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EARLY AMERICA: 1607 - 1940
Beginnings of America with famous events re-enacted as well as documenting strides in education, technology and politics.
(public domain films) 1945 18 min BW |
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| keywords: jamestown, plymouth rock, valley forge, westward expansion, gold rush, prohibition, lifestyle, leisure time |
ADMIRAL BYRD'S ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION
Admiral Byrd's Antarctic expedition. Motor ship North Star at the Army Base in Boston Harbor is loaded. The snow cruiser is shown arriving. The North Star steams out of Boston Harbor on Nov. 15, 1939.
(public domain films) 1939-1941 COL 54 min (SILENT) |
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| keywords: admiral byrd, antarctica, motor ship north star, line-crossing ceremony, shellback initiation |
AFRICAN-AMERICAN EDUCATION
COLLEGES DURING WARTIME
All across the country college curriculum is adjusted to war needs by preparing students for military and war-effort occupations.
(public domain films) 1943 9 min BW |
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| keywords: education, college, laboratory, machine shop, dr. carver, tuskegee institute, howard university, hampton institute |
AFRICAN-AMERICAN EDUCATION
LOOKING TOWARD THE HORIZON
The struggle to improve education for Black-Americans in the South, detailing poverty conditions and the importance of church.
(public domain films) 1930's 25 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: poverty, farm field house, education, college, manual royal typewriter, marchant manual adding machine |
AFRICAN-AMERICANS - WE WILL WORK AGAIN
African Americans during the Depression Era with contrast of scenes from breadlines to employment in Federal Work Projects.
(public domain films) 1937 16 min BW |
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| keywords: african americans, depression era, wpa, works progress administration, breadline, soup line |
BERLIN - SYMPHONY OF A GREAT CITY
The day in the life of the city of Berlin, Germany from morning to night weaving scenes of architecture, streets, industry and citizens into a day in the life montage of a historic European city.
(public domain films) 1927 BW 62 min (SILENT) |
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| keywords: berlin germany, architecture, industrial machines, stores, factories, german citizens, boxing, fireworks |
BETTER HOUSING NEWSFLASH 1936
Innovative Home Ideas And Projects, National Housing Act Spurs Residential Construction, The Model Home Is A Perfect Way To See The Latest In Home Improvements.
(public domain films) 1936 BW 6 min |
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| keywords: home improvements, residential construction, model homes, national housing act |
BOULDER DAM - FROM START TO FINISH
With a height of 726 feet and a crest length of 1244 feet, Boulder Dam (renamed Hoover Dam in 1947) is an engineering marvel.
(public domain films) 1930's 15 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: nevada, construction, engineering, concrete, boulder dam, hoover dam, lake mead |
BLUE ANGELS - AIRSHOW 1948
Navy airshow featuring the Blue Angels Precision Flying Team at a time when the military was transitioning from prop to jet power.
(public domain films) 1948 12 min COL (SILENT) |
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| keywords: navy, military airshow, blue angels precision flying team, nas, grosse lie, michigan |
CAMERA THRILLS IN WILDEST AFRICA
Take a retro journey to wildest africa to film dangerous wild animals and then at the end of a long day, shoot them.
(public domain films) 12 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: crocodiles, zebras, hippos, cheetah, rhinos, rhinoceros, vultures, elephants, lions, giraffe, antelope, wildebeests |
CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK CITY
Highlighting the recreational facilities in New York Citys' Central Park and its citizens and visitors enjoying them to the fullest.
(public domain films) 1949 10 min BW |
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| keywords: place, new york state, city, new york city, place, central park |
CHAIN GANGS AND PRISONS
Prison lifestyle of the 1930's documenting life on a chain gang as well as a facilities in Georgia and Alcatraz Island in California.
(public domain films) 1938 29 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: prison, prisoners, chain gang, shackles, prison license plate shop, alcatraz island, turpentine production |
CITY OF THE 1930's - A PORTRAIT OF AMERICA
American lifestyle in the rural country is contrasted with the lifestyles in a major city with factories and traffic congestion.
(public domain films) 1930's 21 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: american lifestyles, country life, rural life, city, cities, factories, manufacturing, traffic congestion, air pollution |
CORRUPTION OF AMERICA
1930's GERMAN PROPAGANDA FILM
Propaganda film describing the cultural decadence of America. Topic aside, outstanding footage of worker strikes, riots, etc.
(public domain films) 1930s 15 min BW (GERMAN LANGUAGE) |
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| keywords: america, american lifestyle, worker strikes, riots, gangsters, john dillinger, depression, slums, german propaganda |
COUNTRY STORE
Rural life as it centers around the Country Store in 1940's small town America from supplies to post office to neighborly chatting.
(public domain films) 1940's 19 min BW |
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| keywords: country store, rural america, small town, farmers, tractors, post office |
DANGER IN THE STREETS
Early safety film addresses the ever-growing problem of traffic fatalities involving pedestrians (mostly kids) in Los Angeles, CA.
(public domain films) 1936 8 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: driver education, driver training, driver safety, pedestrians, california, los angeles |
EARLY RISQUE WOMEN
Montage of early vampy flapper girls from a variety of films showing ankles, bare legs and inappropriate midriffs.
(public domain films) 9 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: early sexploitation, women, sexual objects, objects of desire, vamps, vampy, burlesque, can can girls, flapper |
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION OF AN AMERICAN ICON
Documenting the construction of the Empire State Building from concrete foundation to beacon tower installation.
(public domain films) 1930 BW 40 min |
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| keywords: new york city, empire state building construction, former astoria hotel, american bridge company |
EVOLUTION OF THE OIL INDUSTRY
The evolution of uses for oil from an ingredient in early medicine to lamp oil for lighting to the invention of the combustion engine making oil the main source of energy for the Industrialized World.
(public domain films) 30 min COL |
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| keywords: oil exploration, oil drilling, oil wells, early automobiles, gasoline refinery, refining crude oil, oil pipeline construction |
THE FIGHT FOR LIFE - CHILDBIRTH IN CHICAGO
This film is a dramatization of a young doctor's training in obstetrics at the Maternity Center in Chicago in the 1940's.
(public domain films) 1940s BW 70 min |
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| keywords: obstetrics, maternity hospital, baby delivery, chicago slums, blood transfusion |
FIREMAN, THE
Firefighters of 1948 from equipment demonstrations and firefighting techniques to in action at a simulated house fire.
(public domain films) 1948 11 min BW |
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| keywords: firefighter, fireman, firemen, firepoeple, fighting fires, house fire, fire department, fire equipment, firehose |
GANDHI AND INDIA
Mahatma Gandhi appears in public with his followers who clash with British and Indian police in protest to British rule.
(public domain films) 7 min BW (SILENT/SOUND) |
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| keywords: mahatma gandhi, india, riot, demonstrations, demonstrating, protests, protesting, british rule |
GASOLINE PRODUCTION
Documenting the crude oil-gasoline refinery industry and distribution of refined crude oil products in the 1920's.
(public domain films) 1924 BW 43 min (SILENT with title cards) |
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| keywords: crude oil industry, gasoline refinery, crude oil products, oil refining process, gasoline tank farm |
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK- CIRCA 1940's
Known as the "Crown Jewel" of the National Park System, go back in time to visit its treasures of mountain peaks and alpine lakes.
(public domain films) 1940's 60 min COL |
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| place, montana, park, glacier national park, camping, hiking, touring |
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
CONSTRUCTION OF A LANDMARK
Documenting the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, connecting San Francisco California with Marin County.
(public domain films) 1933 BW 40 min |
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| keywords: san francisco, golden gate bridge construction, wire suspension bridge, john a. roebling company |
HINDENBURG DISASTER
While attempting to dock, the titanic German Zeppelin Hindenburg mysteriously catches fire and is utterly destroyed within minutes.
(public domain films) 1937 14 min BW |
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| keywords: new york state, new jersey, lakehurst naval air station, zeppelin, airship, dirigible, blimp, hindenburg, hydrogen |
INTERNATIONAL NEWS - 1921
Quick snapshots of news stories and events happening in 1921.
(public domain films) 1921 BW 20 min (SILENT) |
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| keywords: president warren g. harding, first lady florence harding, baseball new york giants, general john j. pershing |
LOS ANGELES - CITY OF DESTINY
1940's Los Angeles is captured from its orchards and vineyards to vibrant city life and landmarks unique to the City Of Angels.
(public domain films) 1949 32 min COL |
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| keywords: california, los angeles, l.a., city of angels, freeways, farmer's market, santa anita park, beaches, swimming pool |
MINING AND FARMING 1920's
Mining and processing plant possibly for phosphate as well as scenes of farming with cotton plants and dairy cattle.
(public domain films) 1920s 12 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: mining, mine processing, steam locomotive, model t ford, cotton farming, dairy cattle, farm house |
A NEW LIFE FOR WAR REFUGEES
THE CUMMINGTON, MA STORY
Re-enactment of the integration of a group of World War II refugees into the life of the small town of Cummington, MA.
(public domain films) 1945 BW 20 min |
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| keywords: re-enactment, war refugees, integration, new england lifestyle, country fair |
ON THE TRAIL
The cowboy lifestyle from ranching and herding cattle to rodeos and bull riding to a relaxing bobcat hunt and fishing.
(public domain films) 10 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: cowboy, ranch, rancher, ranching, cattle drive, rodeo, bull riding, bobcat hunting, bob cat hunting, fishing |
PENNSYLVANIA COAL - THE DRIVE FOR ANTHRACITE
During WWII coal production was increased in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania by raising the morale of the miners.
(public domain films) 1942 BW 5 min |
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| keywords: pennsylvania coal production, coal mines, miners, coal mining town, anthracite |
PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS
DEPRESSION ERA DUST BOWL
Deep plowing of the topsoil of the Great Plains region of the United States from 1930 to 1936 coupled with severe drought conditions leads to the dust bowl, where millions of acres of farmland is blown away by the high winds and dust storms force thousands of people to leave for other states.
(public domain films) 1936 BW 25 min |
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| keywords: great plains, dust bowl, farmers, farmland, deserted farmhouse, depression era, homeless camp |
P.O.V. AMERICA - VOLUME 1
Variety of scenes from across America from the railroads to smalltown USA to the dust bowl and Drepresssion Era footage.
(public domain films) 1900 - 1940 8 min BW |
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| keywords: railroads, cattle ranch, chicago cattle yards, family dinner, slums and poverty, town meeting, dust bowl |
REPORT FROM LOUISIANA
Soldier flashbacks to scenes of Louisiana before World War II and returning home to see the changes in lifestyle and industry.
(public domain films) 1945 8 min BW |
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| keywords: louisiana, shrimp boat, louisiana bayou, sunday church services, new orleans, ship building yard, shipyard |
ROOTS OF THE NATION
The story of America, its resources, people and culture as it is traced from its infancy to its upcoming 200th birthday.
(public domain films) 29 min BW |
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| keywords: history of america, appalachian mountains, forests, streams, ducks, deer, turkey, buffalo, gold mine town, logging |
RURAL USA 1930 - 1939
DEPRESSION AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS
Slice of life activities and lifestyle of depression era families documenting housing, farming, hand made production of goods.
(public domain films) 1930 - 1939 12 min BW (SILENT) |
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| keywords: depression era, farming, field workers, field hands, unemployment, bartering |
STEEL TOWN - YOUNGSTOWN, OH 1944
Chronicles the production of steel at a steel mill in Youngstown, Ohio during WWII including the smelting process, slagging and blast furnace.
(public domain films) 1944 BW 16 min |
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| keywords: steel mill, youngstown ohio, world war II, wwII, steel workers, industry, smokestacks, smog |
THESE THIRTY YEARS - VOLUME 1
First half that weaves the development of the automobile and a Ford automobile dealership in a small town around a love story starting with the horseless carriage through 1928.
(public domain films) 1934 BW 36 min |
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| keywords: early transportation, eary automobile, ford cars, model t ford |
THESE THIRTY YEARS - VOLUME 2
Second half that weaves the development of the automobile and a Ford automobile dealership in a small town around a love story starting with the horseless carriage through 1928.
(public domain films) 1934 BW 35 min |
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| keywords: early transportation, eary automobile, ford cars, model t ford |
UNFINISHED REVOLUTION, THE
BUILDING THE GREAT SOCIETY
Documenting American society and the economy from the late 1920's, into the great depression, the election of Franklin D Roosevelt in 1932.
(public domain films) BW 27 min |
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| keywords: the great depression, bread lines, president franklin d roosevelt, wpa programs |
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - COLLEGE LIFE AT UCLA
Dramatization of student life, student government, athletics, social events, classroom activities in 1948.
(public domain films) 1948 BW 43 min |
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| keywords: university of california los angeles, ucla, higher education, college life, college activities |
U.S.A. DOCUMENTARY MAGAZINE - 1940's
News stories from the 1940's - John Garand The Man Behind The M-1 Garand Rifle, The Scientific Farm, Bert James Inventor.
(public domain films) 1940's 22 min BW |
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| keywords: john garand, m-1 garand military rifle, farming, mass farming, inventor bert james |
VOYAGE TO AMERICA - A STORY OF IMMIGRANTS
Documents the various groups of immigrants seeking political and religious freedom in the 19th and 20th centuries.
(public domain films) 1964 12 min BW |
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| keywords: immigrants, immigration, servitude, forced slavery, european americans, asian americans, black americans |
