James O. Cammack photographs

Collection

Identifier: MSD-0000-001

Staff Only

Collection Statement

Collection consists of photographs taken by J.O. Cammack depicting the inhabitants and scenery of Putnam County, Greencastle in particular and DePauw University. The collection is arranged in five series: Series I, Cammack Family Photographs; Series II, Portraits; Series III, Other Subjects; Series IV, Unidentified Photographs: Series V, Photograph Albums and Papers. Negatives located in separate series in Audio-Visual section with their own index.

Dates

1882 - 1949

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Biographical Sketch

"J.O.," as his friends called him, had been an Iowa farm boy. In 1855 his Quaker parents went by steamboat from Cincinnati to Keokuk, eventually settling on a farm near Iowa Falls. Here James Orville Cammack was born in 1869.

His photographic career began when he worked with a brother who was a photographer. After experience in several other studios, he set up his own in Tazewell, Virginia. There he met Adelaide Buston who later became his wife.

He came to Greencastle in 1895 and a year later purchased an upstairs studio on the south side of Washington Street, just east of the courthouse square. That same year he married and brought his bride to Greencastle.

He was the unofficial "picture man" for DePauw University for many years. Townspeople too, frequented his studio. He often left his studio on commercial jobs and he enjoyed pictorial photography as a hobby. Through the years he entered his photographs in exhibits over the country and won many prizes and awards.

Not only did he belong to a number of photographic associations, but he took an interest in community affairs as well. He was a faithful member of Gobin Church, serving on the Official Board and as a usher for many years.

In 1944 he retired because of ill health, but continued his interest in photography, people and his church until his death in 1952.