Through one simple but completely separate Google search, Sheri Morgan was astounded to discover a family-tied studio photography exhibit that brought her and her family back to their roots in Las Cruces after nearly six years.

The exhibit "The Ballard Studio: A Portrait of Community," curated by NMSU's Archives and Special Collections and the Branigan Cultural Center, showcased hundreds of studio portrait photographs by Morgan's great grandfather, James "Jim" Ballard, that made quite an impact to not just her family, but dozens in the Las Cruces community.

"I was talking to my aunt Lynn about a photograph and we were trying to decide exactly when it was taken and because of that, I searched 'Jim and Ann Ballard's 50th wedding anniversary' on Google," Morgan said. "What I was originally looking for was the 50th wedding anniversary article that was featured in the Las Cruces Sun-News. That did not come back – what came back was the exhibit. I knew nothing about it, my family didn't know anything, so it was a huge, tremendous surprise for all of us."

Ballard and his wife, Martha Ann, opened and operated the Ballard Photo Studio on South Main Street in the heart of Las Cruces between 1929 and 1963. He photographed more than 5,000 Mesilla Valley residents and captured various raw emotions, striking features and a sense of community, whether it was an individual or family portrait, area businesses or events.

More than 25,000 black and white, 5- by 7-inch film negatives produced from his photo sessions are now housed in NMSU's Archives and Special Collections, part of the NMSU Library. Dennis Daily, department head, and Elizabeth Villa, NMSU archives image specialist, created the exhibit, working closely with the Branigan Cultural Center earlier this year to display over 200 of those photos.

"As we progressed in putting the exhibition together, we realized that these were the faces of the people who had contributed to the growth and unique character of this place," Daily said. "Whether it was the guy who fixed flat tires at the filling station, the grandmother who cooked for and sustained her family, the farmer, the graduate, or the mayor, all of these folks contributed to our community, and we wanted to recognize and celebrate their contributions. Photographs are instruments of memory, and we wanted these people to be remembered. It certainly helped that Mr. Ballard depicted all of these people, no matter what their background or standing, with absolute dignity."

After the miraculous discovery online, Morgan connected with Daily and set up a family reunion for Ballard's descendants, who visited the exhibit and got to see his work displayed for the community to see.

"It's been very exciting, and at first, we weren't even sure if we were all able to come," Morgan said. "This exhibit has brought us back to Las Cruces. Our great grandparents were always the source of coming home and once again they're bringing us back home."

Three of Ballard's grandchildren, John Morgan; Lynn Morgan; and Jim Morgan, reflected on spending time at their grandfather's studio as children.

"When we came in the building, I remembered the way that the landscape used to look before all of this was down here. Like the Amador Hotel and the bank, it was here back in those days," John Morgan said. "Seeing this is wonderful, and we've seen pictures of people that we remember. Being here with my brother, sister and the family has really refreshed memories."

"I'm really glad that the family is all together," said Janet Morgan, wife of Jim. "It takes a lot sometimes because it's a small but scattered group, so seeing this really makes me happy."

Not only did the exhibit bring Ballard's family together, it also reunited several members of the Las Cruces community who saw their ancestors' portraits printed and displayed in fine detail. Many of the photos also captured students at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now NMSU, during the 1930s and 1940s.

"The community response was tremendous," Daily said. "Many people found unknown photographs of their ancestors in the exhibition, which was very touching, but even the general response seemed to be a feeling of pride in our common heritage. We heard many times from people who were impressed with how the exhibit demonstrated the diversity of the community at the time and helped them think about and recognize the diversity that still characterizes the Mesilla Valley."

Ballard had a longtime career as a photographer, farmer and breeder of champion Hereford cattle. John Morgan, the oldest of the three grandchildren, shared that most of his memories were outside the photo studio but was amazed at what kind of impact his grandfather had in the community during that time.

"I did not know the full impact personally of my grandfather and grandmother's effect on this community way back in the 20s, and people today, like my brother said, you mentioned Ballard and they know," John said. "So that had a really big impact on me. To me, he was just 'Grandaddy.' We worked with cows together, and we really didn't talk about those sorts of things, but I came to find out he was a pretty influential guy."

"It's precious, it's absolutely precious," Sheri Morgan said. "It's irreplaceable and wonderful to hear all their perspective with their stories. I was born after the photo shop was sold, so I didn't see that side of their life together. To be able to see all of this and hear the connections that the community has made to it and see their stories has really pulled things together and unified us."

The full collection is currently stored at NMSU Archives and Special collections and accessible to the public. Daily encourages any community members to visit the collection online at http://archphotos.nmsu.edu. 

The family encourages junior or senior students studying photojournalism to apply for the Ann and Jim Ballard Endowed Scholarship that's available through the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. For more information, visit https://journalism.nmsu.edu/students/scholarships.html.

The full video and article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-archives-jim-ballard-studio-photography-exhibit-brings-family--community-together-through-memor/s/6b3f5a9f-b68a-4378-b48a-512328009bc5