New spectroscopic observations are presented for a sample of thirty-one blue horizontal branch (BHB) star candidates that are sufficiently nearby to have reliable proper motions. Comments are given on a further twenty-five stars that have previously been suggested as BHB star candidates but which were not included in our sample. Moderately high-resolution spectra ({lambda}/{Delta}{lambda}=~15000) of twenty five of our program stars were taken with the coude feed spectrograph at Kitt Peak. Twelve of the program stars were also observed with the CAT spectrograph at ESO. Six of these program stars were observed from both hemispheres. IUE low-resolution spectra are available for most of our candidates and were used, in addition to other methods, in the determination of their T_eff_ and reddening. Abundances were obtained from these spectra using models computed by Castelli with an updated version of the ATLAS9 code (Kurucz, 1993, CD-ROM No. 13). All thirty one candidates are halo stars.

Cone search capability for table J/A+A/364/102/stars (Star positions and magnitudes (from Simbad))