Tillie Baldwin

Tillie Baldwin (1888–1958), born Anna Mathilda Winger, was an American rodeo contestant and performer in Wild West shows. She is credited as being one of the first women to attempt steer wrestling.[1][2]

Biography

Anna Mathilda Winger was born in Arendal, Norway. She immigrated to the United States at age 14 and first trained as a hair dresser. She began her rodeo career riding during 1911 in Los Angeles, California, where she won the bronc riding competition. At the Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon, during 1912, she won both the trick riding and cowgirls' bronc riding contests. She was also a trick rider and relay racer. Her image was captured by Walter S. Bowman, a professional photographer in Pendleton.[3] Later Bowman's 1915 image of Bonnie McCarroll being thrown from a horse named Silver at the Pendleton Round-Up became famous. McCarroll died years later in another accident at the Pendleton Round-Up.[4]

Mathilda Winger became Tillie Baldwin after she joined Captain Jack Baldwin's Wild West Show. She later joining Will Rogers' vaudeville troupe and then worked at the 101 Ranch Wild West Show.[5][6] She credited Rogers for first giving her the opportunity to become famous.[6] Later in life she ran a riding academy.[7][6]

In 1941 she married William C. Slate (1901–1975) in Essex, Connecticut. She died in 1958 in Connecticut at age 70.[8] She was buried in Union Cemetery in Niantic, Connecticut.

Legacy

Tillie Baldwin was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2000[9] and the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2004.[10][7]

References
  1. LeCompte. "Tillie Baldwin: Rodeo's Original Bloomer Girl" (International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports ed., Karen Christensen, Allen Guttmann, and Gertrud Pfister, Macmillan Reference USA, 2001, page 939)
  2. "1913 – Tillie Baldwin". Blackgold Pro Rodeo. March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  3. "Fancy Riding, Tillie Baldwin, the Champion Lady Buckaroo" (Furlong collection, PH244-0083 University of Oregon)
  4. "The Fact, Not Legend, of Tillie Baldwin" (Sunday Herald Magazine. Bridgeport, Conn. September 7, 1958)
  5. Tillie Baldwin 2000 Cowgirl Honoree – National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
  6. Tillie Baldwin weeps over death of Will Rogers (The Day. Bridgeport, Conn. August 16, 1935)
  7. "Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees - National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  8. Joel H. Bernstein (2007). Wild Ride: The History and Lore of Rodeo. ISBN 9781586857455. In 1941, Tillie Baldwin retired and married William C. Slate of Essex, Connecticut. She died at age seventy in 1958. ...
  9. "Tillie Baldwin - Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum". Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  10. Susan B Raven (May 4, 2013). "Tilly Baldwin". wordpress.com. Retrieved March 15, 2016.

Other sources
  • LeCompte, Mary Lou (2000) Cowgirls of the Rodeo: Pioneer Professional Athletes (University of Illinois Press) ISBN 9780252068744
  • Branzei, Sylvia (2011) Rebel in a Dress - Cowgirls (Running Press) ISBN 9780762443840
  • Bernstein, Joel H. (2007) Wild Ride: The History and Lore of Rodeo (Gibbs Smith) ISBN 9781586857455
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