Member Publications


As part of its mission to promote education about the westward emigrant trails, OCTA produces a wide-ranging set of quality publications.

News From The Plains

cover of News From The Plains with text and photos of people and western scenery
Winter 2024 issue

News From The Plains is OCTA’s quarterly newsletter for members. It is delivered electronically via email in January, April, July and October.

The newsletter contains news about members and the organization, news of chapter events, convention reports, legislative action, trail preservation, special activities, and more.

If you would like to receive News From The Plains in a printed format rather than electronically, contact Headquarters at octa@indepmo.org. The cost is $20 per year to receive a printed issue.

News From The Plains

Jay Lawrence, Editor
530 Ohio Avenue, Long Beach CA 90814
Phone: (562) 760-1999

OCTA maintains an archive of issues from 1987 to 2023.  You can conveniently download past newsletters.

If you are not a member, join OCTA and receive further instruction that will allow you to register to gain log-in access and enjoy the current issue of News From The Plains.


Overland Journal

The Overland Journal is OCTA’s peer-reviewed quarterly journal of scholarly research into the emigrant experience and the trails. In addition to research articles, the journal regularly includes book reviews and letters to the editor.

The Overland Journal is always interested in considering material for publication. Inquiries, proposals, or draft articles should be sent directly to:

Cover of Overland Journal with artist rendering of mountains, trees, and sky
Winter 2023-24 issue

Overland Journal

Robert Clark, Editor
Box 1146
Pullman, WA 99163
robertaclark1902@gmail.com

The Overland Journal is sent to all members as a benefit of membership. If you are an OCTA member, you can access issues of the Overland Journal. If you are not a member, join OCTA to receive further instruction that will allow you to register to gain log-in access and enjoy every issue of the Overland Journal since 1983. A $700 total value for only $50.

Indexes for Vol. 1 (1983) through Vol. 40 (2022-2023) are available for use.

All articles and book reviews are identified by year, volume and number, title, author, and category.


Special Publications

book cover Bruff's Wake by H. L JamesOCTA publishes books devoted to specialized aspects of the trail experience. The current list of OCTA special publications is as follows:

OCTA welcomes proposals for well-written, well-researched books on the historic emigrant trails and related history. Books submitted for OCTA Special Publications are subject to a review process and are edited to maintain quality of content and presentation.


Educational Publications

book cover Reading, Writing and Riding Along the Oregon-California TrailsOCTA has published educational activity books that are designed to help teachers and children learn about the western historic trails. They cover the basic questions of who, why, what, when, where, and how the historic trails developed. Reflecting the standards, they utilize a wide variety of activities based on both primary and secondary sources to discover the answers to those questions. The current activity books are:

More information about them can be found under School Resources under the Activities Section heading:


Article Submission

Email your article online here or snail mail to OCTA:
OCTA, 524 S. Osage St. Independence, MO 64050

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