National Tribune Index Is a Civil War Researcher’s Newest Best Friend

Tribune IndexPerhaps you’ve heard word from our friends at Savas Beatie about the recent release of a cool new research tool: Dr. Richard Sauers’ 3 volume study The National Tribune Civil War Index: A Guide to the Weekly Newspaper Dedicated to Civil War Veterans, 1877-1943. According to Savas Beatie, “No future Civil War study will be complete now unless the author writing it consults this invaluable set.”

Many of us at Emerging Civil War ordered copies for ourselves, and not a one of us has been disappointed. We asked Savas Beatie for a little info about the index that we could pass along to ECW’s readers, so if you’re interested, read on!

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE

The National Tribune was the premier Union veterans’ newspaper of the post-Civil War era (1877 – 1943). The NT published firsthand accounts by the veterans themselves (including privates to generals), and did so for decades thereafter (including some Confederate material). This rich, overlooked, and underused source of primary material offers a goldmine of eyewitness accounts of battles, strategy, tactics, camp life, obituaries, general articles, observations, debates, and much more.

Tribune Index uprightORGANIZATION: 

The first two volumes are organized by author, his unit, article title, and page/column location. The third volume includes an alphabetical subject, author, and unit guide, as well as a “Unit as Sources” index that lists articles that mention specific commands, but are written by soldiers who were not members of that unit.

Vol. 1The National Tribune Civil War Index: A Guide to the Weekly Newspaper Dedicated to Civil War Veterans, 1877-1943 (1877-1903). $44.95

Vol. 2The National Tribune Civil War Index: A Guide to the Weekly Newspaper Dedicated to Civil War Veterans, 1877-1943 (1904-1943). $44.95

Vol. 3The National Tribune Civil War Index: A Guide to the Weekly Newspaper Dedicated to Civil War Veterans, 1877-1943 (Subject, Author, and Unit Index). $49.95

As an added bonus, this reference guide includes the contents of both the National Tribune Scrapbook and the National Tribune Repository, two short-lived publications that included articles by veterans.

Thanks to Dr. Sauers, Civil War researchers and writers worldwide now have easy access to the invaluable contents of this primary source material.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE? (No, you don’t need to go to the library)

The National Tribune can be found in a variety of libraries across the country. Several institutions have complete copies of the paper, but most seem to have incomplete runs. Dr. Sauers includes a list of all these repositories, and what they include.

ONLINE: They are also available online, but page by page and unorganized, making their use almost impossible. That means this new printed index is more invaluable and timely than ever!

SPECIFICATIONS: Hardcover, 7 x 10, printed on 60# acid-free paper and bound with Arrestox B Navy Cloth, matching head and foot bands, with the title and spine stamped with gold foil.

The first 100 copies will have a special “John McElroy Edition” title page. (It was under his firm guidance that the National Tribune became the premier paper of Civil War Veterans.)



8 Responses to National Tribune Index Is a Civil War Researcher’s Newest Best Friend

  1. Hi Chris, Thank you for taking the time and trouble to preview this set. It was a joy to publish, though it is not one that pays many of the bills because of its heavy expense and limited potential in the market at large. Still, I felt a strong need to make it available–it represents decades of Rick Sauers’ life.

    Just a handful left. 🙂 just email sales@savasbeatie.com or call 916-941-6896 and we will arrange to get you a set.

    Happy reading.

    Ted

    1. I’d recommend reaching out to SB directly and, if they can get you a set, cancel the Amazon order.

    2. HI Meg, all. Amazon will only have (and maybe….) the non-special edition copies, and there will be little or no discount. You want THIS edition, and own a 1 in 100 copy set. Call the office or email, Stephanie will get it set up for you.

      1. Thanks for the review of the index and the info on how to find the National Tribune when doing research. It sounds like a very valuable resource that will be a shortcut to important insights and perspectives on the war that have been hard to find. What a job (and a headache, I imagine) to find and organize all this material!

  2. Mr. Savas I can’t thank you enough for selling me a copy. I’m literally “overwhelmed” by info in a very good way and I havn’t even traveled to Be

  3. Sorry,was cut off. Meant to say havn’t even traveled to Belmont yet and I have so much info, I promise your faith in me will be rewarded. With God’s blessing this book will succeed. As you mentioned Vicksburg isn’t done because it’s probably a 10 year project. I’m on military pay due to my injuries, so I will have the time if my first book (Belmont and the lessons Grant learned) succeeds. Vicksburg as I’ve mentioned to you several times is my pet peeve due to the tremendous shortage of info. on it. If we can get people into the first volume the next 2 should sell great, but I know I’m getting ahead of myself. Again thank you so much sir for the Tribune, I will do all in my power to not let you down. Afterall, Michigan Men don’t fail

Leave a Reply to tpsCancel reply