Amateur photographer Charles W. Cushman traveled extensively in the US and abroad from 1938 to 1969, capturing beautiful snapshots of everyday life. His archive has been donated to and maintained by Cushman’s alma mater, Indiana University.These images give a glimpse into what everyday life in Chinatown, the Financial District, and Midtown was like in the mid-20th century.

Stores near corner of Broome St. and Baruch Place, Lower East Side.

Wall Street New York.Skyscrapers Looking toward financial District from an East River pier.Downtown skyscrapers from East River pier.Approaching Liberty St. ferry.The old Fulton Market Manhattan’s Lower East Side.Looking up Fulton St. from South St.Residents of lower Clinton St near East river.Lower East Side Corner Broome St. Baruch Pl.West side of Br’dway from Bowling Green.S. O. Bldg from the Battery.View east from north end of Battery Park.Brewery adr. Lower end, Broadway.Lower Manhattan.Collecting the salvage on lower East Side.Crowd gathers during Salvage collection in lower East Side.Poverty, young and old, black and white.Doorway – Lower East Side. Manhattan.New York Street Scene, Lower East Side.Corner of Broome St. & Baruch Pl.N.W. corner DeLancey & Lewis Sts.Lewis St. North of Delancey.These boys live here. Block north of Wmsbgh Bridge.Hot sweet potatoes.A block between Avenues A and B.Lower First Avenue is spruce looking.N.E. corner 1st St. and the Bowery.N.E. corner 1st St. and the Bowery.A corner on west Canal St.Corner of Pearl St.View up Moss Ave.Street in New York’s ChinatownChinese store windows.East 7th St. between 3rd and 2nd Ave.Up 4th Ave from Astor Place Cooper Union at right.View north from Herald Square.Peter Minuit Plaza lower Manhattan.View west on Wall Street.West up Maiden Lane from Pearl street Manhattan.Looking west from 42nd + Broadway.South from 42nd + 6th (Ave. of Americas).South from 42nd and Fifth Ave.Whitehall street from Peter Minuit Plaza near Battery NYC.(Photos by Charles W. Cushman)