We are excited to announce the publication of From the Motor City to the Mediterranean: Travels of a Truck, a Sedan, and an Inquisitive Photographer, 1924–1926. Written by Curator Emerita Lauren E. Talalay, From the Motor City to the Mediterranean showcases the pivotal role that University of Michigan photographer George R. Swain and two accompanying “dig” cars played during archaeological expeditions across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and North Africa from 1924 to 1926. Swain’s writings and photographs—capturing scenes of excavations in progress, bustling village markets, and more—offer invaluable insights into a world in flux following World War I.
The book’s publication also coincides with the opening of “Back Roads and Bedbugs: Swain’s Mediterranean Adventures, 1924–1926,” the latest installment of our “Kelsey in Focus” series. Much like the book, the mini-exhibition features Swain’s large-format camera and a selection of his many letters and photographs—shedding light on his multifaceted role as a photographer and observer.
