The Bookstore

The Brand Book got its name from the various Brand Books of the western states when ranching was in its prime which contains the actual copies of brands of the ranches for the state that published the list.
 
When The Westerners started back in 1944, they operated pretty much the same way we do today.  They had scheduled talks for each monthly meeting.  At the end of the year, all of the talks for that year which were in the form of various types of notes  were edited, compiled and put into a book format.  They were published and bound with what has become the traditional green cloth binding that we all recognize today. Included in each Brand Book were notes from the meetings, book reports, lists of new members as the corral grew in size and assorted anecdotes. They also listed those members that had recently 'Crossed the Great Divide'.
 
The index as shown below gives the title of each monthly talk in the appropriate yearly volume. The Westerners have most of the talks available as originally printed. Some of the older ones have slightly yellowed paper and lightly rusted staples attesting to their originality.   We also have a complete set of Brand Books from which to make a photo copy for those talks where an original has been sold out and is no longer available.
 
The following info is for the avid collector of Chicago Corral Brand Books.
All of the annual volumes were bound (approx. size was 8x11) in the traditional green color with 2 exceptions. Vol. 1 was also bound in a smaller format (approx. 6x9) and in a dark tan cloth. Vol. 2 was also bound in the same smaller format but in a turquoise cloth. Volumes 1 (1944-45) and 2 (1945-46) were therefore available in both sizes.
 
Additional note is that Vol. 1 also had a Vol. 1 A in the large green cloth.

Vol. 2 also had a 2 A. in the large green cloth.  The content of volumes 1 and 2 and the 'A' varieties were basically the same.

Vol. I and I A have basically the same content as do Vol II and II A

 
Individual printed copies of all talks given are available for $5.00 each postpaid. A limited number of Vol. 2 (small size binding is available for $75.00 and misc.hard bound volumes from the 1970's on up are available for $30.00. All purchases are postpaid.

E-mail your requests to jamesschiffer@comcast.net

All of our Brand Books and research papers are archived at The Newberry Library in Chicago.  The Newberry is open to the public.

Vol. 1 (1944-45) Jesse James, Dr. Edwin James, Solon Robinson, Gen.Bouquet, Trapper Trails, Custer, Dime Novels, Tall Tale, Wounded Knee,Travel Routes.

Vol. 2 (1945-6) Mormons, Cody, Guns, Mississippi River, Mustang CalamityJane, Epic Cycle West, Railroads, Folklore, Mining.

Vol. 3 (1946-7) Pony Express, Wild Bill, Chataugua, Sheep, Great Plains,Ghost Dance, Railroads, Custer’s Last, Indians, Yellowstone.

Vol. 4 (1947-8) Missouri Valley, Custer, Cattle, Horace Greeley, AGMachinery, White & One Bull, III, Archaeology, Military Roads, Photogs, AnnieOakley.

Vol. 5 (1948-9) Swedish, Vigilantes, 49 Gold Rush, California, Custer Art,Indian War Veterans, Ghost Dance, Denver, Washita, Santa Fe R.R., Lewis andClark.

Vol. 6 (1949-50) Gristmills, Ft. Laramie, Communications, Legends, Army 1865-91, Cheyenne, Sitting Bull, Andy Adams, Wyatt Earp, Medora, NewMexico Press.

Vol. 7 (1950-51) Brule River, Sheep, John Wesley Powell, Union Pacific,Summit Springs, Indian Art, Frontier Guns, 76 Ranch, Wyoming, Folk Lore, CharlesRussell.

Vol. 8 (1951-52) Pioneer Women, Billy the Kid, Aspen, 49ers, Mexico,Johnson County War, California to Oregon Cattle Drive, Jackson Hole, StoryTelling, Bankers.

Vol. 9 (1952-53) Capt. Charles King, California 1952, Missouri Valley, LionHunting, Western Words, Custer, Cattle Drives, DuPage County Indians,Johnson County.

Vol. 10 (1953-54) Indians, New Mexico Archaeology, John Studebaker, MajorDownie, Custer, Rosa Bonheur, Jerky & Pemmican, Hawaii, Wyatt Earp,Donner Pass, Wister.

Vol. 11 (1954-55) Jessie James (F. Dalton), Black Hawk War, Old Trails, OldCavalry Days, Long Guns, Phillip Nolan, Santa Ana’s Leg. The English, Colts,Mormons.

Vol. 12 (1955-56) Cattle Drive, Book Treasures, Overlander, Rails West,Johnson County War, Nauvoo, Western Fiction, Kansas, Albert Bacon Fall,Gunfighter, C. Russell.

Vol. 13 (1956-57) Boots and Saddles, Mike Fink, Indian Warfare, The BatesBattle, Western Saddles, Chiricahua Scouts, Gen. Crook, Arctic, Indian Policy,Oklahoma.

Vol. 14 (1957-58) Panoramas, Indian Rights, The Pawnees, Custer, Dragoonsand Cavalry, Lonesome Charley Reynolds, F. J. Turner, Cattle, Wilson’sCreek, Old West Songs.

Vol. 15 (1958-59) Western Myth, Frontier Humor, Western Union, TheNewberry, Mines, Cheyenne, Charros, Manifest Destiny, Custer Ritual,Pinkerton, Railroads, Texas.

Vol. 16 (1959-60) Oregon Trail, Mormons, Currier & Ives, Miles and theSioux, Anaconda, Harry Tracy, Brevet Comm. and Custer, Frank Grouard,Cheyenne, California, Great Plains, Pinkerton.

Vol. 17 (1960-61) Buffalo, Pony Express, Mississippi, Mining Camp Law, KidCurry, Hamlin Garland, Brave Bear, Buffalo Bill, Lee Enfield, Mark Twain, ElPaso Region, Bloody Knife.

Vol. 18 (1961-62) Gatling Gun, Kid Curry, Portage Routes, Potawatomi,Navajo, Billy the Kid, Arizona, Harvey Girls, Union Pacific, Tom McCarty, WillComstock.

Vol. 19 (1962-63) Brinton Ranch, David Neagle, Shorthorn Talks, Railroads,Buffalo Bill, Kidder Massacre, Custer, Badger Clark, Four Corner Country, Quarter Horse, Fort Robinson, Brown’s Hole.

Vol. 20 (1963-64) Nebraska Sioux, South Pass, Mountain Men, Lewis andClark, Custer Reburial, Arizona Ghost Towns, Sun Dance, Army Life, Doctors,Scouts, R. Billington.

Vol. 21 (1964-65) Fast Draw, Westerners, Butch Cassidy, Sioux Raids ‘75,Folklore, Custer’s Photographers, Peace Medals, Mark Twain, Penitentes,Military Frontier.

Vol. 22 (1965-66) Burlington R.R., Dragoons, Overland Trail, Photographers,Pony Express, Custer-1876, Slim Buttes Battle, Santa Fe, Medicine, Rosebud,Gold, Boyd.

Vol. 23 (1966-67) New Mexico, Civil War, Sitting Bull, Black Hills, Germans,W.C. Bridwell, Law Badges, Sioux Legend, C. Russell, Fetterman Fight, C. Montezuma, Hotel.

Vol. 24 (1967-68) Whiskey, Platte Empire, Forts 1826-45, Research,Swedish, Reno Petition, Dakota Territory, Pleasant Valley War,2Cavalry Veteran, Guns, Medical, Band.

Vol. 25 (1968-69) Washington Irving, Custer’s Last, Tecumseh, Civil WarCuster, Chief Joseph, Bison Drives, Baker Expedition, Colt Six Shooter,Mormons.

Vol. 26 (1969-70) Soiled Doves, Scottish Fur Trader, 101 Ranch Show,Chippewa Sioux Treaty, Billy the Kid, Bannock War, Gold Rush, Movies, SiouxWar, Wild West.

Vol. 27 (1970-71) Fur Trade, Jack Hoxie, Agnes Wright Spring, Simon Girty,Matt Warner, Short Bull, San Carlos Outbreak, Beltrami, Captain Clifford onCuster, Trails.

Vol. 28 (1971-72) The Far Northwest, Great Trails, Sitting Bull, WesternWills, Surgeons Loma Parda N.M., Photography, Captain Willard Glazier,Westerners Recall.

Vol. 29 (1972-73) Fremont and Abert, Indian Art, Cowboy Folktales,Forsyth Fight, Wagon Box Fight, Captain Clifford C.T.D., Reno, San JuanMountains, Sod Hut, Tim McCoy.

Vol. 30 (1973-74) Northern Pacific R.R., Frank Springer, Buntline Special,Marlboros, Custer Debate, John Plumb, Colorado Mines, Jessie Fremont,General Sherman.

Vol. 31(1974-75) Pikes Peak Gold, Yellowstone, Lame Deer Fight, BoneHunter, Dakota Plains, Surgeons, Humor, Black Hills, C.M. Russell, Buffalo, O. Mears

Vol. 32 (1975-76) Lincoln and Indians, John Cox, Plains Indians, MoundBuilders, Buffalo Bill, Gold Rush Trail, Benjamin Tappen of Arizona, CharlesKing and General Crook, Mosher’s Photos.

Vol. 33 (1976-77) Indian trader, Fort Sheridan, Tombstone, Winchester Gun,Military Artist, Ranger Badges, Faro, Indians, Railroads, Buffalo Slaughter,Yellowstone, Banking, Custer.

Vol. 34 (1977-78) Women of the West, Aerial Analysis/Custer, Bodie, FortPhil Kearney, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Indian Art Exhibit, Colorado Characters,Wheels West, K. Benedict, Sonoita Valley.

Vol. 35 (1978-79) John Wilkes Booth, Indian Trading Posts, General JohnGibbon, Don Russell Night, Lawman Fred Lambert, Virginia-MissouriConnection, El Paso.

Vol. 36 (1979-80) Buffalo Bill and King, Photographs, Mountain Men,Women/Lynching, Reburial of Jim White, Buffalo Bill, Bark Canoe.

Vol. 37 (1980-81) Luxury Travel, Badlands, Chicago Western City, IndianMuseum, Vikings, Covered Wagon Trips, Buffalo, Fur Trade.

Vol. 38 (1981-82) Saints and Union, Misunderstood Lawman, Creek Nationalism, Jesse James, Western Showman, Black Men in Cattle Country,Lakeside Classics, Hunting Buffalo (Pistols), Northwest Wyoming.

Vol. 39 (1982-83) Lost Dutchman Mine, Trails Paved Under, ArizonaRangers, Westerners Chicago Guide, Frank Cushing, Canadian Fur Trade, WildBill Donovan, Butch Cassidy’s Return(?), Mountain Men Rendezvous.

Vol. 40 (1983-86) Santee Godfather, Hotels of the West, How NorwegiansWon West, Quarter Horses, Downtown Chicago, Charles A. Eastman,Westerner’s 40th Anniversary.

Vol. 41 (1986-1987) Fremont’s Expeditions, War Whoop and Rebel Banner,Ernest Lisle Reedstrom, Frontier Footnotes, In Search of “Pidge.”, Iron Trailsto Santa Fe, “Pidge” Burial Stone, Butch Cassidy, The World of Henry Shaw,The Best Westerns, George Armstrong Custer Misconceptions, The Hopewell Indians Earthworks.

We are currently working on a list of western books written by Chicago Corral members and offering those,  where available as signed, 1st. editions.