University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present University Relations 6-26-1964 Montana State University Press publishes "The Raw Edge" University of Montana Missoula Office of University Relations Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases Let us know how access to this document benefits you Recommended Citation University of Montana Missoula Office of University Relations, "Montana State University Press publishes "The Raw Edge"" (1964) University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present 1448 https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases/1448 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Relations at ScholarWorks at University of Montana It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu 6- 26-64 Dwyer FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Publication of "The Raw Edge, " tales of the early life of a real cowboy, told in his own words, has been announced by the Montana State University Press Release of the paperback book this week was timed as a contribution to the Montana Territorial Centennial celebration, according to Jack Ryan, director of the press The author, J B Armstrong, who now lives in Missoula, used a tape re corder to capture his reminiscences of his days riding the last of the open ranges in Montana and Dakota around the turn of the century Armstrong's son-in-law, MSU Prof Harold Taseher, recognizing the impor tance of preserving this authentic record of cowboy life, encouraged the pro ject and arranged the content of the tapes to feature particular themes, keep ing Armstrong's own style and wording The author's daughter, Ina Mai Taseher, transcribed the material and helped edit it The tapes yielded enough material for three books "The Raw Edge," just off the press, takes the author from apprenticeship to a hard but satisfying life to seasoned competence as a cowhand It will be followed later this year by "The Big North," the story of what it meant to be a cowboy in the great middle years of the open range The third book in the series, also slated for release this year, is "Bedding the Drags, " which tells what happens to a cowboy when the old way of life has passed him by (more) Publications and News Service M O NTANA S T A T E U N IV E R SIT Y , Missoula MSU Press Publishes "The Raw Edge," page two The first book of the trilogy is dedicated to Will Rogers, whom the author met on a couple of occasions "Well, I feel I knew him," Armstrong says, "because I grew up much as he did We were on the raw edge of civili zation " In his foreword to "The Raw Edge," Michael Kennedy, director of the Montana Historical Society, calls the book "authentic and honest, offsetting the too-long deluge of phony pulp writing, television and incredible movie distortions For J B Armstrong and his fresh, invigorating, graphic text I have nothing but admiration." Armstrong, lean and sinewy at 75* began his life as a cowboy in Texas where his father was a Tascosa cattle man kid," he says "So naturally I was a cowboy "Once a cowboy, always a cowboy And I speak the cowboy language The life gets in your blood I have no other." This is the language of "The Raw Edge" - language that is, in Kennedy's words, "blunt, honest, colloquially accurate." The book is recommended and approved by the Flathead Teachers Research Corporation and contains a preface by a member of the group, Marguerite Best of Kalispell, who terms Armstrong's stories "authentic and compelling." In their postscript, Dr and Mrs Tascher credit many persons with sup porting the project and helping to see the manuscript through to publication Specifically mentioned are the MSU Publications Committee, headed by Dr George Weisel; Claud Lord, superintendent of the University Printing Depart ment; Mrs Virginia Johnson, who supplied editorial advice; Art Jette of the MSU Publications and News Service, who did the art work, and Kennedy and Ryan Publications and News Service M ONTANA S T A T E U N IV E R SIT Y , Missoula ... RELEASE Publication of "The Raw Edge, " tales of the early life of a real cowboy, told in his own words, has been announced by the Montana State University Press Release of the paperback book this... when the old way of life has passed him by (more) Publications and News Service M O NTANA S T A T E U N IV E R SIT Y , Missoula MSU Press Publishes "The Raw Edge, " page two The first book of the. .. Taseher, transcribed the material and helped edit it The tapes yielded enough material for three books "The Raw Edge, " just off the press, takes the author from apprenticeship to a hard but satisfying