Joseph Cashman started his working career in Guys of Cork and soon moved to ‘The Cork Examiner’ newspaper where he served his time in the photo-engraving trade.
He worked at ‘The Freeman’s Journal’ during 1916.
Cashman spent most of his life freelancing, and his studio was located at 21 Capel Street, Dublin, up to 1931. He spent a brief period of time working for ‘The Irish Times’ during 1926/7.
In 1931, Cashman moved to the newly opened ‘The Irish Press’ where he established the engraving and photographic departments. He recruited the staff and purchased equipment for both areas also staying with the Irish Press until 1946.
Besides the collection purchased by RTÉ he also specialised in race-horse photography – these are held by his son, also Joseph Cashman, who estimates there are 100 items in this collection which are still in his possession.
Archival History ↴
The collection was purchased from Joseph Cashman by RTÉ on 6 December 1985.
This collection of 691 photographs created by photographer Joseph Cashman (1881-1968) of Dublin dates from the period 1913-1966. The photographs provide excellent coverage of political figures and events from a turbulent epoch in Irish history. The collection consists mainly of glass plates, many of which illustrate the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Accruals ↴
No further major accruals are expected
Arrangement ↴
The collection is held in a linear arrangement in reference number order.
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
All of the images in the Cashman Collection are fully catalogued and available to view via the online catalogue with the RTÉ watermark. Unwatermarked images, whether high or low resolution, are only issued via Stills Library staff.
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Images can be reproduced with permission only and according to rate card published on RTÉ Stills Library Online. An online ordering system exists.
Creation Dates
1913-1966
Extent Medium
691 images digitised mainly from glass plates but also from a small number of photographic prints
Characteristics Tech Req
All of the images were scanned as high resolution jpegs. Most are 18MB in size with a pixel dimension of 2048 x 3072.
Finding Aids
An item level catalogue is available to search online at: https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/collections.html
Archive Web Link →
Allied Materials
Originals Information
There are 674 glass plates and 17 photographic prints in the Collection. Since 2001 these glass plates have been held in the National Photographic Archive with the digital images being held by RTÉ Archives.
Publication Note
‘Ireland: the revolutionary years: Photographs from the Cashman Collection: Ireland 1910-30’, edited by Louis McRedmond (Gill and Macmillan and RTÉ, 1992)
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
RTE Stills library
Rules/Conventions
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottowa: International Council on Archives, 2000. National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997.
