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A
Brief History of Westerners International:
The Westerners movement began in Chicago in 1944 by
Leland D. Case, editor of The Rotarian magazine, and
Elmo Scott Watson, a newspaperman and educator. Case had
grown up in South Dakota and was fascinated by history
as was Watson. Since the academic world did not seem to
offer much for “history buffs” the two men decided to
form a group open to anyone interested in the history of
the American West. The members would promote the study
and understanding of Western history and, at the same
time, have fun and avoid taking themselves too
seriously. The first local “corrals” and “posses” (names
of the member groups) began organizing in 1945, after
Chicago in 1944, and the movement has spread to include
more than 138 such groups in the U.S. and overseas.
Laypersons form the majority in most corrals. The
corrals usually meet monthly for a meal and program
about some Western history topic. Each group is rather
loosely organized, with few rules and its own
traditions. While Westerners are devoted to their
historical interest, the main thing to remember is that
membership in a corral or posse satisfies this interest
in a spirit of fun and camaraderie.
The Purpose of
Westerners International:
The purpose of the Westerners is fun and scholarship
related to the American frontier West. "Westerners share
a dislike for stuffed-shirtism, over-seriousness,
shiftless thinking, and above all ignorance," wrote the
late Ray Allen Billington, historian. Western traditions
prevail in all meetings of Westerners.
WHO CAN JOIN THE
WESTERNERS?
Anyone who loves the lore and history of the American
West can join. Members range from local history buffs
and readers and viewers of Westerns to professional
historians. Nearly all Corrals and Posses are coed.
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More Information:
The
Mission of
Westerners International:
To encourage and promote interest and research in the history of the
American West.
Full Board of Westerners
International
Executive Committee
Biographies
Westerners
International 100 Outstanding 20th Century
Non-fiction Books on the American West, 1901-2000 by
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