The original scope of this book was to provide a reproduction of the photos from a turn-of-the-century (about 1902-1904) expedition into the rugged Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of Mexico led by Charles M. Barber. However, as details were added, the book developed into two distinct parts. This meant including the photo journal in its entirety as Part I of the book. It is unique and valuable in its own right, but it was just the beginning of the journey that Charley Barber seemed to have in mind for me. His role in this expedition was only a small part of a most fascinating, adventurous life that unfolded before me. Part II of the book is a biography of his bold life beyond his work as a guide as shown in the photo journal and into his world of collecting museum specimens. Much of it is told in his own words from letters archived at the Field Museum in Chicago. Charley hitch-hiked across the southwest in 1890 at about age 15. He organized his first collecting expedition at age 17. He played and coached football at New Mexico State University 1897-1900. He was mentored by several of the most recognized men in the field of zoology, including C. Hart Merriam, one of the founders of the National Geographic Society, C. H. T. Townsend, and T. D. A. Cockerell. He eventually became a "bone digger" - a collector of fossilized remains. He developed a passion for prehistoric turtles of the Cretaceous Period (65-145 million years ago when the dinosaurs were king) and spent the latter half of his life in this pursuit. The Field Museum contains over a thousand specimens collected by Charley. Take a look into his world through his correspondence, through some stories of his business ventures, and through some lost manuscripts of stories that he personally penned about his adventures. Observe his relationships with his contemporaries, his love for life and his dedication to friendship. This latest edition of the book includes additional new material that allows us to see how Charley hoped to preserve the way of life that they led for the sake of those who meant so much to him. www.jamespbarber.com
About the Author: Jim Barber was born in La Porte, Indiana, to working class parents in 1948. From his parents, he learned the values of hard work, responsibility and benevolence. Always a top student, he also excelled in athletics. Jim attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, on a full-ride scholarship. He was a three-year letter winning student-athlete starting as an offensive guard on Ball State's football team. His interests guided him to a double major in mathematics and computer science with a minor in business marketing. Upon graduation, Jim was employed at a major telecommunications company where he would end up working for 32 years. He grew through various technology positions into upper-level management with nationwide responsibilities. His strengths in organization, planning and servant-leadership were highly recognized and awarded as he often breathed new life into struggling areas of business. Challenging his entrepreneurial skills, he became a partner in a start-up business/technology integration firm for nearly five years. The business earned national recognition as one of the top 100 new businesses in America in 1997. After an early retirement in 2007, Jim pursued his lifelong hobbies of genealogy, writing and photography. His first two books were born out of these combined interests, his first book, From New York to Indiana, being a history of his family from 1786. His second book, The Collector, the Guide and the Bone Digger, is a biography of a relative who worked as a paleontologist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jim's thoroughness and attention to detail were demonstrated by the meticulous research required for these two works. Jim's third book, The Gifted Way to Manage Your Career, is a business/personal development book based on his business career experiences and his faith. This book takes the reader through career development based upon The 5-Phase Career Model that Jim developed. His keen understanding of what it takes to grow and sustain a career based on sound faith-based principles is a refreshing look into this topic. The latest book is a second edition of The Collector, the Guide and the Bone Digger, a biography of Charles M. Barber that has been updated with new material, including some of the remembrances penned by Charles himself from the very early 1900s. Jim and Marti live in Warsaw, Indiana, where their greatest joy is in their role as grandparents of four granddaughters and two grandsons.