Archelaus D. Chadwick (known as "Arch) was born in Ovid, New York and
spent his early childhood years in Rochester, New York. He owned and
operated his own photography studio starting in 1889, making thousands
of glass plate portraits and landscape photos.
Chadwick settled in Interlaken, New York, where he had a photographic
studio. Chadwick was also active in the Interlaken Fire Department,
even serving as Fire Chief in 1910.
Also an accomplished landscape and mural painter, Chadwick exhibited
around the East Coast, including in New York City and Baltimore.
Chadwick began painting scenery and landscapes for stage sets and
segued into motion picture set design and production design.
Between 1914 and the early 1920s, Chadwick was the production designer
and set designer for the Wharton motion picture studio based in Ithaca,
New York.
From 1925 until his retirement less than one month before his death in
1939, Chadwick was a Professor in the Theater Department at Ithaca
College in Ithaca, New York.
