death of Bernadette Lefthand by Ron Querry. Posters are signed by Querry
- 11x17 poster advertising "The Night Hank Williams Died". Poster is inscribed by Larry L. King to Dr. Querry and Miss Elaine.
- 28x16 1994 Regional Book Award Winners poster. Poster is signed by all the winners: Anna Castillo, Ron Querry, Barbara Kingsolver, Larry Watson, Susan Lowell, and N. Scott Momaday,
- Albuquerque Journal Magazine Impact, vol. 8 no. 8, features book review by Querry on Larry McMurtry's Horseman, Pass By
- tear sheet from the Dallas Times Herald, article features Molly Ivins. Article is inscribed to Ron Querry from Ivins.
- Oklahoma's Orbit: The Magazine of the Sunday Oklahoma, features article by Ron Querry titled "When the Siren Wails".
- clipping titled "I Am a Cowboy" from Impact Magazine. Clipping features photo of Ron and Elaine Querry.
- tear sheets from the Albuquerque Journal Magazine Impact, features story and article by and about Ron Querry titled "I See by My Get-Up That I Am a Cowboy: A troublesome calf named Trouble helps a greenhorn learn about everything that can go wrong on the range."
- tear sheets from the Albuquerque Journal Magazine Impact, features story and article by and about Ron Querry titled "The Way to a Lady's Heart"
- tear sheet from Pasatiempo, features article about Querry titled "Querry manages to change writing horses midstream"
- Livestock Market Digest, features article by and about Ron Querry titled "Home on the Range"
- tear sheet from the Dallas Times Herald features article by Ron Querry titled "Verdict is in: Writer guilty of becoming a juror.
- Regards Le Mouve Ent Des Idees, features article by Ron Querry titled "Danse avec les esprits"
- Albuquerque Journal Magazine Impact, features article by and about Ron Querry titled "Readers Take Warning: King's Humor at Work"
- tear sheet from the Chicago Tribune features article by Querry titled "Rambling Route 666: Forget interstates: History awaits in the Old West"
- The Taos News features article by Querry titled "Valentine's Day 1951 and Wanda June Scroggins
- tear sheet from Livestock Market Digest features article by Querry titled "Home on the Range"
- Livestock Market Digest features article by Querry titled "Bullish on bullies: The bullie is a novelty item produced from industry by-products. People either think they are great or disgusting ... there is not a lot of in-between."
- Livestock Market Digest features article by Querry titled "Young man on the move: He's logged many a mile for the FFA and has more to go before he is through."
- tear sheet from the Chicago Tribune features article by Querry titled "Mexican Hideaway: Old ways and historic charm hold away far from the beaten track"
- tear sheet from The Sydney Morning Herald features photo of Querry (in uniform) marching with the U.S. Marines
- Albuquerque Journal Magazine Impact, features review by Jim Arnholz on Querry's book I See by My Get-up
- Albuquerque Journal Magazine Impact, features article by Querry titled "Astrologer of the Airwaves: A shaman set Joseph Rynear on the road to radio astrology"
- and various others..

Return to the Southwestern Writers Collection