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.

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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