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
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 5
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.
==========================================
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.
=========================================
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
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.
==========================================
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.
=========================================
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
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 4
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.
==========================================
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.
========================================
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
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.
==========================================
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.
========================================
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
Friday, July 3, 2009
Taking Stock at the National Archives -- Part 3
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.
==========================================
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.
======================================
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
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.
==========================================
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.
======================================
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
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