The Tombstone Epitaph

Infobox Newspaper
name = The Tombstone Epitaph


caption =
type = Twice monthly newspaper
format = Broadsheet
foundation = 1880
ceased publication =
price = $.30 per copy at the store (minimum 20 copies from the UA) or $25 domestic yearly subscription; $35 international yearly subscription
owners = University of Arizona
publisher = William F. Greer
editor = Terry L. Wimmer
language = English
circulation = 1000
headquarters = UA Journalism Department
P.O. Box 210158B
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States
ISSN =
website = [http://journalism.arizona.edu/publications/epitaph/ journalism.arizona.edu/publications/epitaph]

The "Tombstone Epitaph" is a community newspaper in Tombstone, Arizona that has been published for more than a century. It is noted for its coverage of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881.

Beginnings

The "Epitaph" published its first edition on May 1, 1880. The newspaper was founded by John Philip Clum, a former Indian agent and Tombstone's first mayor.

Clum was living in Tucson, Arizona and publishing a newspaper, the "Tucson Citizen", when word began to spread about the discovery of silver in Tombstone in the late 1870s. Clum decided that Tombstone was a favorable location for a new journalism venture.

Clum had a Washington Hand Press, originally shipped by boat from New York to San Francisco and used for printing various gold mining boomtown newspapers, shipped from San Diego to Tucson by rail transport. The press was transported from Tucson to Tombstone by oxcart.

Clum named his new publication the "Epitaph" as a rebuff to associates who predicted the newspaper's early demise. The "Epitaph" proved successful, though Clum's term as publisher and editor ended when his two partners outvoted him on a buyout offer for the newspaper from parties at odds with Clum's crusade to clean-up Tombstone.

Later History

In 1975 publication of the "Epitaph" became a project of journalism students at the University of Arizona. Today the "Epitaph" is published twice a month during the fall and spring academic semesters.

The "Epitaph" is under the supervision of Associate Professor William F. Greer and Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Professor of Practice Terry L. Wimmer.

Annual subscriptions are available by sending a $25 domestic or $35 international check to the department address at

The Tombstone Epitaph
UA Journalism Department
P.O. Box 210158B
Tucson, Arizona, USA 85721

The "Epitaph" also has the distinction of being one of the last newspapers in the United States to sell for only 10 cents an issue. When the "Epitaph" raised its price to 25 cents in 1982, the Blowing Rocket in Blowing Rock, North Carolina was the only remaining National Press Association-affiliated newspaper charging 10 cents per copy.

References

* [http://thecatscan.com/section/show/10 The "Epitaph" at the University of Arizona Department of Journalism's Online capstone Web site]

* [http://journalism.arizona.edu/publications/epitaph/ The "Epitaph" at the University of Arizona Department of Journalism Web site]

* [http://www.sandimasnews.com/history/30.html Article on John P. Clum by Martha Glauthier of the San Dimas, Calif., Historical Society]

* [http://ananews.inetium.com/Foundation/Hall/HOF1950Clum.htm "John P. Clum - Tombstone Epitaph." 1950 Arizona Newspapers Association Hall of Fame]