EWS Index

American Frontier History Apache Arapaho Arikara Benteen William 'Billy the Kid' Bonney Black Kettle Buffalo Bill Cody Buffalo Soldiers Calamity Jane Cattlemen Cheyenne 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

Stetson

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.

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 recent reviews:

"This group has set a high standard for the study of the American West for many years"

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. The usual venue is the stately Over-Seas House, Park Place, off Piccadilly and overlooking Green Park. Worthy country pubs are currently being considered for meetings of a more informal nature.

Membership of the Society (£12.50 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 ($20.00 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:

Bob Wybrow, 15, Hurstwood Drive, Bickley, Bromley, Kent, BR1 2JE, United Kingdom. Or Email Raymond Cox the Secretary EWS if you wish to make a prior enquiry.

For recently published Brand Books and Special Publications see Recent Publications.

Company C, Indian Scouts, Arizona, 1882 (Volume 40, No. 1) by Allan Radbourne which tells the story behind one term of enlistment for a typical Indian Scout company in 1882. The enlistment of Indian Scouts by the U.S. Army was first authorised in 1866 and had become routine by the 18880s. This book is the first issue for 2006-2007.

Recently published is The Outlaw and the Lawman: Some Reminisces of Cole Younger and Harry Hoffman (Volume 40, No.2) and was compiled and introduced by Robert Wybrow and Laura Heywood. Harry Hoffman was a lawman in the Jackson County Marshal's Office from 1909-1917 and was an authority on some of the old time outlaws. He was born in 1873 and died in 1964. Laura Heywood who along with Robert Wybrow compiled this Brand Bok actually met Hoffman in 1959 when she was 13 years-old and corresponded with him until his death. Hoffman had been a friend of Jesse James Jnr and despite being a lawman was an admirer of Cole Younger. Hoffman was also the director and general manager of the company that produced the film that starred Jesse James Jnr, as his outlaw father and in which Harry played Cole Younger. This collection of reminiscences of this old-timer is probably the most complete collection published. This is the second in the 2006-2007 Volume.

One of the latest Brand Book to be published is Wakanyan: Symbols of Power and Ritual of the Teton Sioux by the late Colin Taylor and is reproduced by kind permission of Mr Samuel W. Corrigan, Editor of The Canadian Journal of Native Studies. This work was originally given as a lecture and subsequently published as a paper in the aforementioned journal. In this work Colin brought out the observations of the American anthropologist, Lewis Henry Morgan, who felt that Indian artefacts were "silent memorials" which could "unlock the social history of the past."

This publication completes the 2006-2007 series. Volume 2 of the Golden Jubilee is in preparation and will be issued in lieu of the Brand Books for 2007-2008 and will be Volume 41.

The first Brand Book in Volume 42 is "Wash My Hands in Your Heart's Blood" Some Incidents in the Life of Mattie Collins by Robert Wybrow. Mattie Collins is well known to those interested in the James Gang especially because of her relationship to Dick Liddil and minor part in the assassination of Jesse James. There were other darker facets to her life, involving three murders. She was born in 1851 and died in 1936.

The second Brand Book in Volume 42 is A Blackburn Man in the Frontier Army: The Life and Recollections of Sergeant Jacob Howarth by Barry C. Johnson. Voices from the ranks were seldom" were seldom heard according to Johnson and most only deal with the period of military service. Jacob Howarth was born in Blackburn, Lancashire in 1853, he would run away to see the world and end up enlisting in the U.S. army in 1871 and was then assigned to the Company F, 11th U.S. Infantry, who were serving in Texas. He only served five years but had no regrets and returned to his native country in late November1876 having achieved the rank of sergeant. In 1926 he wrote by request what he himself described as "a simple and truthful narrative of events [in Texas] ... without colouring of any kind."

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.)

Special Publication 11A. Vignettes in Violence has been sent to members. This 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.

Future Brand Books There are a number publications at various stages and we will keep you updated.

REMINDER Subscriptions for 2009/2010 were due from 1st September 2009. Members who have still to send their subscription should please forward their remittance to Bob Wybrow at 15, Hurstwood Drive, Bickley, Bromley, Kent, BR1 2JE, United Kingdom.

Allan Radbourne the Society's acknowledged expert on Mickey Free has had his new book on him published, entitled Mickey Free: Apache Captive, Interpreter and Indian Scout. Members may purchase this book at a discounted price of £15.00 +£1.50 P&P ($30+$3.00). Please send your remittance direct to Bob Wybrow.

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 write to the Chairman, Richard Pratt, direct to receive your copy.

Prue Westwood 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.

Golden Jubilee - The English Westerners' Society celebrated its 50th Anniversary in November 2004. To mark the event a Golden Jubilee Publication will be published, which will 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 Vice-chairman. Volume 1 - "Vignettes in Violence" has been be sent to members who had paid their 2004-2005 subscriptions. Volume 2 is in the Editorial stage and will on current plans be sent to members in lieu of the Brand Book for 2007-2008. We apologise for the delay in publishing Volume 2.

The Commemorative Golden Jubilee Tie is limited to 50 only. Price is £12.00 including postage and packaging. Place your order with Kevin Galvin. Overseas members should contact Kevin 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.

ONLY A FEW LEFT SO GET YOUR CHEQUE IN THE POST.

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.

Articles - The English Westerner's 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.

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. The aim is to show potential new members the quality and range of topics that our members write about and are interested in.

May 2009 Book Review is on Classic Gunfights: Blaze Away! The 25 Gun Fights Behind The O. K. Corral by Bob Boze Bell and reviewed by Chuck Parsons.

June 2009 Book Review is on Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood & His Apache Wars Memoir by Charles B. Gatewood and reviewed by Allan Radbourne.

July 2009 Book Review is on A Western Legacy: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum with contributions by Steven L. Grafe, Susan Hallsten McGarry, Charles E, Rand, Richard C. Rattenbury, Donald W. Reeves and reviewed by Chuck Parsons.

August 2009 Book Review is on Teddy's Cattle Drive: A Story From History by Marc Simmons and reviewed by Chuck Parsons.

September 2009 Book Review is on Other Noted Guerrillas Of The Civil War In Missouri by Larry Wood and reviewed by Bob Wybrow.

October 2009 Book Review is on Great Train Robberies Of The Old West and Great Stagecoach Robberies Of The Old West both by R. Michael Wilson and reviewed by Roy O'Dell.

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.

CAGB Gathering. The next gathering of the CAGB will take place on Saturday, 12th June 2010. The location will be Doggett's Coat & Badge. All members of the EWS are welcome to attend this event.

The Potomac Corral of Westerners International is a U.S. organisation based in Washington D.C. area for people interested in the history and culture of the American West. Like the English Westerners' Society, the Corral is one of a number of autonomous chapters, of similar makeup and intent, in the loosely knit society known as Westerners International.

Scottsdale Corral of Westerners is another U.S. based Corral based in Arizona who meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

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.

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 National Archives. In Washington D.C. but linked to regional and specialist centres.

Book Express. For new book searches - the Internet's largest discount bookstore. Discounts appear to be substantial.

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.

Custer Association of Great Britain The Custer Association of Great Britain was formally formed 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. Volume 4 is being prepared..

Museums. Some of the links are now dated and may no longer find the museums named websites. Those that still connect vary between minimal information and practically walking around the place on screen. Mainly they have American Indian and other Western items to view, so next time you are passing, file in.