Montana: Love, Loss, and Everything In-between

Have you ever found yourself staring at a dusty trunk in an attic, wondering what stories might be hiding inside? What if I told you that sometimes the most extraordinary family discoveries come from the simplest moments, like finally deciding to open something that's been sitting untouched for decades?

That's exactly what happened to Mary Anne Mercer when she discovered her great-grandmother's diary in a trunk that had remained sealed since 1915. What she found wasn't just a collection of old entries. It was a window into a remarkable love story that would eventually become the foundation for her book about her Montana ranching family.

A Journey from the World Back to Home

Mary Anne's path to family storytelling is as fascinating as the stories she uncovered. After growing up on a Montana ranch with six siblings, she became a nurse and spent her career in international health. She worked everywhere from Nepal to Africa, even directing AIDS prevention programs across Africa in the early 1990s. But despite traveling the world and building an impressive academic career, she found herself drawn back to the stories of home.

"I had this book in me. I felt so invested in my family history and my Montana roots... I just had to write that book too."

Her journey from international health expert to family historian began with a simple newspaper ad that read "nurses wanted Nepal." That led to a two-year adventure in the Himalayas. But it was the stories waiting in a century-old trunk back in Montana that would ultimately capture her heart and imagination.

The Whole Story

If you haven't already heard Mary Anne's incredible journey of discovery, take a moment to listen in:

Prefer audio only? Click here to listen on your favorite podcast app.

🎧 Listen to the full episode to discover:

• How Mary Anne transformed from world traveler to family historian
• The remarkable contents of Grandma Florrie's trunk that sat untouched for 100 years
• The love story between a London nurse and a Wyoming cowboy that changed everything
• Why her taciturn grandfather's extensive book collection revealed a completely different side of his personality
• The community traditions of Montana ranch life that shaped generations
• How family artifacts can tell stories that go far beyond names and dates

The Power of One Story

Mary Anne's discovery reminds us that some of our most meaningful family connections aren't found in genealogy databases. They're waiting in the physical objects our ancestors left behind. Florrie's diary didn't just provide dates and facts; it revealed her personality, her hopes, and her journey from London society to the isolated Montana plains.

"I could write from her point of view because she really did this in her diary... I knew this woman, I know this woman."

What struck me most about Mary Anne's story is how she recognized that these weren't just her family's stories. They were pieces of American history that deserved to be preserved and shared. The trunk that sat in storage for a century contained more than personal mementos; it held a "museum of 1915" that captured a way of life that's rapidly disappearing.

Your Story

Think about the physical objects in your own family that might be waiting to tell their stories. Is there a trunk in someone's basement? A box of letters in an attic? Sometimes our most profound family discoveries aren't hiding online. They're sitting right under our noses, waiting for someone to care enough to look inside.

Story Seeds 🌱

Plant these conversation starters and watch your family stories grow.

1. For older relatives: "What family treasures or keepsakes do you remember from your childhood home? Are any of them still around today?"
2. For parents/grandparents: "Did anyone in our family ever keep a diary or journal? Do you know what happened to personal writings from previous generations?"
3. For aunts/uncles: "What do you remember about the family stories that were told when you were young? Who was the best storyteller in our family?"
4. For siblings/cousins: "If you could ask one question of our great-grandparents, what would it be? What do you wish we knew about their daily lives?"

Story Sparks 🔑

Unlock your family's hidden stories with these research techniques.

1. Inventory family artifacts systematically - Create a list of all family heirlooms, documents, and personal items currently in family possession. Don't forget to check with multiple relatives, as treasures are often scattered among different family members.
2. Document the stories behind objects - For each family artifact you discover, record not just what it is, but who owned it, when it was used, and any stories associated with it. Use your phone to create video or audio recordings of family members sharing these details.
3. Research the historical context - When you find personal items like Mary Anne's Underground Railroad book from 1872, research their historical significance. This can add depth to your understanding of your ancestors' interests and the world they lived in.
4. Create a "family museum" plan - Consider how family artifacts might be preserved, displayed, or shared among relatives. Sometimes the conversation about preservation leads to discovering even more hidden treasures that other family members have been quietly safeguarding.

Mary Anne's story teaches us that becoming a family historian doesn't require traveling the world. Sometimes it just requires the courage to open a trunk that's been sitting in storage for 100 years. The stories of Florrie, the London nurse who found love on a train, and Andy, the cowboy who built a ranching empire, remind us that ordinary people lived extraordinary lives, and their stories deserve to be told.

What trunk in your family's history is waiting to be opened?

Ready to discover more inspiring family stories? Subscribe to Stories That Live In Us wherever you get your podcasts, and if Mary Anne's story moved you, please leave us a rating and review—it helps other family story seekers find us.

© 2025 Crista Cowan. All rights reserved.