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Portrait of a Western Family by Martha Tracy Frey

Martha Tracy Frey at age 87, with the help of her daughter, Nancy, recounts the story of her life in the Buttonwillow area of Kern County, California. 

Martha graduated from UCLA in 1937 with a degree in art education. For several years she served as art instructor in the local elementary schools. 

She is the fifth of six children born to Fannie and William Tracy, pioneer ranchers and livestock breeders. In this publication she relates her parent's struggle to survive the great depression, floods, pestilence, disease, and lawsuits in order to pass the ranch down to their children.

In 1938 Martha married Jack Frey and brought him to the Tracy Ranch. Here they were joined by Fannie and Will's other children and, working together, a rundown ranch was transformed into a profitable corporation. 

Jack Frey passed away in January, 2002, and today the descendants of the Selvidge and Tracy clan-sons, grandsons, nephews, and grand-nephews-run the day- to-day operations. Jack was very proud of what he and the other family members had accomplished; his only wish was that the indomitable Fannie Tracy had lived long enough to see her dreams fulfilled.