Consortium Book Blog

New book from State House Press called "the most comprehensive volume on the Alamo . . ."

Just released from State House Press, The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey has already garnered praise from several noted historians throughout the state.

Richard Bruce Winders, Historian and Curator at the Alamo states:

"Many visitors to the Alamo know only its iconic postcard image. Those who realize there was more to the old mission compound are surprised to find that so much has been lost over time. Alamo aficionados long for resurrection. Mark Lemon has produced something for all of them—the curious and the serious. The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey is a must for anyone who wishes to visualize the Alamo as it appeared at the time of the battle."

Jesus Francisco de la Teja, State Historian of Texas notes that by

"Combining the artist's imagination with a scholar's attention to detail, Alamo enthusiast Mark Lemon has produced the single most comprehensive volume on the Alamo as it was at the time of its rendezvous with history.The Illustrated Alamo 1836 will bring hours of pleasure to anyone wishing to gain an understanding of how a dilapidated Spanish mission became the stage for the most famous event in Texas history."

 To see what others have said about Mark Lemon's The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey, or to purchase a copy of the book, click here.

Life of a South Texas Cowboy

Tío Cowboy                                        
Juan Salinas, Rodeo Roper and Horseman             
Ricardo D. Palacios

One of the best tie-down calf ropers ever to come out of South Texas, Juan Salinas grew up on a 15,000-acre ranch near Laredo, with the finest of horses to ride and hundreds of head of cattle to practice on. He roped in Texas rodeos large and small from the mid-1920s to 1935. From 1936 to 1946, he followed the national rodeo circuit, competing from Texas to New York’s Madison Square Garden. At the time, few if any other Mexican Americans competed in rodeo, and Salinas drew a lot of attention.
Salinas also operated his family’s Texas ranch, where he ran cattle and raised prize roping quarter horses.

In this account of his life and career, Salinas’s nephew, Ricardo Palacios, recounts the many tales his uncle told him—tales of friendship with Gene Autry, going to Sally Rand’s wedding reception, riding on the Rodeo Train, and sponsoring seven-time world champion tie-down calf roper Toots Mansfield. He also narrates life on the range, with his uncle riding across a pasture at full speed, gingerly holding the reins and a thirty-five foot coil of rope in his left hand while swinging the roping loop overhead with his right hand as he chased a three-hundred-pound calf for the throw.

The story of Juan Salinas is also the story of the people of Mexican origin who live on the ranches of the South Texas brush country. Strong, rugged, independent, and  hard-working, they knew social and economic success that has all too seldom been chronicled.

Tío Juan was the family cowboy, the hero, the rodeo star, and Palacios tells his uncle’s story with warmth and admiration.

For more information:
http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2007/palacios.htm