MS 009 - Nicholas Eggenhofer Collection, 1924-1988 | McCracken Research Library

Some publisher's correspondence is present, but most of the collection is a documentation and listing of the wonderful and very popular Western historical illustrations and paintings of artist and author Nick Eggenhofer. Many photographs of his work are included , along with various biographical articles. Books and journals illustrated by Eggenhofer are present in this special collection.

Eggenhofer, Nicholas

Nick Eggenhofer was born in Gauting, Germany in 1897.  He grew up in Germany, while Europe was crazed by Buffalo Bill's continental tours with his Wild West show.  He came to New York in 1913, before the eruption of war in Europe. Here he began four years of night classes at Cooper Union and held a variety of jobs including an apprenticeship at the American Lithography Company.  His first illustration was sold in 1920 to Western Story Magazine of Street & Smith publishers.

In 1924 Eggenhofer married Louise Strube in New Jersey. They traveled out west in a model T.  Inspired by his travels, he began doing illustrations for many Western books and magazines.  In 1961 he wrote and illustrated his own book Wagons, Mules and Men.

In the early 1960's, Eggenhofer moved to Cody, saying "The West got hold of me at a very early age and hasn't turned loose yet."  He is in the forefront of those who portray the wagon-train era of America and has won top prize at the Cowboy Hall of Fame.  In 1971 it was said that he had made more than 30,000 illustrations. Eggenhofer was both a member of The Cowboy Artists of America and the National Academy of Western Art.  He died in Cody, Wyoming in 1985 at the age of 88.

Eggenhofer, Nicholas (1897-1985)
Western Artwork