Get yourself a copy of "Songs of the Great American West" edited by Irwin Silber. It contains 92 songs and their backgound. The events in the songs cover the time period from about 1840 to the turn of the century. The book was copyrighted in 1967 so your library might have it. Better yet Dover Publications reprinted it as a paperback for about $15. Have your book store order it.

rich r