Material Type

Mixed Media

Other Title Info

Bill McBeth

Physical Description

.45 m of textual records, over 600 photographs

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Bill (Marion Siler) McBeth was born to Victor and Frieda Siler McBeth in Ord, Nebraska on March 3, 1929. After living in Spalding, Nebraska for 11 years, he moved to Twin Falls, Idaho with his family and graduated from Twin Fall High School in 1946. In 1950, he was inducted into the Army during the Korean War and upon his Honorary Discharge in 1952, he moved to Canada where he became a resident but retained his U.S. citizenship. His life was devoted to buying, selling and breeding horses, including supplying many rodeos and movies with horses. His favourite pastime was racing thoroughbred horses, breeding and racing his standardbred harness horses with great success. After his graduation, Bill McBeth cowboyed in Nevada for two summers working for C.-Clyde Smith, who was buying and selling horses. Late Bill moved to Canada where he started his own livestock dealer business. He traded horses and tack (supplies for horses) as wholesale import. Bill McBeth rented pasture in Lethbridge and surroundign area and in 1960 bought land near Granum (sold in 1964). He owned and operated the Matador Shetland Pony Ranch from 1957 to 1965. He rented a ranch at Aldersyde from 1993 to 2008, where he bred standardbreds, donkeys and quarterhorses. His horse Three-Bars proved to be a famous horse at rodeos and was entered into the Rodeo Hall of Fame. He was a long-time member of the Alberta Standardbred Horse Assn. In 2006 Bill McBeth received Breeders Award Recognition and in 2010 Bill was named the Horsebreeder of the Year. Bill McBeth died on July 13, 2011 in Lethbridge, Alberta. He is survived by his closest friend and constant companion for many years, Eileen Sameshima; Michael J. Swain, a man Bill considered as his son, friend, long time employee and successor to Bill's Horse Buying Business; his sisters, Corinne Stafford and Sharon (Erik) Anderson, both of Twin Falls, Idaho. (based on obituary and information provided by E. Sameshima)

Language

English

Acquisition Source

Eileen Sameshima, certificate of gift signed by sister Sharon Anderson

Custodial History

The papers belonged to M. S. (Bill) McBeth, who passed away on July 13, 2011. After his death, the materials were in custody of his partner Eileen Sameshima, who gave them to the Galt Archives. The certificate of gift was signed by Bill's older sister Sharon Anderson, who lives in the United States. A few childhood photographs of her brother had been returned to her because of family value. More materials are expected from Eileen in the future.

Scope and Content

2011.1073/1 Assorted biographical materials - correspondence, awards, photographs (5), obituary (1962-2006) 2011.1073/2 Three Bars - famous bucking horse. 1 photo. (1989-1993) 2011.1073/3 Photographs of horse race winners. Corralling of wild horses. 14 photos. (1950-1981) 2011.1073/4 C. Clyde Smith (1997) 2011.1073/5 519th Ordnance H.A.M Company and Scrapbook on U.S. Army service in Europe (Korean War) (1950-1954) 2011.1073/6 Sample cheques, name tag and a pin. (1950s) 2011.1073/7 Family Album. 120 photographs (1991-92) 2011.1073/8 Periodicals on horse breeding, dealing and racing. Part 1 (1970-2010) 2011.1073/9 Periodicals on horse breeding, dealing and racing. Part 2 (1970-2010) 2011.1073/10 Family Album. 131 photographs (1960-1990) 2011.1073/11 Family Album. 131 photographs (1966-1991) 2011.1073/12 Winning Harness Race Horses by Coady Photo (1983-1992) 2011.1073/13 Winning Harness Race Horses by Coady Photo (1993-1995) 2011.1073/14 Winning Harness Race Horses by Coady Photo (1996-1999) 2011.1073/15 Winning Harness Race Horses by Coady Photo (2000-2010) 2011.1073/16 Bill McBeth Scrapbook - family, horses, women, travel and more (1943-1969) 2011.1073/17 Red Scrapbook - family and horse breeding. Part 1 (1971-1979) 2011.1073/18 Red Scrapbook - family and horse breeding. Part 2 (1976-1990) 2011.1073/19 Horses and Horseback Riding Winners (1962-1990) 2011.1073/20 Animal Newspaper Clippings (1979-1983) 2011.1073/21 Reg Kesler (incl. information on Three Bars in the article) (1962-2004) 2011.1073/22 Collection of photographs of horses (35 photos) (1991-2000) 2011.1073/24 Whoop Up Downs Rocky Mountain Turf Club - 20 programs (1984-2010) 2011.1073/25 Miscelleneous periodicals related to horse breeding and racing (1990-2009) 2011.1073/26 Whoop Up Downs, Lethbridge and District Exhibition - racing programs (1989-1991) 2011.1073/27 Racing programs for horses owned by McBeth 2011.1073/28 Whoop Up Downs Rocky Mountain Turf Club - 80 programs (1997-2002) 2011.1073/29 Racing programs, including Whoop Up Downs (1963-1987) 2011.1073/30 Racing and Thoroughbreads: cost and revenue - financial records (1962-1987) 2011.1073/31 Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) - mixed sales catalogues (1982-87) 2011.1073/32 ASHA - subscription, bills, etc. 2011.1073/33 Horse auction sales and other financial records 2011.1073/35 -- 41 Horse auction sales, catalogues and financial records (1989-1995)

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20111073

Collection

Archive

Less detail