Piece of the Puzzle by Keila Thompson is now found in libraries in London, England

"When I was doing my investigation I came across this library in England, the Mary Evans Picture Library, found in London" - says Keila.

The Mary Evans Picture Library is a distinguished British archive renowned for its extensive collection of historical images. Founded in 1964 by Mary and Hilary Evans, the library began as a personal endeavor fueled by their shared passion for collecting antiquarian books, prints, and ephemera. This passion evolved into a professional archive, and today, it houses approximately 2.5 million images, encompassing a diverse range of subjects from prehistory to the 21st century. Mary Evans Picture Library plays a big role in preserving and disseminating visual history. Its collection includes rare and unique images that are invaluable to researchers, educators, publishers, and media professionals.

Here, you can find the Illustrated London News images; while the newspaper itself closed, their images were passed down to the Mary Evans Picture Library. Keila Thompson contacted the library to acquire the rights which allowed her to publish some of the images they have, in her book, as she deemed them important. "When I published my book I made sure to send them a copy of it" says Keila.

It’s highly significant that Keila Thompson’s book Piece of the Puzzle: History of my Ancestors in the Bay Islands was able to acquire rights to use images from the Mary Evans Picture Library. By incorporating these images, Thompson’s work gains a level of authenticity and richness that goes beyond text alone, allowing readers to connect more vividly with the historical narratives she presents. Access to such a prestigious archive not only enhances the book’s visual storytelling but also situates it within a broader tradition of scholarly and carefully curated historical research, reinforcing its credibility and impact.

Tom Gilmor, head of content at Mary Evans Picture Library

Keila's "Piece of the Puzzle: the History of my Ancestors in the Bay Islands" has held its spot in the Top 10 since it's publication in July 3rd, 2025 on Amazon for the Honduran History category. It currently holds position #3 and has only kept escalating in the charts.

Keila Thompson has been a vocal advocate for teaching the accurate history of the Bay Islands in schools and universities, emphasizing the importance of grounding education in well-researched, authentic sources. Her participation in True Utila allowed her to share insights from her book, Piece of the Puzzle, and highlight the broader significance of preserving and conveying historical truth. She was given an award as a token for her participation on this first of a series of annual events on the island of Utila.

By engaging both academic and public audiences, Thompson stresses that understanding the Bay Islands’ past isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about cultural identity and ensuring that future generations appreciate the full story of their heritage.

Piece of the Puzzle book is available for purchase on the following links:

👉🏼 Amazon.com Kindle eBook link 🔗: https://a.co/d/i8LcOrC

👉🏼 Amazon.com Paperback Link 🔗: https://a.co/d/cBttoVW

👉🏼 Barnes & Noble eBook and Paperback link🔗: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/piece-of-the-puzzle-keila-rochelle-thompson-gough/1147792527?ean=9781662950278