Episode 20: My Daguerrotype Boyfriend

A young man, a photograph, and the insatiable urge to explore

“There’s a temptation, when we look at history, to think it’s just ... a story from the past – sort of one or two dimensional. But … there’s really no difference between young people from the past and young people today. Young people want to take chances, they want new experiences.”
— Lynn Downey

Lynn Downey first fell for Fred Loring when she discovered a photo of him amongst some archives in a small town in Arizona. Her crush led her on a journey across the American West, and through time.

On this episode, she shares her story. It's a story about exploration -- about what drives us leave the comfort of home and venture into the unknown -- and about the timeless thirst for discovery.

The story was reported and produced by Diane Hope, a journalist based in Flagstaff, AZ.

My Daguerrotype Boyfriend
Diane Hope and Willow Belden
Frederick Wadsworth Loring. (photo by timothy o'sullivan, photographer for the wheeler expedition)

Music in this piece included: 'Flaked Paint' by Blue Dot Sessions, 'Memories' by Tales of Painting & SPCZ, 'It beckoned across the yard pt1' by Ben McElroy, and 'Harmonica Funeral' by Colin Langenus.