J. R. Sanders, is a native of Newton, Kansas, one of the original "wild and wooly" cowtowns. His deep interest in Old West history dates back to childhood visits with his family to the Dalton Gang hideout, Abilene, and Dodge City.
J.R. has written feature articles for a variety of publications, among them Law & Order and Wild West. His book Oak Glen and Los Rios Rancho, a photographic history of Southern California’s pioneer apple ranches, was released by Arcadia Publishing in August, 2006. His first children's book, The Littlest Wrangler, was released by Moonlight Mesa Associates in June, 2010. His next book, Some Gave All: Forgotten Old West Lawmen Who Died with Their Boots On, is due to be published by Moonlight Mesa Associates in early 2012.
An active living historian, J.R. has portrayed 19th-century soldiers, cowboys, lawmen, and Gold Rush prospectors in presentations to schools, colleges, and historical societies throughout Southern California, as well as for the Autry Museum of the American West and the Huntington Library. He has written public service spots for local cable television broadcast and has worked both on-camera and behind the scenes on A&E/History Channel’s documentary series Dangerous Missions. J.R. is a member of the Western Writers of America and the Wild West History Association.