Stories From My Father is an engaging narrative of the childhood of James Paulding, a boy born to a poor coal mining family in 1909. It is a story of coal miners, family, love, and struggles. Issues such as race, equality, and workers' rights are woven into the rich history of one family. The little coal mining towns in southern Iowa have changed over the years. The mines are long gone. No bone weary miners come home at night, covered in coal dust, walking with weary steps. The pool halls, company stores, union halls, and schools are all gone. Barbara Paulding's captivating stories and photos give readers a first-hand view into what it was like to grow up in the early 1900s. Her family's stories of struggles and achievements are universal and inspiring.