Digital Journeys in Pursuit of an Elusive Traveler: Tracking the Life and Photographs of Charles Cushman

Abstract

IU's digitization of the 14,000 early color photographs of Charles Cushman opened the world's eyes to the work of a pioneer amateur in this genre. Beyond its value in exposing to the public beautiful and historically valuable images, the Cushman site also opened a window onto three areas of inquiry: the history of photography, the study of the American built environment, and not least the life of one mysterious man. This talk focuses on the elusive creator of the Cushman photographs. I will discuss how digital resources, made accessible by IU and other providers, have begun to reveal the contours of an otherwise forgotten life. In my virtual pursuit of this peripatetic artist, I came closer not just to one man's secrets but also to the heart of midcentury America.