Reading, studying, and examining Custer, the 7th Cavalry, the plains Indian Wars, the Battle of the Little Big Horn, etc. is, for the most part, a solitary hobby. Indeed, many times your family, friends, and those closest to you don't understand the obsession. If you haven't heard the phrase "You're reading another book about Custer?" don't worry - you will.
Like pretty much everything else, Custer and the Little Big Horn battle can be found on the internet. There are many websites dedicated to this period in history. Years ago, Custer buffs hung out on a variety of message boards and chat groups to communicate and trade information. With the rise of social media, those message boards and chat groups have pretty much been pushed to the wayside.
There are several organizations that cover our favorite timeframe in history. These organizations also have a social media presence, typically Facebook. Groups on Facebook are the current message boards of yore. In addition to their Facebook groups, in which you are free to join, read, and participate, they also publish newsletters, scholarly journals, have conferences, etc. Membership rates vary.
Some groups are public and others are private. The private groups are free to join but do require registration. The private groups tend to be less prone to the antics that afflict social groups everywhere. All groups have moderators to keep the discussions on topic and watch for troublemakers. Here are my favorites in alphabetical order:
BTA-FTK: Bozeman Trail Association Fort Phil Kearny FPK/BTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation, development, education, and promotion of the historic sites at Fort Phil Kearny and along the Bozeman Trail. By becoming a FPK/BTA member you help to preserve and protect these historical sites. You will receive our LOOKOUT publication twice a year and a 10% discount in the Bookstore (when purchased in-store). The unofficial Facebook group for this organization is The Bozeman Trail and the Powder River Wars. The group is private but free to join.
CAGB: Custer Association of Great Britain is a wonderful organization that publishes the scholarly journal, The Crow's Nest. They also publish a club newsletter four times a year. They don't have a discussion group but by simply following their page, you will receive updates and other valuable information. The Crow's Nest is worth the membership fee all by itself.
CBHMA: Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association was the first organization I joined back in 1999. They publish their own scholarly journal, Greasy Grass, that is excellent. The CBHMA Facebook group is public and one of the largest as far as registered members. Again, membership is encouraged but not required to participate in the forum.
FRIENDS: Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield is an organization whose Facebook page states: "Our mission is to raise funds to aid & promote management programs of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, formerly Custer Battlefield National Monument, and to inspire its visitors to learn more." No forum here either but by following their page, you will be sure to receive timely news about the battlefield.
LBHA: Little Big Horn Associates. A slick newsletter and the Research Review journal make this organization one of the old standbys for Little Big Horn fans. But it's not Little Big Horn all the time, 24/7. Articles on Custer's childhood, Civil War career, personal life, and the other characters involved are included. Their forum is private but free to join and is one of the most active.
OIW: Order of Indian Wars, now American Frontier History Association Assembly states on their Facebook page - "Study and dissemination of information, on that aspect of United States military history of Indian warfare, whether it is Indians against each other, or with emigrant settlers and soldiers alike. The history of the peoples and events in our past...on both sides. This page is dedicated to and focused on the history and discussion of the U.S. Indian Wars. Unlike the other groups, this one doesn't focus on the northern plains. You are just as likely to see a thread about Apache or Navajo topics as you are about Custer, the Sioux, or Cheyenne.
General George A. Custer History Forum: Unlike the others, General George A. Custer History Forum is a Facebook only group administered by Dr. Gregory Urwin. The discussion forum is highly moderated so there are less of the arguments that tend to break out on the other boards. Topics range from Custer in the Civil War to the Little Big Horn. Dr. Urwin wrote one of the classic Custer Civil War books, Custer Victorious.
There are other groups and pages as well but, these are my personal go-to favorites. I encourage you to check them out and give the forums a test drive. The groups that have been around for a while have a wealth of information in their files. Spend time looking through the documents, videos, photos, and posts that are featured. If you see me, drop me a note or private message to say hello.
Oh yeah... a bit of advice... get your feet wet by reading past entires. Get a feel for the individual board before posting. There are people in these groups that have been studying this topic for decades, including authors, film people, students, professors, park service employees, as well as seasoned and learned hobbyists. If you make a bold statement, be prepared to be called out. You need to backup what you post.
This battle may be approaching its 150th anniversary, but you can bet that feelings still run hot. Discussions and arguments are the norm. Whether you post or just lurk and read, you will learn something. And hopefully have a bit of fun as well. I'll see you over there...