Bighorn Visions

Born in 1886 to pioneer parents on the eastern front of the Bighorn Mountains, Jessamine Spear Johnson would grow up to document many of the dramatic changes that this region would see over the next century. After first picking up a camera at the age of eleven, Johnson developed into a uniquely gifted artist, all while helping manage the family ranch. Through her photography, Johnson captured the rapid advancements occurring around her, especially from the 1910s through the 1940s.

During these years, a burgeoning dude ranch industry brought new visitors to this remote area and technological changes reshaped the nature of work. At the same time, the Crows and Cheyennes in the region struggled with being confined to reservations as they sought new livelihoods to support their families, all while maintaining old traditions and establishing new ones. As Bighorn Visions shows, Johnson’s camera captured not only the day-to-day nuances of ranch life but also changing gender norms, transformations on the reservation, and the abundant natural wonders of northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana.

“[Jessamine Spear Johnson's] photographs are personal in a way that photojournalists can rarely achieve; her subjects were family, friends, neighbors, ranch workers, and visitors to her family’s dude ranch. The intimate perspective of a talented photographer is the promise of Bighorn Visions , which itself is a personal project for Javitz. As such, the book will appeal to multiple audiences including Western history enthusiasts, photography fans, scholars, and, especially, today’s Bighorn residents. . . . Readers who find themselves enthralled by Johnson’s archive will hope, like this reviewer, that Bighorn Visions is only the beginning of increased attention on her work. ” — Dr. Michaela Rife , State University of New York, Plattsburgh. Full review in Montana The Magazine of Western History , Spring 2024 Issue

“Jessamine’s photos matter. They embrace her love of cattle, sheep, and dude ranching, landscapes and wildlife, rodeos, and her Crow and Northern Cheyenne neighbors. This text presents some 100 photos of her collection. . . . [O]verall, this is a rich addition to our understanding of life in the Bighorn Mountains—from a woman’s perspective.” — Dr. Kathryn MacKay , Professor Emeritus of History, Weber State University. Full review in Nebraska History Magazine , Spring 2024 Issue

“Along with beautiful landscapes, [ Bighorn Visions ] contains fascinating photographs of ranchers, cattle herds, and members of the Crow, Lakota, and Cheyenne tribes. The realities of these western ranches and the Indian Reservations are brilliantly displayed in this historic collection. Woven throughout the spectacular images is the story of the artist who often traveled from one scenic location to another atop her sorrel horse. Jessamine's photography reflects her love of ranching, history, animals, and the American Indian.” — Chris Enss , Cowgirl magazine (Nov. / Dec. 2024 issue)

Tempe Javitz , Jessamine Spear Johnson’s granddaughter, has compiled over one hundred of Jessamine’s photographs for Bighorn Visions , the first publication to showcase her work in such detail. Javitz also contributes vital essays and informative captions that contextualize her grandmother’s life and work. In addition, historian Mary Murphy situates Johnson’s life and career in relation to broader shifts in ranching, tourism, and photography in the region in a wide-ranging introduction. Collectively, Bighorn Visions is both a must-read for those interested in the twentieth century West and a striking document of a skilled photographer’s work.