The Photography Of Bo Bushnell

Bo Bushnell is a photographer, collector, and historian who has gained recognition for his extensive collection of memorabilia related to outlaw motorcycle clubs and street gangs in Southern California during the 1950s and ’60s. Initially, Bushnell wasn’t even interested in motorcycles or biker gangs, but he found his calling when he acquired a collection of photographs of Southern California motorcycle riders from the 1960s. This collection belonged to members of the Straight Satans, a motorcycle club, and Bo founded The Western Empire to publish books on these uniquely American subcultures. 

Bushnell’s interest grew, and he began to track down former members of various motorcycle clubs and street gangs, collecting their stories, photographs, clothing, patches, and other memorabilia. He even started documenting their stories on audio and videotape. He built relationships with these individuals despite the often violent and dangerous reputation of some of these groups.

One significant part of his story revolves around his determination to locate and acquire Mother Ruthe’s scrapbooks. Mother Ruthe had been a sort of den mother to motorcycle riders in Southern California, supporting them and documenting their lives through photographs and clippings. After extensive research and efforts, Bushnell was able to locate and obtain the scrapbooks, which added to his collection.

Bo Bushnell’s collection, known as the Research Institute of Contemporary Outlaws (RICO), has grown to include around 35,000 items, making him an authority on the history of local bike clubs, the outlaw biker movement, and the emergence of the Hells Angels. His work has been instrumental in preserving a significant chapter of Southern California history and challenging common misconceptions about these groups.

In addition to his work with motorcycle clubs, Bushnell has also started collecting photographs and memorabilia related to early L.A. street gangs like the Crips and the Bloods, further exploring the stories of outsiders and outlaws in his ongoing research and documentation.