About me

I have been passionate about family history since my mother's death in February 1999. She left for me, two steamer trunks, to sort through and figure out what was in them. As a child, I had always wondered what these treasure boxes contained but they were off limits to my curiosity. These trunks and their contents, one day, sparked in me a love for Montana and my ancestor's contribution to its early development.  
 

Looking through the many photos, ledgers, and albums,  I learned that my ancestors were among some of the first who stepped foot in the land we now call Montana. They were pioneers who endured hardships and struggled to survive in a harsh environment. They paved the way in order to carve out a better life for themselves and their families. They were "Empire Builders".  This new frontier would grow in population and eventually be granted statehood in 1889. I feel very connected to my ancestors through the research I have done. For me, spending time exploring Montana's early history is a welcome escape from the present realities of our world. Photos are a window into a brief moment into their time and I love the fact that I can look through that window. 

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Jacoby Lowney, Austin, Texas 2023