About the Author

Jeanne T. GartnerJeanne T. Gartner is a military veteran, historian, author, and independent researcher dedicated to preserving the history of Reed Brothers Dodge, the photography of her grandfather, Lewis Reed, and the people and places that shaped Montgomery County, Maryland.

After retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant following a distinguished 30-year career with The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., Jeanne returned to her family’s automobile business, Reed Brothers Dodge, where she served as Corporate Secretary, Director of Digital Marketing and Advertising, and a member of the Board of Directors. She created the dealership’s first website in 1999 and helped document nearly a century of family ownership before the dealership closed in 2012.

What began as an effort to preserve her family’s business history soon grew into a much broader mission. Through years of archival research, newspaper collections, family records, and thousands of historic photographs, Jeanne has become one of the leading independent researchers documenting the history of Reed Brothers Dodge and the Lewis Reed Photograph Collection. Her work now extends beyond the dealership to encompass the communities, transportation, businesses, and landscapes that shaped Montgomery County during the first half of the twentieth century.

In recognition of her contributions to historic preservation, Jeanne received the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication from Peerless Rockville in 2016. She also serves as a member of the Montgomery History Speakers Bureau, sharing the history of Reed Brothers Dodge and Lewis Reed’s photography through public presentations and community programs.

Jeanne has collaborated with Montgomery History to develop several online exhibits featuring the Lewis Reed Photograph Collection and the history of Reed Brothers Dodge. These exhibits have introduced thousands of visitors to Montgomery County’s rich photographic heritage and continue to make this important collection accessible to researchers, educators, and the public.

Published Works

Jeanne is the author of four books documenting the history of Reed Brothers Dodge, the photography of Lewis Reed, and the people and places of Montgomery County, Maryland.

  • Montgomery County: Then and Now: Photography of Lewis Reed and Barry Gartner (2026)
  • Montgomery County Through the Lens of Lewis Reed: A Photographic Journey, 1900–1930 (2026)
  • The Lewis Reed Photograph Collection, 1898–1960, Second Edition (2026)
  • Portrait of an Automobile Dealer: The History of Reed Brothers Dodge, Fourth Edition (2025)

Learn more about each publication, preview the books, and find ordering information on the Featured Publications page.

History is only as enduring as the people willing to preserve and share it. Through her books, blog, online exhibits, and public presentations, Jeanne continues to document and preserve Montgomery County’s rich heritage so that future generations can better understand the people, places, and events that shaped the community we know today.

Explore My Publications & Exhibits:

History is only as enduring as the people willing to preserve and share it. This blog is my way of ensuring that the stories of Reed Brothers Dodge and Montgomery County continue to inform and inspire future generations.