45 Color Photographs Offer a Stunning Glimpse into 1940s New York

Amateur photographer Charles W. Cushman traveled extensively in the U.S and abroad capturing daily life from 1938 to 1969.

 

His works have been donated to and maintained by Cushman’s alma mater Indiana University, which has kindly given us permission to publish his gallery of New York City photos taken in 1941 and 1942.

They give a great impression of what some of the main hubs of the city looked like 70 years ago, while World War II raged on in Europe.

His other images show the vivid color of the countryside as well as the industrialization of America over the years. The university describes his work as a “peripatetic compulsion” which resulted “in a remarkable gift to future historians, photography lovers, and students of Americana”.