HISTORIC FILM FOOTAGE PROJECT

Film-Sleuth Phillip W. Stewart Latest Book Wins Award

2011-02-02T12:05:00.000-08:00

Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel was awarded First Place in the General Nonfiction Category of The Written Art Awards for 2011.

PMS Press is pleased to announce that Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher’s Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures, 1929 - 1931, won First Place recognition from the 2011 Written Art Awards. This prestigious annual literary award pays tribute to authors who are self-published or have had their books published by a subsidy publisher, small press, university press, or independent book publisher.

Author Phil Stewart expressed his appreciation, “I am honored. Rarely does a non-fiction book of this narrow scope and subject matter receive this high level of recognition.”

Aerial Aces is a must have practical resource guide to the aviation people, places and events of August 1929 through December 1931, as seen through the camera lens of the Universal Newsreel. It uniquely describes 219 aviation-related stories released by Universal during that time period.

Reviewers of Aerial Aces say that it:
• “...is an absolutely invaluable contribution to aviation history for which authors, historians and media producers will be grateful for years to come...no serious aviation historian can do without this book.”
• “…proves to be a riveting read with plenty of awe-inspiring history!”
• “…is a wonderful tool for researchers now and in the future…it is an important asset.”

Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher’s Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures 1929 - 1931, (ISBN 978-0-9793243-7-6, hard back, $31.95/978-0-9793243-6-9, trade paper, $26.95, 222 pages, pms press, 2010) is the fourth book in The Historic Footage Project. More information is available at the author's website at www.pwstewart.com. All of Mr. Stewart's books are available from Amazon.com and other online sources.

AERIAL ACES Published!

2010-10-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks-
Here's what the press release said...

Some Of History's Best Aviation Stories Are Buried In America's Film Vault
A Treasure Trove of Rare Aviation Related Newsreel Footage Re-Discovered at the National Archives.

Film-sleuth Phillip W. Stewart is at it again! After four years of digging, probing, and analyzing the evidence he has created "AERIAL ACES OF THE UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL: A Researcher's Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures, 1929-1931." This "detective of celluloid" discloses the description of 219 aviation stories produced during the first three years of what was known then as the "Universal Newspaper Newsreel." This well-researched landmark work is a boon to scholars, librarians, and museum curators.

"Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel is an absolutely invaluable contribution to aviation history for which authors, historians and media producers will be grateful for years to come...no serious aviation historian can do without this book." - Walter J. Boyne, Historian and National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinee.

These historic aviation newsreels are listed in release order and all are identified by title, reel number, event date, location, and length. Each title has a storyline based on the newsreel synopsis sheets, a description the filmed action, a copy of the original narration script, and concludes with production or historical information. All titles were cross-referenced against various NARA inventories and only those that are known to currently exist are presented in detail.

Unfortunately, relatively few people know that historically significant films exist at the National Archives and even fewer know how to find them. The ultimate goal of Mr. Stewart's investigative work is to lift the veil of mystery surrounding these historic treasures and provide guides to finding them. So, if you're ready to play detective and to investigate America's film vault, you should take a guide--and this is it!

Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher's Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures, 1929-1931 (ISBN: 978-0-9793243-7-6, $31.95 case bound/978-0-9793243-6-9, $26.95 trade paper, 220 pages, 60 photos, pms press, 2010) is the fourth book in The Historic Footage Project. More information is available at the author's website, www.pwstewart.com. All of Mr. Stewart's books are available from his publisher, pms press (www.pmspress.com), and via Amazon.com.

Whether you are an aviation museum curator, replica aircraft builder, college media professor, airplane model maker, film researcher, media producer, historian, novelist, or a student of aeronautical history, these newsreel stories will provide you with a timeless reference to moving images during the middle years of the aviation's Golden Age.

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2010-07-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Just a note to let you know that...
Hot off the printing press is the Summer 2010 issue of PROLOGUE, the magazine of the National Archives. Inside is an article titled "Frame After Frame" written by yours truly. If you're have an interest in the seemingly endless variety of historical films held within America's film vault, you can read the article at...
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2010/summer/frame-film.html
Thanks.

The Second Edition of BATTLEFILM: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures of the Great War now available at Amazon.com

2010-02-05T09:30:00.000-08:00

As sometimes happens, after the initial edition of Battlefilm was released, a few more World War I motion pictures that were within the scope of this book were “re-discovered.” In light of this, 21 new films and their summary descriptions have been added to this Second Edition of Battlefilm, which now puts the total number of entries at 488.

While making these additions, I took the opportunity to add NARA's Archival Research Catalog (ARC) identification number to each title. Therefore, in this edition, below each film title you’ll find information about the number of reels associated with that particular motion picture, followed by its unique National Archives’ Catalog Card reference number [in brackets] and its ARC identification number (in parentheses).

Why, you may ask, is this important to you? The answer to that question is that while this book consists of short summary descriptions of these historically significant Army Signal Corps films, ARC usually contains a more detailed account and occasionally has lengthy shot sheets for some of the titles. With this edition, you now have all the tools you need to proceed with any follow-on research you might want to undertake — on location at NARA’s Archives II facility at College Park, MD, or on-line at www. archives.gov/research/arc/. In addition, I tweaked the subject headings, polished the layout, added a few photos, created an alphabetical title index, and beefed up the subject index.

With this Second Edition, it is my sincere hope that you’ll find Battlefilm: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures of the Great War to be a comprehensive resource, a superb historical research tool, and a valuable addition to your World War I stock footage library.

Year 2010

2010-01-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
I hope you all had a GREAT holiday season.

In reviewing the posts of the last year, I noticed that while there was a lot of info...the regularity of the installments suffered during the last couple of months. After a review of my priorities for this year, that trend will probably continue. When I have updates I will post them here and on my website www.pwstewart.com.

So, what are my priorities for 2010, you may ask?
Well, first is to earn a respectable wage at my full time job so that I can pay the rent and provide basic and other goodies for my family.
Second, is to stay healthy, which is always a challenge in my case.
Third, to publish two books. The Second Edition of my book BATTLEFILM: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures of the Great War, will be the first and should be available via Amazon.com and other on-line stores the Spring. There will more info about this in a future blog. The other title scheduled for publication is Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel, 1929-1931. This book should be ready in the late summer or early fall.

In the meantime, I intend to continue working on the Project History series. I just started research on Vol 3, which will cover the years 1933-1935 of the Universal Newsreel. I am also working on a book tentatively titled, Air Front: WWII Aviation Stories of the United Newsreel. Maybe those two will get published in 2011. We'll have to wait and see.

Enough for now. If you have any questions just email me at pws@pwstewart.com.
Phil

A DMG EXAMPLE

2009-11-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

All-
My how time flies when your editing your next book. I appoligize for my delay in posting.

This time I have an example from the DMG Category for you to review. It's from the Motion Picture Association of America. This collection contains 17 titles and covers a span from 1922-1959. Two representative title are:

• Talking Motion Pictures — shows Tykociner’s apparatus for photographing and projecting sound and pictures simultaneously; Professor Jacob Kung’s photo electric cell for converting light intensity variations into electric current variations; Tykociner’s first sound track in the middle of his film; Professor E.B. Paine reads; Tykociner speaks; Mrs. Tykociner rings a bell; a musician plays a violin, 1922.

• The Fighting Dutch — the training of Dutch combat units in the U.S. and Canada; tulip fields and the dike system in Holland; Rotterdam burns after the Nazi’s bombed it in May 1940; natives gather hemp and dance on the Island of Java; Japanese troops land and advance in the East Indies; Dutch Infantry units go through obstacle courses in Canada; pilots fly P-40 fighter planes in the US; Dutch crews man seaplanes and torpedo boats on submarine patrol in the Atlantic; Dutch troops present ceremonial dances; narrated by Lorne Greene, ca. 1943.

Once again, these title discriptions and many more are in Armerica's Film Vault, availble at Amazon.com...

Til next time.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

America’s Film Vault Wins a Silver Medal!

2009-09-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hi All-
Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been real busy putting the final touches on the manuscript for the second edition of Battlefilm and finishing the research on the Henry Ford: Movie Mogal book. I will try to do better in the future.

Below is a press release you may see in a couple of days from my publisher, pms press.

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For Release: On Receipt
Contact: Margaret Stewart, 850-420-1970, info@pmspress.com
To arrange for an interview and/or a review copy, please contact the publisher.

America’s Film Vault by film-sleuth Phillip W. Stewart Wins the Silver Medal!

PMS Press is pleased to announce that America’s Film Vault: A Reference Guide to the Motion Pictures Held by the U.S. National Archives, was awarded the Silver Medal in the Reference Category by the Military Writers Society of America 2009 Book Awards.

Author Phillip W. Stewart expressed his appreciation, “Rarely does a non-fiction book of this narrow of scope and subject matter receive this high level of praise. I am honored.”

America’s Film Vault reveals a treasure trove of over 360,000 film reels documenting the 20th Century of American history. It exposes 349 Government and Donated records that have motion pictures buried within them, discloses how these vintage films are organized and where to find them, uncovers and specifically identifies more than 1,460 film titles and provides topical references to thousands more, and sums it up with a comprehensive 2,130 item subject index that sheds light on the vast variety of subjects and titles of these extraordinary films.

Reviewers of America’s Film Vault have called it…
• “An indispensible reference tool for the serious film researcher!”
• “...a convenient overview of National Archives and Records Administration’s motion picture holdings, one difficult to obtain from any other source,”
• “...has leveled the playing field for historians, film buffs, and curiosity seekers.”

Since relatively few Americans know that these historically significant films exist and even fewer know how to find them, the goal of Mr. Stewart’s book is to highlight this National treasure. It is also his goal to provide educators, historians, genealogists, and students of film, a guide on where and how to find them.

The Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) is an association of more than eight-hundred authors, poets and artists drawn together by the common bond of military service. Most members are active duty military, retirees or military veterans. (The MWSA contact is Joyce Faulkner at email MWSAPresident@gmail.com)

America’s Film Vault: A Reference Guide to the Motion Pictures Held by the U.S. National Archives (ISBN 978-0-9793243-0-7, $39.95, trade paper, pms press, 2009) is the third book in The Historic Footage Project. More information is available at the author’s website at www.pwstewart.com. All of Mr. Stewart’s books are available from Amazon.com.

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Until next time...
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

PROJECTED HISTORY 2

2009-08-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hi all-
Sorry for the delay in posting, but I've been working overtime to put the final touches on my new book, PROJECTED HISTORY: A Catalog of the National Stories Produced by Universal Newsreel, Volume Two: 1931-1932. Off to the printer it goes tomorrow. Hopefully it will be available on Amazon by the end of the month. This volume describes over 1,225 nationally released newsreel stories that covered the third and fourth years of what was known back then as the Universal Newspaper Newsreel. One of the great benefits of the Projected History series is that all the Universal Newsreel stories that are known to exist today in the film vaults of the National Archives are identified. This is the first time that the newsreel title, description and story availability have been brought together in a single resource. Of course, all these stories make great stock footage! I hope you will take the time to check it out.
Well, that's it for now.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 6

2009-07-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all-
Today, you will find the sixth and final part of an article that was published in the Summer 2009 edition of Documentary magazine, the publication of the International Documentary Association. The article is called, Taking Stock at the National Archives: Finding Footage in America’s Film Vault and was written by yours truly. If you are just starting to read this article please, I would like to strongly suggest that you find Part 1 (below) and start there...it will make more sense to you. Enjoy.

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Research Room

Once you’ve gone through the search results, selected some and read the descriptions, you’ll probably end up with a list of titles and scenes that you’ll want to check out. Unfortunately, your options for viewing the films at this point are limited to two choices.

First, you can visit the National Archives II facility and view the titles in the Motion Picture, Sound and Video Research Room. If you want to do this, it’s best to e-mail the staff in advance of your visit (mopix@nara.gov) to determine if a reference copy of your title is available on either film or videotape. If no reference copy exists, you may request that one be made, at no cost to you. The only downside to this process is that it may take several weeks.

Your other option is to hire a private film researcher to make VHS or DVD reference copies of your selected titles and have them sent to you. For those of you outside a reasonable driving distance from College Park, this is a viable cost option when compared to the price of a plane ticket. A list of researchers is available at the NARA website (www.archives.gov/research/hire-help/index.html).

If you choose to visit NARA, you will find that many of the film collections have already been transferred to video. There are currently over 15,000 “research quality” videotapes and DVDs that are available for your review in the Research Room. Once you’ve selected the scenes you want, you’ll probably want to make a copy. If all you need is a VHS dub, a self-help video duplication system is available for your use. For only $7.50 you’ll receive a blank VHS tape and can use the dedicated dubbing decks for up to 90 minutes. If for some reason you want a different format, you can request permission to bring in video gear into the Research Room and make your own copy using the patch panels on the video study carrels. If you’ve identified a title that is not yet on video, but has a reference print available, the staff will pull it for you. Again, arrangements may be made for you to bring your own video camera to shoot the film images off the screen of a flatbed editor. If your needs require higher quality, the Research Room staff will assist you with the purchase of film or digital video copies through their vendor system.
If for some reason you can't seem to find that scene you need, you have the opportunity to explore the one-third of the NARA film holdings that are not yet uploaded into ARC. The Research Room has a number of federal agency and donor created card catalogs, finding aids and inventory title lists for you to investigate.

As I mentioned earlier, if you have a little more time than money, your search through the thousands of motion pictures in NARA can produce outstanding results. It is a viable option that is underutilized by the documentary production community as a solution to their stock footage requirements.

By the way, remember that medium shot you needed of the pilot and co-pilot airborne in a World War I seaplane? You can find it in a film titled Naval Aircraft, NARA Catalog ID: RG 24.10, ARC #5911, on reel six—at the National Archives.

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Well there you are. I hope you found the article beneficial and informative.
'Til next time....
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 5

2009-07-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hi-
You will find the fifth part of the article Taking Stock at the National Archives: Finding Footage in America’s Film Vault. It was published in the Summer 2009 edition of Documentary magazine, the publication of the International Documentary Association. I hope you are finding it informative.

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The Archival Research Catalog

At this point, I would hope that you’d like to know how to get your hands on all of this great footage. In an effort to allow enhanced access to all its holdings, including historic motion pictures, NARA developed the online Archival Research Catalog (ARC). This is the latest Web-based research tool that provides a portal to the content and physical descriptions of all its archival holdings. The stated goal is to have 95 percent of NARA’s records (not just films, but everything!) input into ARC by 2016. At this time, about two-thirds of the holdings have been loaded into this digital super-catalogue, but not all of these entries have comprehensive descriptions. Obviously, ARC is far from complete. It’s dynamic, with content updates all the time. A subject that you research one week may have no hits and then have hundreds the next. In addition, ARC is not as easy to use as your favorite Web browser. The ARC main Web page, www.archives.gov/research/arc, has detailed information for your review.

After you get your first list of results, find and select the Refine Search button. This will bring up the Archival Descriptions Advanced Search page. Make sure that the Limit Results button is set at 2,000, then select the Highlight Search Terms. These settings will ensure that you get the greatest number of hits on your subject and that all matching words will be highlighted in yellow. Now scroll down the page and you’ll find a section called Type of Archival Materials. Since you are looking for film footage, deselect all the types listed except Moving Images. This will narrow your next set of search results to motion picture and video items. Then click on the Search button and you should find a cleaner list for your review.

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Part 6, the final installment in this series, will be post next week and will take a look at NARA's Research Room. If you are at all interested in film research, please take a look at my book, America's Film Vault, at my website, or on Amazon.com.
Thanks.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 4

2009-07-09T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hi-
Today you will find the fourth part of the article Taking Stock at the National Archives: Finding Footage in America’s Film Vault. It was published in the Summer 2009 edition of Documentary magazine, the publication of the International Documentary Association. I hope you are finding it informative.

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The Donated Category

As mentioned earlier, donated motion pictures make up a significant segment of the overall collection. DMGs are usually personal or organizational motion pictures accepted by NARA under a “deed of gift.” One such film is Carmencita, Spanish Dance (1894), a Thomas A. Edison Kinetoscope from the Thomas Armat Collection (ARMAT-ARMAT). This 115-year-old motion picture is probably the oldest film in the custody of NARA. Also included in this DMG category are three Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) collections, the 3,400 films of the Ford Motor Company and 38 years worth of the Universal Newsreel. All together, there are 161 DMG collections that contain motion pictures for you to investigate.

An excellent example of a DMG is the Harmon Foundation Collection. Real estate developer William E. Harmon established his foundation in 1922 to fund parks and playgrounds in growing communities and to provide loans for students. By the time the foundation ceased operations in 1967, its scope had grown to encompass numerous aspects of community and family life. The 300 or so associated motion picture titles (which date from 1930 to 1951) document the arts, crafts and societies throughout the world with particular emphasis on Native Americans, African-Americans, Africans, Mexicans and Chinese. Harmon Foundation films (H-HF) such as The American Indian: When the White Man Came and After (1933) and Ceramics Is a Disciplined Art: Use of the Potter’s Wheel (1949) were donated without restrictions.

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Part 5 in this series is next and will take a look at the The Archival Research Catalog and some rearch tips.
If you are at all interested in film research, please take a look at my book, America's Film Vault, at my website, or on Amazon.com.
Thanks.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 3

2009-07-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hi all-
Today, you will find below the third part of an article that was published in the Summer 2009 edition of Documentary magazine, the publication of the International Documentary Association. The article is called, Taking Stock at the National Archives: Finding Footage in America’s Film Vault and was written by yours truly. Enjoy.

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The Military Category

The motion pictures produced for the U.S. military services represent the largest (in reels) film collection in NARA and consists of 40 RGs. During the First World War, the U.S. Army Signal Corps was given the responsibility of documenting American involvement, and its collection (RG 111) contains over 450 titles consisting of almost a half-million feet of film shot during the 1917 to 1919 period. Films such as Bayonet Instruction (1918) and Aviation Activities in the AEF (1919) are excellent examples. This particular RG contains over 12,000 more titles that cover Army maneuvers and battles up to the 1980s. The U.S. Air Force Miscellaneous Series (RG 342) covers aviation and Air Force activities from 1909 through the early 1960s, with titles like Dedication of Wright Field (1927), USAF Goodwill Tour (1954) and TAC Operations, Homestead AFB (1962).

Activities of the U.S. Navy (RG 428) encompasses about 13,300 reels from before World War I to the early 1980s with titles like USS Holland Submarine Trials (1904), Invasion of Guam: Activity Aboard USS New Mexico (1944) and Poseidon Launch (1971). Motion pictures made by the U.S. Marine Corps (RG 127) date from 1917 to the late 1970s and feature approximately 2,900 reels that include titles such as Soldiers of the Sea (1939) and Hawk Missile Firing, 29 Palms, CA (1962). All theaters of military operations during World War II, Korea and Vietnam are well documented within these and the other 36 RGs of this category.

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Ok, Part 4 is next and will take a look at the Donated Category.
If you are at all interested in film research, please take a look at my book, America's Film Vault, at my website, or on Amazon.com.
Thanks.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 2

2009-06-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hi all-
Today, you will find below the second part of an article that was published in the Summer 2009 edition of Documentary magazine, the publication of the International Documentary Association. The article is called, Taking Stock at the National Archives: Finding Footage in America’s Film Vault and was written by yours truly. So, with out further adieu, here's Part 2.

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The Civilian Category

This category is the largest, with 159 RGs to explore. An early example of the civilian category is The Making of an American (1913), produced by the Bureau of Mines (RG 70), which documents the assimilation of immigrants into American society. A glimpse of the New Deal in action can be seen in Hands (1934), made by the Work Projects Administration (RG 69). Films concerning Civilian Conservation Corps camps, soil and forest reclamation, development of water power, and recreational uses of national parks are shown in films like A Visit to Yellowstone National Park (1937) and Smokey Bear TV Spot: Susie Scout Helps Smokey (1962), produced respectively by the Office of the Secretary of the Interior (RG 48) and the Department of Agriculture (RG 16).

Civilian World War II-era films like Joe Comes Back (1943), Family Feud (1944), German Reprisals: Destruction in Greece (1944) and A Challenge to Democracy (1945) document our government’s efforts to communicate with foreign and domestic civilian populations. These titles were produced by the War Production Board (RG 179), Office of War Information (RG 208), Office of Strategic Services (RG 226) and the War Relocation Authority (RG 210), respectively. These titles are just a few of the more than 2,100 films within those four RGs. Captured Axis motion pictures, such as Japan in Time of Emergency (1933) and With Our Air Force in Sudetenland (1938), are among the films included in the National Archives Collection of World War II War Crimes Records (RG 238) and the National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized (RG 242).

Motion pictures from the Department of State (RG 59) deal with U.S. foreign policy and foreign relations issues. The Marshall Plan at Work in Great Britain (1951) is a fine example. There is another collection of 17,000-plus reels of film created for overseas distribution that illustrate the American way of life produced by the U.S. Information Agency (RG 306). Film titles like Pursuit of Happiness (1935), The Country Store (1950), Presidential Nomination (1956) and Music in American Education (1969) are representative examples. The Agency for International Development (RG 286) examines foreign aid, economic and rural development, lifestyles and cultures, and AID projects with films like Kitchen Come True (1945), Giant in the Sun (1957) and Ambassador: The Life and Work of a Man (1979).

The U.S. space program is documented in the motion pictures of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (RG 255). The collection consists of over 11,500 reels of edited and unedited films, including such titles as Project Mercury Western Electric Range Report for August (1960), TR-3268 Fixed Wing Aerial Recovery Demonstration (1967) and Space Shuttle: A Remarkable Flying Machine (1981).

Social concerns ranging from housing to poverty are addressed in films like Unfair Housing Isn’t Unfair: It’s Illegal (1969) and A New Life for Rose: The Program of a Senior Housing Project (1976) and are available from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (RG 207). Motion pictures from the Department of Labor (RG 174) focus on labor–management business relations, unemployment, the economy and job opportunities as seen in films like Pin Money (1940) and Harvest of Shame (1960).

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Ok, Part 3 is next...in a week or so and will take a look at the Military Category. If you are at all interested in this type of research, please take a look at my book, America's Film Vault, at my website, or on Amazon.com.
Thanks.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 1

2009-06-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hi all-
Today I want to share with you an article that was published in the Summer 2009 edition of Documentary magazine, the publication of the International Documentary Association. The title is, Taking Stock at the National Archives: Finding Footage in America’s Film Vault and was written by yours truly. I'm proud of the article itself and honored that the editor, Thomas White, thought enough of it to have it printed. So, here we go with the first of six parts.

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Taking Stock at the National Archives: Finding Footage in America’s Film Vault

There you are, working hard on your project, and you realize that the next scene calls for a medium shot of a pilot and co-pilot flying in a World War I Navy seaplane. “Oh great!” you say to yourself…or something slightly more colorful. “Whose idea was this?” Regrettably, you remember…it was yours. You know there’s no money in the budget to hire one of those big stock footage companies to research it for you, let alone pay the additional hundreds (if not thousands) of bucks in dubbing and royalty charges to cover those 15 seconds of narration. So, what do you do?

One option, of course, is to rewrite the scene. Or, you could find the footage yourself, costing you as little as the price of a videotape and some of your time. If you have a little more time than money, you can search through the thousands of motion pictures produced by or donated to the federal government and held within America’s film vault: the National Archives. Overall, there are more than 108,639 motion picture titles, and they are all available to help solve your stock footage problem.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has amassed one of the largest, historically rich documentary film collections in the world, thanks to the Federal Records Act. This, and other regulations, defines motion pictures made under the auspices of government agencies as federal records. Agencies are required by law to transfer their non-current and retired records to NARA. In addition, since it opened its doors in 1935, the National Archives has had the authority to accept donations of films that relate to America’s history from individuals, organizations, production companies and even the major television networks. As a result, NARA has acquired over 360,000 reels of film dating from the 1890s to the end of the 20th Century. In total, these moving images are part of the 350 federal and donated motion picture collections within the Archives. Approximately 95 percent of the films are in the safekeeping of the Motion Picture, Sound and Video Branch of the Special Media Archives Services Division, located at Archives II in College Park, Maryland. Those that remain are housed within the National Archives’ Presidential Libraries located around the country.

The collections held within NARA are part of a federal agency’s specifically assigned Record Group (RG). These RGs normally consist of textual (letters, books, documents), graphic (maps, drawings, posters) and photographic elements. If motion pictures are included within a particular RG, they predominately consist of edited documentaries. However, educational, informational, instructional and newsreel films make up large portions of the overall collection. There are also a few theatrical released titles as well. Most of these films were made, or acquired by, Uncle Sam and are free of copyright. They are also royalty-free. However, there are a small number of films that do have copyright or use restrictions––particularly within the Donated Materials Group (DMG) collections. The Motion Picture, Sound and Video Research Room staff is available for clarification and guidance.

Before I go any further, allow me to give you an idea of the vast scope of the motion pictures available to help you satisfy your stock footage needs. In the interest of simplification, I have divided the RGs containing film into one of three categories: Civilian, Military and Donated. Below is a sample of some of the film titles within each.

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Well, stay tuned for Part 2 in a week or so. If you are interested in this kind of research, please take a look at my book, America's Film Vault, at my website or on Amazon.com.
Thanks.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Another Military RG Example

2009-05-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hi-
Here's another example from AMERICA'S FILM VAULT of the kinds of films located within the National Archives.

Records of the Army Air Forces, RG 18
1912-1945, 6,059 reels
This RG is divided into eight moving image series...but only four of them are included here for your review.

1. MOVING IMAGES RELATING TO MILITARY ACTIVITIES, 1912 -1946, [18] (2757); ten titles.
• Army Airship RS-1 — the first flight of the Army’s largest dirigible at Scott Field, IL; animated diagrams illustrate how the airship is constructed and give its dimensions, 1925.

2. MOTION PICTURE FILMS FROM THE “AIR FORCE PRODUCTION” PROGRAM SERIES, 1942-1944, [18-AF] (2768); 46 titles. This series consists of AAF training films that dramatize the training and experience of personnel in various military capacities and illustrate the design, inspection, maintenance, installation, and operation of equipment. The series also shows flying operations of military aircraft to include the B-17, B-25, P-40, and P-47, among others.
• Introduction to the P-39 — explains the capabilities of the P-39 pursuit plane; demonstrates how it is flown, 1942.
• The Sikorsky Helicopter — Igor Sikorsky traces the development of the helicopter; the VS-300 and the R-4 demonstrate their maneuverability when landing on the ground, water, and on a ship, 1943.
• P-38: Flight Characteristics — normal and emergency operating characteristics of the P-38, 1943.
• Ditching-Before and After; Featuring the C-46 “Commando” — discusses the contents and use of emergency flotation equipment; covers responsibilities of crew members when an airplane is forced into a water landing, 1944.

3. MOTION PICTURE FILMS FROM THE “COMBAT FILM REPORT” PROGRAM SERIES, 1942-1945, [18-C] (2815); 89 titles. This series reports on many specific subjects, such as: the evacuation of wounded, the salvage of a P-40, a smokescreen demonstration, photo reconnaissance, treatment of Japanese POWs before interrogation, and the Casino bombing.
• Evacuation of Wounded by Air — using an Algerian mission, demonstrates proper air evacuation techniques; preparation of transport planes and personnel in Maison Blanche; at El Guerrah, the walking wounded and stretcher cases are put aboard; at Maison Blanche, the patients are transferred to a hospital area, 1942.
• Target System for the Destruction of Axis Oil — the Axis Powers’ petroleum industry as studied by the AAF Bombardment Advisory Commission, 1943.
• Target Planning — describes another study by the AAF’s Bombardment Advisory Commission of Germany’s ball- and roller-bearing industry, 1943.
• Liberandos — chronicles the second major raid against the Ploesti oil fields in Romania, 1943.
• Expansion to Air Power — the growth, between June 1939 and December 1943, of the AAF, 1944.
• Mission to Rabaul, 12 October 1943 — the operations of the 5th Air Force in New Guinea leading to the bombing of Rabaul, New Britain; explains the tactical value of Rabaul, 1944.
• Conquest by Air — covers the various landmark bombing missions of the war in Europe, 1945.
• Lend-Lease Material to Russia Via Iran — traces the routes of Lend-Lease shipments from the U.S. to Iran; ships unloading at Basra, Iraq, and at Koremshar, Iran; large piles of supplies and equipment received; statistics on various shipments; activities at a General Motors assembly plant at Koremshar; a machine shop at Teheran; an airplane assembly field; Russian soldiers check supplies and equipment for shipment to the USSR, 1945.

I hope you are finding this information interesting.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

GREAT FIRST REVIEW OF AMERICA'S FILM VAULT

2009-04-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all-

Got my copy of it yesterday and wanted to share it with you. The book was reviewed by Ron Standerfer for Reader Views. Here it is....

=======================

Whatever happened to all those news reels we used to watch in the movie theaters when we were kids? Or those training films they made us watch when we were drafted or enlisted in the military? How about those carefully crafted films depicting life in America during the Twentieth Century; some dating back to early 1900s? I’m sure many of us would like to see them again just to see what life was like in those days. The good news is that many of those films are alive and well, tucked safely away in the care of the federal government. The bad news is that finding a specific film can be a difficult and frustrating task. Until now.

In one fell swoop, “America’s Film Vault: A Reference Guide to the Motion Pictures Held by the U.S. National Archives,” by award-winning author and film-sleuth Phillip W. Stewart has leveled the playing field for historians, film buffs, and curiosity seekers. How significant is his new book? Consider this: for the first time ever, the whereabouts of over 360,000 film reels that document a century of American and world history have been assembled in book form. As a matter of fact, it is safe to say that some of the best kept history secrets are buried deep within Stewart’s book.

Considering the scope of “America’s Film Vault” I expected the review copy to arrive on a hand truck bearing a book somewhere in size between the Manhattan telephone directory and the oldfashion dictionaries that sit perched on large walnut stands in the libraries. To my surprise, it was quite modest in size; about 280 pages. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for it in sheer volume of information it contains between the covers.

Finding a specific title amongst the 360,000 or so films listed is relatively simple. For ease of search, the book is divided into five sections: Civilian Films; Military Films, Donated Films, Title Index, and Subject Index. Each film section begins with an overview which provides general information concerning what type of films the searcher can expect to find there. Of the three film sections I found the Donated Film section to be the most fascinating, mainly because it contains a treasure trove of newsreels. The subjects of these newsreels vary from the mundane to stories of epic proportions. Here’s an example of the former that was filmed by Universal Newspaper Newsreel: “Runaway Train Plunges Down Mountain: New Castle, PA - 210,000 tons of coal spilled, 32 cars wrecked, but nobody is hurt. Some of the derailed cars hung on the edge of a steep embankment.”
Can’t you just picture this?

So far “American Film Vault” has been warmly received by those in the know. For example, according to William T. Murphy, former Chief of the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch of the National Archives, “America’s Film Vault” is, “...a convenient overview of National Archives and Records Administration's motion picture holdings, one difficult to obtain from any other source.”

“American Film Vault” is the third book Phillip Stewart has written as part of The Historic Footage Project. You can learn more about this project by visiting his website. Meanwhile, I am prepared to accept the challenge he laid down on the cover of his book; namely, “If you’re ready to play detective, take a crack at the combination, and investigate the bowels of the vault, you need a guide map...and this is it! Discover “reel” treasures with “America’s Film Vault.” I can’t wait to get started.

===============================

If your interested, “America’s Film Vault” is available at Amazon.com.
More soon
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Civilian RG example

2009-04-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to April...my how time flies....

I've been working hard developing new marketing for America's Film Vault, hence the long delay in posting here. Below is another example of a civilian RG for your review. This one has only two reels; the rest of the moving image holdings are on videotape.

Records of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)/Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Division, RG 515
1975, 2 reels
Motion Picture and Video Recordings, 1975-1992, [515] (88824); two film titles.
• Seneca Glass Works — established in 1904, this film explores this successful Morgantown,
WV business, 1975.

While I continue to work on promoting America's Film Vault, I am working on the final edit of my next book Projected History: A Catalog of the U.S. National Stories Released by Universal Newsreel, Volume II, 1931-1932. I may have some excerpts from it on this blog sometime in the near future.

On a personal note, I have found that there is very little monetary profit to writing reference books. I do what I do purely out of a love for our country's rich collection of filmed history, its cinematic heritage, and a strong desire to ensure that it's preserved for future generations. These films are worth cherishing. It's also incredibly valuable to know what's in America's film vault and where to look to get your hands on a copy of it.

'Til next time-
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

NEW BOOK: AMERICA'S FILM VAULT

2009-03-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

Again, I apologize for the delay in regular posting to this blog. However, I have great news to share.

My new book, AMERICA'S FILM VALUT will be published next week and will be available on Amazon.com by the end of the month. Below is the news release that will go out late next week.

Discover Reel Treasures With America’s Film Vault

AMERICA’S FILM VAULT: A Reference Guide to the Motion Pictures Held by the U.S. National Archives-- A comprehensive new book by award-winning author and film-sleuth Phillip W. Stewart.

Some of the best kept history secrets are buried deep within AMERICA’S FILM VAULT. This essential reference guide unshrouds, for the first time in book form, the whereabouts of historic motion picture films preserved in the U.S. National Archives. This treasure trove includes over 360,000 film reels that document a century of American and World history. Unfortunately, relatively few people know that these historically significant films exist, and even fewer know how to find them.

America’s Film Vault is an indispensable reference guide that discloses how these vintage films are organized and where to find them; exposes over 345 Government and Donated records that have motion pictures buried within them; uncovers and specifically identifies over 1,440 film titles and provides topical references to thousands more; and reveals-all with a comprehensive 2,080-plus subject index that sheds light on a vast variety of rare films.

According to William T. Murphy, former Chief of the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch of the National Archives, America’s Film Vault is, “…a convenient overview of National Archives and Records Administration’s motion picture holdings, one difficult to obtain from any other source.”

If you’re ready to play detective, take a crack at the combination, and investigate the bowels of the vault, you need a map…and this is it! Discover reel treasures with America’s Film Vault.

More soon!
Phil
http://www.pwstewart.com/

ONE MORE EXAMPLE

2009-02-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Hi-
As I mentioned earlier, the third category is the Donated Materials Group (DMG) films. Here is an example...

Esther C. Goddard Collection
1926-1945, 7 reels
Motion Picture Film, 1926-1945, [GODD-GODDARD] (94788); one title.
• Dr. Goddard Footage, 1926-1945.
(1) Tests of liquid-propellant rockets by Dr. Robert Goddard, at Auburn, MA, 1926-1928; first flight of a rocket using liquid propellant, 16 Mar 1926.
(2) More tests of liquid-propellant rockets at Auburn and Camp David, MA, 1928-1930.
(3) Rocket development, Jul 1930-Mar 1931.
(4) How a flight is carried out.
(5) Rocket development Sept 1934-Mar 1935.
(6) Static test of large rocket chamber 22 Nov 1935-12 Feb 1936.
(7) L-series of tests, May 1936-Aug. 1938.
(8) Test L18 through L29; flight of 9 Aug 1938, with an official N.A.A. barograph.
(9) P-series of tests, Jan 1939-Aug 1941, to develop pumps for liquid oxygen and gasoline.
(10) P-series tests #16-31.
(11) Development of the jet-assisted take-off unit for the Army and Navy, Oct 1941-Jun 1945.
(12) Development of high altitude rockets, 1945.

As things stand now, there are currently 161 DMG film collections in the NARA for you to investigate.
More later!
Phil

Another Example

2009-01-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

Here's example of a military RG...

Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, RG 330
1918-1985, 5556 reels
This RG is divided into eight moving image series, of which four contain film titles.

1. Motion Picture Films and Video Recordings on Four Decades of U.S. Military Activities Around the World , ca. 1950-1990, [330-DVIC] (561934); 461 titles. This series consists of edited and unedited documentary footage selected from Department of Defense, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force collections previously housed at the Defense Visual Information Center. The footage includes historical events, training exercises, and military combat in Vietnam, Grenada, Somalia, and Lebanon as well as other military events around the world. Also included are scenes of military aircraft, experimental aircraft, weapons systems, vehicles, naval ships, and research and development activities. Peacetime activities include coverage of humanitarian efforts. The series title is incorrect; the films cover the time period WWI through the mid-1980s.
• World War I Land and Sea Combat Footage, 1916-1918 — President Wilson, General Pershing, French Marshal Foch, and General Joffre; devastation on the Western Front; trench warfare; peasants; submarine hunting; cavalry; tanks; the grave marker for the first American soldiers who died on French soil, 1919.
• Byrd Antarctic Expedition — first flight over the South Pole; members of the Byrd party dig out and reassemble the Ford Tri-motor airplane named Floyd Bennett; feeding porpoises; loading gear into plane; the plane takes off; flying over a frozen wasteland; interior shots of Byrd seated in the plane, ca. 1929.
• USS Macon (ZRS-5) Historical Footage — NFDA, 1933.
• U.S. Navy’s Outstanding Combat Photography of World War II — mostly attacks by Japanese aircraft on U.S. carriers; mishaps during carrier landings, 1945.
• Naval Ordnance Report: Naval Mines — a training film discusses the history and functions of common naval mines, 1954.
• Introduction to TALOS — Navy training film about the tactical capabilities, operation, and nomenclature of the TALOS missile system, 1958.
• Project Bullseye — training film describes the key components of the Bullseye direction finding capability used by Navy aircraft; the Wollenweber antenna system; the four phases of Bullseye’s operation, 1966.
• The First Infantry Division in Vietnam — chronicles the major Vietnam battle actions of the Division known as the Big Red One; civic action projects, 1971.
• To Help Man Fly: Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) 25th Anniversary, 1951-1976 — NFDA, 1976.

2. Moving Images Relating to John F. Kennedy’s Inauguration, 1960, [330-X] (1135970); approximately 30 titles. This series includes films of the inaugural, parade, and ceremonies for President Kennedy, 1961. NFDA.

3. Motion Picture Films, ca. 1961-1964, [330] (61239); seven titles.
• Berlin Duty — NFDA, ca. 1962.

4. Motion Picture Films Relating to Vietnam, 1965-1976, [330-A] (61247); 565 titles. This series consists of weekly film reports of the various activities of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. NFDA.

Remeber that there are over 5545 other films to investigate within this RG.
'Til next time.
Phil
http://www.pwstewart.com/

An Example...

2009-01-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

OK, I guess its time to take a look at an example of what I've been talking about.

Records of the Bureau of the Census, RG 29
1937-1980, 147 reels
Moving Images Relating to the Taking of the Census, 1937-1980, [29] (7005); 32 titles. This series consists of films that relate to the taking of the census, the training of enumerators for the 1940 Census, censuses of 1950, and related issues like migration, employment condition, vital statistics, and age and sex distribution. Included are PSAs by sports celebrities and entertainers.
• 1940 Census — explains the purposes and value of the census; census history; the responsibility of enumerators; dramatizes a census takers experience with a woman reluctant to answer his questions; editors, punch card machine operators, and statisticians work at compiling reports; Director Austin speaks on enumerator’s abilities, 1940.
• Roll Call U.S.A. — 1960 census takers at work; in rural homes; training classes; visiting an air base, a merchant ship, college dormitories, a hospital, the Chicago slums, and a Greyhound Bus Terminal; census workers prepare enumeration district maps, reproduce maps on Xerox machines, operate electronic calculating machines, and microfilm records; George Stone and Dr. Philip Hauser discuss Census operations, 1960.
• Franco Harris — a PSA by the football great for the 1980 Census, 1980.

There is some great stock footage here. Remember, there are 29 more films within this RG for you to explore and I hope you will take the time to log on to ARC and check them out.
More next time.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

ARC and Stuff

2009-01-14T10:28:00.000-08:00

Hi again-

I trust you had a wonderful holidays.

Before I go much farther, I guess I should clarify my intent. One of the purposes of this blog is to generate interest in what I consider an untapped resource of film footage that is owned by the American people. The problem is that most Americans don't seem to know it exists. Therefore, this blog is designed to provide information and assist writers, researchers, historians, film and video makers, content producers, genealogists, and many others in locating the historically rich, celluloid-based, moving images preserved in the motion picture film holdings of the U.S. National Archives. To do this I plan to provide a synopsis of each RG held in the National Archives that contains films and annotate a few example titles. My hope is that this will be enough information for those interested to dig more deeply either on line via ARC or in person at Archives II.

Now, a few words about ARC. The Archival Research Catalog is NARA’s latest computer based research tool to provide access to the content and physical descriptions of all their archival holdings. The stated goal is to have 95 percent of all records input into ARC by 2016. As this book goes to press, over 63 percent have been cataloged. Obviously, ARC is still far from complete. In fact, the current NARA mantra appears to be, “just because it’s not in ARC doesn’t mean that it’s not in our holdings.” As such, some of the information presented in this book is subject to change without notice. Unfortunately, ARC is not the most user friendly computer database program in the world to use. It drives more than one professional researcher I know crazy when they try to use its search functions. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to use ARC to review the latest catalog updates and to fully explore the RGs and their individual series listed in the following pages. The ARC main web page is located at: www.archives.gov/research/arc and has much more detailed information for your review.

'Till next time.
Phil
http://www.pwstewart.com/

Information Layout

2008-12-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

As we delve into the different RGs and Series that contain motion pictures in the NARA, I will try to provide you with the following information...

- The official RG title followed by its corresponding RG number.
- The content date of the films (representing the time period of the film’s subject and not necessarily the dates they were created).
- The approximate number of reels of film within the RG.
- The official Series Title and the number of film titles within the series.
- Representative examples (arranged chronologically) of individual film titles within the Series, along with a short description and the year of release. Please note that the originating agency, the contracted production company, or the NARA staff, created these titles. The actual number of listed titles varies, but generally ten percent (up to a maximum of ten titles per series) are listed. The accompanying film descriptions are mostly summary in nature, sometimes a bit cryptic, and were derived from one or more sources. Occasionally, you’ll see the notation NFDA and n.d. These are abbreviations for “No Further Data Available” and “no date,” and are used whenever a description or production date couldn’t be determined.

'Till next time.
Phil
www.pwstewart.com

What is a NARA record group?

2008-12-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

Now, this may be a bit boring, but it's important when trying to figure out where films are located within America's film vault...the NARA.

A record group (RG), the basic unit of archival control, is a body of organizationally related records designated by a number and the name of the federal agency, bureau, or activity that created or received them. For example, the Records of the United States Secret Service is numbered RG 87, the Records of the Maritime Administration are contained in RG 357, and Records of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington are within RG 551. Based on my last count, there are over 500 RGs (some numbers were skipped) within the NARA that contain historic documents like papers, reports, maps, photographs, illustrations, sound recordings, and sometimes motion pictures. These RGs are usually divided into a number of Series, depending on the type of documents or the topic. One RG I found had 85 different series! Sometimes one of these contain films.

Now this is a very simplistic explanation...but hopefully it gives you enough information to follow this discussion in future blogs.

Phil
www.pwstewart.com

Types of Films in the NARA

2008-12-01T19:29:00.000-08:00

To continue the train of thought of the last post, the motion pictures in the NARA are predominately documentary type films; but educational, informational, instructional, theatrical and newsreel categories make up portions of the collection too. The film titles in the holdings number well into the tens-of-thousands, covering hundreds of subjects.

Most of the films held in the National Archives were made, acquired, or donated to Uncle Sam without restrictions. Therefore, they are copyright and royalty free. However, there are a fair number of films that do have copyright or use restrictions, particularly within the Donated Materials Group (DMG) collections. It is in your best interest to check with the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Research Room staff with any questions on this issue.

Until next time,
Phil
http://www.pwstewart.com

Welcome

2008-11-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Historic Footage Project blog.

An alternate title for this blog would be: A Guide to the Motion Pictures Held Within the U.S. National Archives. This blog is designed to assist writers, researchers, historians, film and video makers, content producers, genealogists, and any others who may be interested, in locating the historically rich, celluloid-based, moving images preserved in the motion picture film holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). These historic films are considered official records of the United States Government and are part of one of the world’s largest motion picture archives, with a treasure trove of over 360,000 reels. Approximately 95 percent of the films described in this guide are in the safekeeping of the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch of the Special Media Archives Services Division, located at Archives II in College Park, Maryland. The rest are housed in the National Archive’s Presidential Libraries located around the country. These motion pictures are predominately documentary type films; but educational, informational, instructional, and newsreel categories also make up portions of the collection. There are a few theatrical titles too.

During the coming weeks, months (and hopefully) years, I hope to share with you what I've discovered over the last 20 or so years sleuthing around NARA for historical documentary films. I intend to relate some NARA history and how they got into the motion picture collection business, provide some specific examples of films and where they are buried within the film vault, and answer your questions to the best of my ability.

Please feel free to visit my website, www.pwstewart.com.
Til next time.
Phil