INVESTIGATING THE OLD WEST?
American Frontier History Apache Arapaho Arikara Benteen William 'Billy the Kid' Bonney Black Kettle Buffalo Bill Cody Buffalo Soldiers Calamity Jane Cattlemen Cheyenne Chief Joseph Clanton Comanche Cowboys Crazy Horse Custer Deadwood Desperadoes Dodge City Wyatt Earp Geronimo Gunfights Gunslingers Indian Territory Jesse James Gang Kiowa Lakota Lawmen Lincoln County War Little Big Horn Mandan Mountain Men Nez Perce OK Corral Outlaws Quantrill Rain-in-the-Face Red Cloud Reno Roman Nose Rosebud Rustlers Shoshone Sioux Sitting Bull Tombstone US Cavalry Vigilantes Washita Western History Wild Bill Hickok Wild West
THE ENGLISH WESTERNERS' SOCIETY
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A member of Westerners' International, the English Westerners' Society, was founded in November 1954, the ninth such group organised and the first outside the United States. It is an educational, non-profit making organisation whose object is to pursue and promote the study of American Frontier History. To this end, the Society issues publications and holds meetings. |
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Response from fellow scholars in the United States has been helpful and positive over the years. The very first Elmo Scott Watson Prize for Historical Journalism was gratefully received and the Society is also obliged for these past reviews:
"This group has set a high standard for the study of the
American West for many years"
The late Jerry L. Russell, Order of the Indian Wars -
Communique 1998
" - something new for even the most advanced
student"
Richard Upton, Indian Wars Catalogue
1998
2011 Winner of the Westerners International
'Heads Up Award' for Overseas Corrals
The regular publications of the Society are the Brand Book and the Tally Sheet. The latter is a newsletter publication issued three times a year containing Society news, current information, articles, book reviews and book lists. The Brand Book is the Society's printed journal, presenting original research papers to members and occasional out-of-print items. Since 1964, a series of Special Publications have been issued and a number of these are still in print.
The Society holds its Annual Lunch and General Meeting in London, normally in October, and other occasional meetings may be arranged at alternative times and places during the year. For many years the venue was the stately Over-Seas House, Park Place, off Piccadilly and overlooking Green Park. Since 2007 the Society has held its Annual meeting at Doggett's Coat and Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, City of London, SE1 9UD. Doggett’s Coat and Badge is blessed with one of the best locations in London. Based on the south bank of the river with stunning views of The River, The City, St Paul’s and beyond.
The English Westerners' Society Charter See English Westerners' Society Charter .
Membership of the Society (£15.00 annually) is open to residents of the British Isles, and includes receipt of the regular publications, voting rights, and use of free information and Tally Sheet advertising services. Associate Membership ($30.00 annually) is open to those resident outside the British Isles and includes receipt of the regular publications only.
Membership Applications are welcomed. Please supply your name and address, together with a note of any particular Frontier History interests. Cheques, in Pound Sterling or US Dollars please, should be made out in favour of 'The English Westerners' Society' and sent to: Barry Corbett, Paddock Gill, Frog Lane, Felton, Bristol, BS40 9UN, United Kingdom or E-mail Raymond Cox the Secretary EWS if you wish to make a prior enquiry.
Recently Published, the Latest and Future Brand Books
and Special Publications
For recently published Brand Books and Special Publications see Recent Publications.
Brand Book - Volume 43 (3 Titles)
Volume 43, No.1 is Fist Fighting Out West: Dan Stuart versus General Mabry and the Texas Rangers by the Keith Robinson tells the story of the attempts by Dan Stuart a boxing promoter to match two contenders for the heavyweight championship of the world in El Paso after the abdication of James J. Corbett as the champion. This proposed fight led to State and Federal legislation outlawing boxing. Seven companies of territorial militia were put on alert and 250 infantrymen and five troops of cavalry were confined to Fort Bliss awaiting development. The two contenders tried desperately to stay out of jail and avoid being shot and Dan Stuart sparred with Adjutant General Mabry of the Texas Rangers. The fact the fight took place was down to the ingenuity of no less a person than Judge Roy Bean.
Texas Wants 'Em: A Case of Mistaken Identity (Volume 43, Number 2) is by Robert Wybrow, an acknowledged expert on the James brothers and the Youngers. In this book whose title reflects the headline in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, "Texas Wants 'Em. Depredations of the Youngers in the Lone Star State", he had set out to see if whether the claims made by Texas that the James-Younger gang committed felonies in that State had any basis for being fact. He widened his article to also focus on another Missourian, Jim Reed, who most definitely had been involved in criminal activity within the State. A most interesting read for those who of us who take a particular interest in the James-Younger gang and known associates.
The final Brand Book in this Volume is Aspects of Lakota Leadership (Volume 43, Number 3).This publication contains two short articles. The first is by the late Joseph Balmer (1914-2006), a native of Switzerland and one of the founder members of the English Corral of Westerners in 1954 (now the English Westerners' Society). Joe was an acknowledged expert on the Indian Wars and based his views from the Indian side of the conflict, although he was certainly not uncritical. Joe also could read and write Lakota and had corresponded in his younger days with many old-time warriors. His paper introduced by Barry Johnson is about the leadership of the Brule Sioux (Sichangu or Burnt Thighs) from the mid-1700s to 1825 The latter date is when on the 22nd June 1825 Brule headmen/tribal leaders signed a treaty of peace and friendship with the United States. The second article is by Kingsley Bray on Sitting Bull and Lakota Leadership, Sitting Bull is perhaps the most iconic Indian leader on the Plains and achieved a unique status among his people, the Hunkpapa tribal division of the Teton Sioux or Lakota. His article describes the structure of the Hunkpapa bands, tribal and national-level organisation, historical developments between 1800-1851 and through into the 1860s.
Brand Book - Volume 44 (2 Titles)
This our first Brand Book in Volume 44 Henry Star and his Era (Volume 44, Number 1). It is not a definitive account of the life of the outlaw Henry Starr but as well has providing information on his criminal career it also provides a great deal of information on his known associates from the start of his career in crime in 1891. During his 32 years in crime Henry Starr robbed more banks than both the James-Younger and the Doolin-Dalton gang's put together. As just a teenager in the Oklahoma Strip, Henry, the nephew of livestock rustler Belle Starr, received his initiation in crime at an early age. He started robbing banks on horseback in 1893 and ended up robbing his last in a car in 1921. In the late 1890’s he organised a gang that robbed a number of small banks in the Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas area. Starr shot and killed Floyd Wilson, a deputy of Judge Isaac Parker in 1903. For that murder he was sentenced to hang but eventually after two appeals and pleading guilty to manslaughter his sentence was reduced and he would be released after a pardoned in 1903.
Starr never seemed to able to give up his life of crime and he would return to prison on two further occasions. Finally after robbing a bank in Harrison, Arkansas on 18 February 1921, he was shot in the back by the former president of the bank. Starr received medical attention but died on 21 February 1921. Henry Starr is buried in the Dewey Cemetery north of Dewey, Oklahoma. There is no marker, but he is buried next to headstone labelled as ‘Baby Starr.’ Rather uniquely, although not the first, before his return to crime and death for the final time he had produced and starred in the silent movie, A Debtor to the Law, in 1919. The film was about the double bank robbery in Stroud, Oklahoma on the 27 March 1915 for which he received his last custodial sentence.
This is the final Brand Book and comprises of Numbers 2 and 3 as a combined volume. It is Making Pacts With Old Enemies (Volume 44, Number 2 & 3). This book by Brian O'Keefe covers the lead up to the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty that brought together a number of the Northern and Southern Plains tribes together despite their long time enmity towards each other. The fact that so many tribes would gather for the conference was down to the efforts of men like Thomas 'Broken-Hand' Fitzpatrick, a government agent, and Father Pierre 'Black Robe' DeSmet. The Crows were one of the last of the tribes to gather and they staged a grand entrance, their late arrival, from a white man's perspective heralded the conference and subsequent treaty a success. Although official records record this as the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 it was referred to by white's as "The Fitzpatrick Treaty" or "Horse Creek Treaty". To the Indians it went by other names like the "Great Smoke" and "The Treaty of the Long Meadows". As with all US Government treaties it would not last as they were never able to deliver on promises made, and although for a few years inter-tribal warfare was reduced it would begin again as the tribes fought to protect their traditional hunting grounds from each other and white encroachment.
Brand Book - Volume 45 (2 Titles)
The first Brand Book in Volume 45 is Wild Bill Hickok's Hays City Brawl with Soldiers of Custer's 7th Cavalry (Volume 45, Number 1). This account of of the famous brawl outside Tommy Drum's Saloon in Hays City, Kansas on 17th July 1870 between "Wild Bill" Hickok and members of Company M of Custer's Seventh Cavalry is well-known. Company M were commanded at the time by Thomas Ward Custer, the General's younger brother, who would also meet his death at the Little Bighorn in 1876 in the same year that Hickok would die after being shot in the back in Deadwood. The author, Jeff Broome, has worked tirelessly to uncover the facts, made challenging by the various but widely false accounts perpetuated over time. The discovery in 2000 of Sergeant John Ryan's memoirs by Sandy Barnard and subsequent publication helped to shed new light on the incident but also on the two soldiers; John Kile and Jerry Lonergan. This book provides a reader with a much richer picture of these two men, in particular Kile, as well as clearing up the facts of the fight.
The second and final Brand Book in Volume 45 comprises of Numbers 2 and 3 as a combined volume and is Tom F. Cunningham's An Indian Called 'Wounded Knee': Miss Viola Clemmons and the White Lily Company in England & Wales, 1991-92 (Volume 45, Number 2 and 3). It is an account of the American actress Katherine Viola Clemmons who toured the provincial theatres of England and Wales for four months during 1891-92 with The White Lily, a pioneering production in the evolution of the Western genre.
Viola’s dramatic career, although ultimately a monumental failure, could not have been accomplished at all without the patronage and comprehensive backing of Colonel W. F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, who was simultaneously engaged on a tour of Great Britain with his Wild West Show. The most compelling element in this dramatic spectacular was a band of ten authentic Lakota Indians, whose recruitment from Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, was facilitated by Buffalo Bill.
Brand Book - Volume 46
The first Brand Book in Volume 46 (Winter 2012) is Keith Robinson's Wyatt Earp - Fair and Square Referee? Fist Fighting Out West II. His first book about Fist Fighting Out West featured the fight between two heavyweight championship contenders fighting for the title after the abdication of James L. Corbett. The fight was won by Bob Fitzsimmons. Corbett came out of retirement and planned to fight Tom Sharkey in San Francisco. He pulled out of the fight and Fitzsimmons stepped in as his replacement prior to fighting Corbett himself at a later date. The fight took place on 2 December 1896. With no referee agreed by the day of the fight, Wyatt Earp who resided in the city was nominated by the Sharkey camp and the Fitzsimmon's camp saw no reason to object to this ex-lawman refereeing despite some warnings from others that the fight would be fixed. This account of the events surrounding that fight make interesting reading and the final result still remains controversial in boxing history.
The second Brand Book in Volume 46 (Spring 2013) is
The 'Itazipcho' Hoop: Sans Arc Lakota Tribal Organization and Leadership in the
19th Century by Kingsley M. Bray. This paper examines in detail the
social and political organization of one of the seven tribal divisions of the
Lakota or Western Sioux, the Sans Arc or Itazipcho (Without Bows). A
chronological vantage point in the 1850s is used to focus this paper to look at
earlier developments in the robe trade period of Lakota history, and later
developments in the Sioux Wars and early reservation period.
Future Brand Books There are a number publications at various stages and we will keep you updated.
Special Publications
Special Publication 10. More Sidelights of the Sioux Wars was sent to members as the Brand Book for 2002/2003. This Special Publication contains four articles, two by Barry C. Johnson on Herendeen and Cadet Marcus Reno, an article by Rod MacNeil on the Custer's Approach to the Little Big Horn River and the fourth is by Francis B. Taunton on the Yellowstone Campaign of 1873. It contains maps and colour as well as black and white photographs. (Note: New Members from 1 September 2003 are still able to purchase this publication at the discounted members price. Please also note this Special Publication was issued in lieu of Volume 36 - there were no Brand Books numbered as Volume 36.)
Special Publication 11A. Vignettes in Violence a Special Publication issued as Volume 1 of the Golden Jubilee Publication contains a Foreword by Joe Rosa, an Introduction by Barry Johnson and contains four articles, one by Chuck Parsons on an Englishman James W. Grahame who found adventure in Texas, the second article is by Robert Wybrow about Missouri being one of the most peaceful States, the third is by Jeffrey Burton on The Duellists of Devil's River and the fourth is by Roy O'Dell on Frank Clifford - a man who had not necessary attracted the attention he deserved as an outlaw. It contains black and white photographs and illustrations. (Please Note because this Special Publication was sent to all member, as a result Volume 37 comprised of only one Brand Book.)
Special Publication 11B. The Secrets of Box 20: Custer's War Department File 1861-1897 edited by Barry C. Johnson including Foreword and Introduction is a Special Publication and Volume 2 of the Golden Jubilee Publication. Although General George Armstrong Custer's personal file has been available to researchers since the 1950's , up until then all were regarded as confidential, there was very little interest in Custer's file and Johnson explains why. The importance of this work however is the methodical way that Johnson has put this publication together. First explaining the how the Adjutant General's Office (AGO) compiled such records known as A.C.P. files after "The 'Appointments, Commission and Personal Branch" whose responsibility it had been to maintain the files. Then he assesses the the contents of Custer's file, which contains very little information regarding Custer's campaigns or battles, before giving readers an insight into the AGO in Custer's time. The file itself is published in chronological order as the original file had been kept loosely and had clearly resulted in the files themselves becoming disorganised. The formatting of the original files has been retained included the spelling and it is believed this publication is the first time that the files have been reproduced in print.
This publication has been sent to those members who were in the Society in 2007-2008 (This publication was in lieu of the Brand Books for 2007-2008 and is Volume 41.(New Members from 1 September 2008 are able to purchase this publication at the discounted members price.)
Society News
REMINDER Subscriptions for 2012/2013 were due from 1st September 2012. Members should send their subscriptions to: Barry Corbett, Paddock Gill, Frog Lane, Felton, Bristol, BS40 9UN. Cheques should be made payable to "The English Westerners' Society".
Please note that with effect 1st January 2013 the subscription rates increased for new, and existing members who have not renewed by that date, to £15.00 (UK members) and $30 (overseas members). This is regretted but rises in postal charges as necessitated the increase which was approved at the Annual General Meeting on 6th October 2012. This is the first rise in the subscription rate for 14 years and may be required to be raised further if postal rates continue to increase.
The Society has been nominated to receive the Heads-Up Award for 2011 from Westerners International, our co-ordinating body. This is the first time for 40 years that we have received such an award and the committee believe this is largely due to our Golden Jubilee Publication, edited by Barry Johnson and we thank him for his work in delivering this 2-volume publication in particular the final volume. Associate member Chuck Parsons was also placed first in the 2011 Co-Founders Best Book Award for his book Captain John R. Hughes Lone Star Ranger.
Photograph Gallery See photographs on English Westerners' Society Photograph Gallery.
Barry Johnson's tribute to the late Colin Taylor, who was one of the Society's Vice-presidents, is now published. The book is entitled Colin Taylor: Ethnologists of the Plains Indian. It is available free to members of the Society, thanks to the generosity of Barry. Please contact the Chairman, Francis Taunton direct to receive your copy.
Prue Westbrook wrote a few years ago what she describes herself as a "factual" novel set in the time of Red Cloud's War. The title is Red Shadow on the Moon and is set within the context of the run up to what became known as the Fetterman Massacre, Red Cloud comes across an injured white boy on the outskirts of his village. But who is he and what can his arrival in Red Cloud's village mean? For more information visit her website at www.pruewestbrook.com. We are also pleased to note that Prue has recently won a short story writing contest organised by the Fort Laramie Historical Association. Her story concerned the 1866 Christmas Ball at the fort, when those attending dramatically heard the news of the Fetterman Massacre.
Westerners International have given a brief but favourable review of Jeffery Burton's The Deadliest Outlaws.
Sandy Barnard's latest book is A Hoosier Quaker Goes to War: The Life and Death of Major Joel H. Elliott, 7th Cavalry and tells the story of this officer serving with Custer's Seventh Cavalry when he was killed at the battle of the Washita. Elliott had served with distinction during the Civil War which for a young man brought up in a closely-knit community of decidedly pacifist Quakers was remarkable. This book is available direct from AST Press or can be purchased on Amazon.
Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee. The English Westerners' Society celebrated its 50th Anniversary in November 2004. To mark the event a Golden Jubilee Publication was planned to be published, which would comprise of two volumes. The General Editors of Volume 1 were Barry Johnson one of the Society's two Vice-presidents and Francis Taunton the then Vice-chairman. Volume 1 - "Vignettes in Violence" was sent to members who had paid their 2004-2005 subscriptions. Volume 2 of the Golden Jubilee Publication was finally published in 2012 (almost in time for the 60th Anniversary!!) and entitled The Secrets of Box 20: Custer's War Department File 1861-1897 edited by Barry C. Johnson including Foreword and Introduction. This publication was sent to members in lieu of the Brand Book for 2007-2008 (Volume 41).
Golden Jubilee Ties and EWS Polo Shirts
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SPECIAL OFFER The Commemorative Golden Jubilee Tie was limited to 50 only. A Special Price of £10.00 including postage and packaging. Place your order with Barry Corbett, Paddock Gill, Frog Lane, Felton, Bristol, BS40 9UN. Cheques should be made payable to "The English Westerners' Society". Overseas members should contact Treasurer by e-mail to confirm method of payment and cost, which will be approximately $20 including postage and packaging. This is however dependant on exchange rate at the time of the order. GET YOUR CHEQUE IN THE POST.
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EWS Polo Shirts are available in three sizes; Medium, Large and Extra Large. Each Polo Shirt has the logo shown and is Bottle Green in colour. Anyone interested should contact Kevin Galvin. The unit price is £16.00 including postage and packaging. Members who attend the AGM can purchase their polo shirt there for £13.50 and save on the postage and packaging. Overseas members should contact Kevin by e-mail to confirm method of payment and cost, which will be approximately $35 including postage and packaging. This is however dependant on exchange rate at the time of the order.
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Articles
Articles: The English Westerners' Society have published material on the American West in both the Brand Book and the Tally Sheet since its founding in 1954. Many of the original articles are now out of print. It is intended that a selection of these works will be published on the website to engender further interest in the Society and encourage new authors to write in the future. It is also hoped that these articles will help students in the UK and abroad who have decided to cover the subject of the American West as part of their studies.
The first is an article They Wore the Yellow Ribbon written by Mary Christian on the lives of the wives who followed their husbands as they moved from post-to-post in the U.S. Army in the period 1860-90.
The second article was written in 1961 and appeared in the Brand Book, Vol. 3, No. 3 April of that year and was Publication No. 68. The Brand Book was then a Quarterly Publication. The article is The Men at Fort Stanton and was written by Philip J. Rasch.
In 1959 Colin Taylor wrote an article for the The English Corral of the Westerners entitled The Plains' Indian Shirts, it appeared in the Brand Book, Volume 1, Issue No. 3, January 1959. It was illustrated with a drawing that depicted how a Plain's Indians' shirt was made plus a number of photographed examples. Unfortunately the photographs did not photocopy well and attempts to locate the original illustrations at this stage has failed. The original text has now been reproduced courtesy of Robert Wybrow and a new drawing added that reflects the original plus a new set of colour images depicting typical shirts in replacement of those published in the 1959 publication.
Book Reviews
Book Reviews: The English Westerners' Society have provided through the Tally Sheet, reviews on books covering the full range of Western topics. Some of the reviews published in previous edition's of the Tally Sheet are published on this website on a monthly basis and will remain on the website for approximately six months. Please note reviews are approximately 3 years old
October 2012 Book Review is on Dodge City: The Early Years, 1872-1886 by William B. Shillingberg and reviewed by Joseph G. Rosa.
November 2012 Book Review is on ‘Your Fathers The Ghosts’ Buffalo Bill’s Wild West in Scotland by Tom F. Cunningham and reviewed by Joseph G. Rosa.
December 2012 Book Review is on The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke – Volume Four: July 3, 1880 - May 22, 1881 edited and annotated by Charles M Robinson III and reviewed by Raymond Cox.
January 2013 Book Review is on Where A Hundred Soldiers Were Killed: The Struggle for the Powder River Country in 1866 and the Making of the Fetterman Myth by John H. Monnett and reviewed by Francis B. Taunton.
February 2013 Book Review is on Gila Country Legend - The Life and Times of Quentin Hulse by Nancy Coggeshall and reviewed by Raymond Cox.
March 2013 Book Review is on two books Brothels, Bordellos, & Bad Girls – Prostitution in Colorado 1860-1930 by Jan MacKell and Hell's Belles – Prostitution, Vice and Crime in Early Denver, with a Biography of Sam Howe, Frontier Lawman by Clark Secrest and reviewed by Keith Robinson.
April 2013 Book Review is on two books Western Story and Constable Dodge and the Pantano Train Robbers both by Jeffery Burton and reviewed by Gary Leonard.
May 2013 Book Review is on
Deadly Dozen, Twelve Forgotten Gunfighters of the Old West, Volume 2 by
Robert K. DeArment
and reviewed by Mike Christian.
Please remember as with any review, they are the comments of the reviewer only and ultimately we always recommend that you read the books for yourself and make your own judgement.
Events
CAGB Gathering. The next Gathering of the CAGB will take place on Saturday,
1st June 2013 in London.
All members of English Westerners' Society are invited to
attend.
The 56th AGM of the English Westerners' Society was held at Doggett’s Coat & Badge, situated at the southern end of Blackfriars Bridge, overlooking the River Thames on Saturday, 6th October 2012. Once again three speakers kindly offered to give talks touching upon a wide variety of subjects. Michelle Pollard gave a talk on a little known aspect of Jesse James, "Why they called him Dave"; Tim Slessor enthralled us about his experiences living in the American West and his time working for the BBC producing documentaries, he kindly signed copies of his book More than Cowboys: Travels Through the History of the American West; and finally, Keith Robinson showed us a vintage film which contained original footage of Bat Masterson and what is believed to have been Wyatt Earp who were both present at a fight between Bob Fitzsimmons and James J. Corbett which took place on St. Patrick's Day, 1897 in Carson City, Nevada. The original film was over 100 minutes long and was the first full-length feature movie. Wyatt Earp apparently reported on the fight for The New York World. As usual the customary auction took place with Leon Mould acting as the auctioneer and raised funds for the Society.
Reports from the Annual General Meetings
Details of the
56th AGM
The 55th AGM (2011) Report will be published in due course.
The 54th AGM (2010) Report will be published in due course.
The 53rd AGM (2009) Report will be published in due course.
The 52nd AGM (2008) Report will be published in due course.
Details of the 51st AGM
Details of the 50th AGM
Details of the 49th AGM.
Details of the 48th AGM.
Details of the 47th AGM.
Details of the 46th AGM
Details of the 45th AGM
Details of the 44th AGM
Links To Home Ranch, Other Corrals, Booksellers and Western History Sites
Home Ranch
Westerners International (known as WI) is a non-profit foundation that was organized in 1959 to promote communication and cooperation between Westerner chapters (or Corrals as they are known), and to stimulate interest and research in the history of the American West. The WI “home ranch” is located at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City, where the Buckskin Bulletin is published quarterly and mailed to the representative for each Corral still active. Copies of the Buckskin Bulletin can be downloaded from their website. The latest Volume XLV, Issue 3, 2012 contains the announcement of the Heads Up Awards for 2011 to the Society and a report on our 56th AGM.
Other Corrals
Other corrals online include:
The Potomac Corral of Westerners International is based in Washington D.C. area for people interested in the history and culture of the American West. This site no longer appears to be active and the latest Buckskin Bulletin would indicates that they may be moving towards becoming a Dry Camp. A Dry camp is one that is no longer active.
Scottsdale Corral of Westerners is based in Arizona who meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
Chicago Corral of Westerners was founded in 1944 and was the earliest Corral to which a number of early members of the English Corral of Westerners belonged.
Chisholm Trail Corral according to its website meets on the second Tuesday of each month except for June, July, August, and December at the Greens Country Club (unless otherwise noted)13100 Green Valley Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73120. Their website appears not to have been updated since 2007 although it is still listed by Westerners International.
Los Angeles Corral of Westerners meets every second Wednesday of the month at Almansor Court, 700 S. Alamansor, Alhambra, California, which is 8 miles north of Downtown LA. It was founded in 1946 and as a very active membership.
Powder River Corral of Westerners apparently meets monthly (with a few exceptions) for dinner, fellowship and to hear a guest speaker talk to our group on an interesting topic of western history. Website does not appear to be up to date so not certain of the status of this Corral.
Booksellers
Uptons. There are other specialist Custeriana, Indian Wars and Frontier Military Bookshops around but starting with the best saves so much time. Email to request their latest catalogue.
Looking for books check out Abebooks.com they list over 30 million books from over ten thousand dealers.
AST Press have a number of books specialising on the Indian Wars and Custeriana.
Book Express. For new book searches - the Internet's largest discount bookstore. Discounts appear to be substantial.
Western History Sites
The Old West Page. Western History enthusiast Jim Janke has assembled a reasonably staggering list of related links. Ought to be something for everybody. Remember to bid a fond farewell to anyone nearby before you go in there.
Overland Trail. Another massive collection of Western History links to ride into the sunset. The History section alone boasts access to 2,500 other sites.
The Smithsonian Institution. Gives an overview of its Departments and Archives.
The National Archives. In Washington D.C. but linked to regional and specialist centres.
The National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Currently the headquarters of Westerners International in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. This site includes a virtual tour.
Oregon and California Trails Association. Added at the kind invitation of the Webmaster. An E-mail discussion group exchanging views on the subject of 19th Century transportation.
British Links of Interest to Westerners
Custer Association of Great Britain The Custer Association of Great Britain was formally founded on 10th June 2000 and its aim is to promote the life and times of General George Armstrong Custer, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the Frontier Army, the Plains Indian Wars in general and the culture of those tribes.
Westerners Publications Limited Our London-based publishing house currently deals with work emanating from the distinguished pens of the English Westerners' Society and other new authors. Its most recent publication, Volume 3 in the British Custeriana Series, is available to members of EWS at the Subscribers rate.
Museums in the UK All of the links have been updated but if you find some no longer find the museums named websites please let us know. Most sites provide between minimal information but there are those that provide a virtual walk through on screen. Mainly they have American Indian and other Western items to view, so next time you are passing plan a visit. The British Museum's collection is relatively small in comparison to its other collections but definitely worth the trip and entry is still "free". Hastings is another museum that you may not have considered but it does have a first class collection.
LAST UPDATED 17 MAY 2013
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