Charles W. Cushman

Charles Weever Cushman (July 30, 1896 – June 8, 1972) was an American photographer, active during the early and mid-20th century. He left around 14,500 images from his collection to Indiana University.

Charles W. Cushman
Born	July 30, 1896 Poseyville, Indiana, U.S.
Died	June 8, 1972(1972-06-08) (aged 75) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Resting place	Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Known for	Photography

Early life

Cushman was born in Poseyville, Indiana, in 1896^[1] to Wilbur and Mabel Cushman. A younger sister, Dorothy, died at the age of two.^[2] The family lived on Second Street, in a house which was still standing in the early 21st century.^[2] Cushman's maternal great-grandfather, Charles Weever, was a native of Maine who established a medical practice in Posey County, Indiana.^[2]

Cushman graduated from Poseyville High School in 1913 and Indiana University Bloomington in 1917 with a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in English.^[2][3] He enlisted in the United States Navy Auxiliary Reserve Force at Municipal Pier in Chicago, Illinois on May 18, 1918.^[3][4]

Career

Cushman's photograph taken on Maxwell Street, Chicago, on Labor Day in 1950

Cushman worked briefly for the Indiana Daily Student newspaper. He went on to become a financial analyst.^[1]

He began working in color photography when Kodak introduced Kodachrome. His first color image, taken on September 3, 1938, featured a red Ford coupe, with the Golden Gate Bridge forming a backdrop.^[5] A silhouette was cast by his wife, who was sat in the passenger seat.^[1]

Personal life

Cushman married Jean Hamilton. They lived in Chicago firstly, then in San Francisco. In 1943, after the death of her father, Jean attempted suicide. She was not successful, but their marriage was an unhappy one thereafter.^[1]

Death

Cushman died in 1972, aged 75. He had been a widower for three years. He bequeathed his collection of around 14,500 photographs to his alma mater.^[6] The collection, which also contains 25 of his notebooks, was forgotten about for almost thirty years, until an archivist discovered them in suitcases labeled for disposal.^[1] They were displayed for the first time in 2003.^[7]

Bibliography

In 2012, Oxford University Press published The Day In Its Color: Charles Cushman's Photography Journey Through a Vanishing America. Its author was Eric Sandweiss.^[8][9]

See also

• Elgin Park, which was inspired by the work of Cushman