October 11, 2025

AF-1165: Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland by Chris Paton (Free Book Giveaway)


Every so often, a genealogy book comes along that makes me look at research in a completely new way. Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland by Chris Paton did that for me.

If you have ever chased Irish ancestors, you already know it is not for the faint of heart. Records vanish. Churches burn. Counties split and rename. Sometimes the trail just goes cold. What this book does so well is explain why those records went missing and how the crises of Ireland’s past shaped what was written down, what was lost, and what can still be found today...

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October 10, 2025

AF-1163: Postcards from the Past | Jesse James and the Missouri State Capitol Mural


Every postcard has its surprises, and this one from my collection is a little unusual. Instead of showing a scenic view or a tourist attraction, it shows a mural of a man who was both feared and admired: Jesse James, the famous Missouri outlaw. The mural is located inside the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, and the fact that it ended up on a postcard tells you a lot about how Americans have remembered Jesse James—not just as a criminal, but as a larger-than-life figure of folklore.

The postcard was published by Blair Cedar & Novelty Works of Camdenton, Missouri, with printing by Colorpicture of Boston, Massachusetts. Like many linen-era cards, it’s vivid and bold, with stylized colors that almost make the mural look alive. On the front, the mural shows Jesse James and his gang in the middle of a train robbery—a scene that has become part of American legend. Farmers and workers stand in the background, symbolizing the state’s broader history, while the train steams through the center as the action unfolds. It’s a striking image: outlaw life turned into high art, displayed in the very heart of Missouri government...

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