THE STORY BEHIND THE ALBUM

In the 1930‘s, the Branger family opened their homestead and ranch to city slickers craving a taste of the cowboy life out West as a Dude Ranch. A guest named, J.H. Dutmer from Chicago brought along a his cameras and documented his visits each Summer.

Dutmer compiled an album full of priceless photographs which was eventually abandoned and found at a yard sale. This album was kept on a coffee table in Chicago for visitors to flip through. Someone thoughtfully mentioned that the family in this album might appreciate seeing these images. And so, the album was sent to Syble Branger, the wife of the late Chris Branger who is in many of the photographs in Roscoe, Montana.

Syble who has since become a dear friend shared this priceless album with me. Knowing my obsession with the history of the historic remnant of a ranch, I dove deep into these images. Over one hundred years later, the images are still palpable and have given me a new sensibility walking around the property.

Syble and I have decided to reproduce the images on canvas fabric with a simple wooden hanging dowel.

We are indebted to Mr. Dutmer who so beautifully captured a time and place in the history of the west.

Sales from this work will go toward supporting Syble and her families’ cattle ranch down the road in East Rosebud & my dream of preserving the red barn and turning it into a foundation for the arts.

We thank you kindly in advance for your support.