Search for content in message boards

Philip Steele's "The Many Faces of Jesse James"

Philip Steele's "The Many Faces of Jesse James"

Posted: 5 Jun 2010 7:03PM GMT
Classification: Query

I recently purchased a copy of “The Many Faces of Jesse James” by Phillip W. Steele and George Warfel. There are two chapters in this work that are imo well done; Image Identification Techniques and Jesse James Imposters.

The ‘Image’ chapter concerns Warfel’s identification methods which appear to be a variation on the old criminal science Bertillion method. However, it’s peculiar that Warfel’s method is not employed elsewhere in the book. It should have been.

The images presented to the reader as Jesse James on pgs.38, 39, 41, 44 and 50 are simply outrageous. I have read elsewhere that Mr Steele was the official ‘photo expert’for the James Farm organization. There must not have been many applications for that position.

I don’t doubt Mr Steele’s abilities as a historian. But to refer to him as a ‘photo expert’ is imo simply a reach.

Re: Philip Steele's "The Many Faces of Jesse James"

Posted: 4 Mar 2015 10:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
I agree. I visit the Jesse James Farm and museum often and I'm a Jesse James researcher. Warfel has misidentified many photos in that book. The James family has stated they only recognize less about 8 photos of Jesse alive. I'm in the process of writing a paper, later to be published, about which photos the family and the farm recognize.
per page

Find a board about a specific topic