History Conversations: Montgomery County, Then and Now: A Conversation on Recreating the Historical Photographs of Lewis Reed

with Jeanne Gartner, Barry Gartner, and Sarah Hedlund

Join the creators of Montgomery History’s upcoming online exhibit, “Montgomery County, Then and Now: Photography of Lewis Reed and Barry Gartner” as they discuss the fascinating process of recreating historical photographs. In the early 1900s, photographer Lewis Reed captured hundreds of images throughout Montgomery County, featuring iconic structures, streetscapes, homes, and towns. 100 years later, two of Reed’s grandchildren have partnered with archivist Sarah Hedlund to exhibit Reed’s images in a unique way. Working with his sister, Jeanne Gartner, who is the custodian of their grandfather’s treasure trove of photographic images, photographer Barry Gartner has been recreating his grandfather’s pictures in modern-day Montgomery County. The exhibit will present the pairs of photos side by side, illustrating in some cases timeless constancy and in many cases radical change. In this presentation, Sarah will talk with Jeanne and Barry about how this project was conceived and executed, providing historical context and behind-the-scenes stories about creating this new online exhibit—which will soon be available for you to explore!