Ed Bearss

Ed Bearss

Ed Bearss and the BGES share a special relationship that goes back to 1994. While Bearss has been a friend to all preservation related organizations, he was particularly supportive of BGES in its formative years and his support helped sustain the organization during those difficult times.

As the times passed the relationship matured to the point where BGES and its Executive Director, Len Riedel were able to collaborate on projects of national significance. BGES gave the knowledgeable Bearss the forum to visit sites he had never taken tour groups to before and a means of expanding his archival collection to its present form. A series of specially constructed one time only tours allow Bearss to create a record of sites that might otherwise may not have a Bearss interpretation in his lifetime.

This relationship has expanded to publications where Bearss’ work is being presented. The first collaboration, Fields of Honor with the National Geographic Society was released in 2006 and has sold 26,000 copies. This led to a second collaboration called Receding Tide about the Gettysburg and Vicksburg Campaigns. Both are available for purchase in the BGES bookstore or by following their links.

More about Ed Bearss:

• Fields of Honor
• Receding Tide
• James McPherson’s Introduction to Fields of Honor (pdf)
• Ed Bearss’ Publications
• Ed Bearss’ Biography, Pied Piper (downloadable book in pdf format)
• Ed Bearss’ Archives Project
• Ed Bearss’ 2013 Tour Schedule

Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch article by Bill Lohman: Ed Bearss a rock star among battlefield guides.