Edited footage shot in West Africa (1931), Haiti (1934) and Georgia (U.S. ca. 1930) for/by Melville Herskovits.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
These films and related papers were transferred to the National Anthropological Film Center by the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies at Northwestern University in 1977.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Melville Herskovits films, Human Studies Film Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Sponsor:
Preservation supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Film Preservation Foundation. Cataloging supported by Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
Film reels (5 hours, color sound; 10,000 feet, 16mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Sound films
Place:
West Indies
Barbados
Date:
1993
Scope and Contents:
Barbados "Cropover" Festival, 1993 associated with the edited film A Modern Day Cash Crop.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Michael Clements in 1994.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Bamboo Harvesting films contain film footage of the propagation and harvesting of bamboo and manufacture of bamboo products.
Scope and Contents:
The film footage covers the cultivation, harvesting, and use of bamboo.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Related Materials:
The Thomas R. Soderstrom Papers, circa 1965-1987 (SIA.FA96-168) and the Floyd Alonzo McClure Papers, 1913-1970 (SIA.FAT90028).
Provenance:
The film footage was given to HSFA by the Botany department at the National Museum of Natural History in two accretions. The first accretion contained the five reels which became the first three reels of this collection. The second accretion, transferred several months later, comprised the fourth reel in the collection.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
2 Film reels (47 minutes, black-and-white silent; 1700 feet)
2 DVD
Slides
Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Dvd
Slides
Silent films
Place:
Southeast Asia
Burma
Date:
1955-2009
Scope and Contents:
Footage shot during Shontz' year as a Fulbright teacher in the Union of Burma. Documented are aspects of daily and ceremonial life primarily in the locations of Taunggyi, Yaung-whe (on Inle Lake), Namkhan, Kentung, and Rangoon. Scenes of ethnographic interest include: the annual Buddhist Festival of Lights in Taunggyi; a pwe festival sponsored by a Lisu chief at Kentung near the Laos border which includes shots of Ekaw, Lisu, and Palaung (Ta-ang) peoples; masked dance by Black Karens in Taunggyi; Intha "leg rowers" on Inle Lake towing a float with Buddah images; a festival of the northern Shans in Namkan; and Hindu fire walkers and Siamese dancers in Rangoon. Arch Nicholson was director.
Collection also includes 35mm color photographic slides, 2008 DVD of slides with Dr. Shontz' annotation, 2006 DVD of film with Dr. Shontz' annotation (video has earlier annotation by Dr. Shontz), correspondence and other paper records associated with the film and photographs.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Number:
HSFA 1990.22.1
Provenance:
Received from Charles Shontz in 1990, 2008 and 2009.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
16 Film reels (black-and-white silent reversal; 4,500 feet, 16mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Place:
Anqing Shi (China)
Anqing Diqu (China)
Wuhu (China)
Charlottesville (Va.)
Date:
circa 1928-1934
Summary:
The Harry B. Taylor films contain amateur film recording daily life in an American missionary community (Episcopal Diocese of Wuhu renamed the Diocese of Anking) for promotional and fundraising purposes as well as personal use. Film footage also includes rural and village life in China and family home movies in the United States.
Scope and Contents:
The Harry B. Taylor Film Collection contains amateur film by Dr. Taylor recording daily life in an American missionary community (Episcopal Diocese of Wuhu renamed the Diocese of Anking) for promotional and fundraising purposes as well as personal use. Dr. Taylor also filmed Chinese rural village life. Film footage shot in the United States is home movies of the family in locations including Charlottesville and Petersburg, Virginia and Utica, New York and one published educational film, "Tuberculosis and How it Can be Avoided".
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical Note:
Harry B. Taylor, MD was an Episcopal Medical Missionary to Anjing, Anwhei, China from 1905-1951. He received his medical degree from the University of Virginia in 1902.
Related Materials:
Harry B. Taylor papers and diaries are in the Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia.
Provenance:
Donated by Harry Taylor in 2016.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Footage shot by Cyril David of a Santal village, Bihar State, India in January 1980.
Film documentation of daily life among Santal villagers in Bihar State, India. The footage includes scenes of traditional house construction, rope making, pottery making, the rice harvest, threshing, grain storage procedures, methods of transporting water, child care, dance, and grooming.
Full film record depicting the daily life of the Santal people in Bihar, India.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Numbers:
1983.4.1
Provenance:
This film was donated by David Cyril in 1983.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Film reels (color silent sound; 14,000 feet, 16mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Silent films
Sound films
Place:
Middle East
Iran
Date:
circa 1970-1984
Scope and Contents:
Collection consists of a full film record documenting agricultural subsistence activities in Liqvan, a small mountain village in northern Iran, and an edited film tracing the seasonal migration of the Shahsavan pastoral nomads of northwestern Iran.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Arlene Dallalfar and Fereydoun Safizadeh in 1985.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Film footage and edited films of Hubert Smith. Film projectes represented in the collection include Single Parent, The Living Maya, and a work on leadership of the Aymara of Boliva, made from the American Unviersity Field Staff Faces of Change Series films.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Related Materials:
The Human Studies Film Archives also holds the American University Field Staff Faces of Change collection.
Provenance:
Received from Hubert Smith in 1976 (accession 1976-003), 1985 (accession 1985-008), 2013 (accession 2013-015).
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Footage shot by Richard Gordon and Carma Hinton documenting life in the village of Long Bow, Shanxi Province, North Central China.
Collection also includes associated texts, sound recordings, production logs, and field notes.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Provenance:
Received from Richard Gordon and Carma Hinton in 1988.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
12 Film reels (6 hours, color silent; 4,145 feet, S8 mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Silent films
Place:
Middle East
Iran
Date:
1974-1978
Scope and Contents:
Full film record of life among Turanian pastoralists in northeastern Iran. Documentation focuses on scenes revealing the gendered division of labor: herding and milking of goats by men, processing milk into kashk (tart) by women, and men engaged in the collection of firewood. Other domestic and agricultural activities shown are plowing and irrigation of fields, harvesting and drying of barley, animal slaughter, spinning goat hair, making grape molasses, and drying tobacco. Footage also includes ceremonial activities associated with Persian new year and pilgrimages to Islamic shrines.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical / Historical:
Filmmaker and anthropologist Mary Martin Conducted fieldwork in northeastern Iran in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania Turan Program from 1974 through 1978. She is currently Coordinator of the Middle East Center, University of Pennsylvania.
Local Numbers:
HSFA 1988.14.1
Provenance:
Received from Mary Martin in 1988.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
1 Film reel (26 minutes, color sound; 944 feet, 16mm)
Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Place:
South America
Colombia
Date:
circa 1950-1960
Scope and Contents:
Columbia, Land of Mountain Coffee and associated photographic materials, all by Richard Carver Wood, Patsy Asch's father. Film was produced by Richard Carver Wood, written by Frank Beckwith and edited by Lee Burgess.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Edited film opens with a map of Colombia showing the mountain range where coffee is grown but moves to scenes of Cartegena (port, narrow streets, architecture, horse drawn buggies, cars) before aerial views of the mountains and valleys where coffee is grown. Two families are featured, the Prieto and Ramon Aviero families. Isolation is emphasized in the narration in that these coffee farms are twenty miles from everything and that they must depend on their own resources and work hard for subsistence living. Images show the family members grinding corn, cooking, scraping gourds to use as pots and pans, hand washing clothes and children working with adults in sorting coffee beans. These initial shots of the family are to contrast with later images showing the impact of the International Federation of Coffee Growers on the families who own the small coffee farms by improving their coffee crop and, hence, their family's well-being. Shown are scientists working with the farmers to prevent soil erosion and root disease and to treat mature trees that have developed diseases (scraping disease from bark and treating exposed area). Oxen are shown plowing to help prevent soil erosion. Emphasis in narration is placed on research and knowledge for improving Colombia's coffee. Experimental labs for seed selection and growing in the right soil with the optimum shade, and grafting plants are shown. Children are shown going to schools supported by the International Federation that holds afternoon classes for teaching coffee cultivation. Students (boys) are shown in school and working their own plot in the afternoon. Producing a coffee tree is shown from hand picking seeds, germinating seeds in specially prepared beds, transplating seedlings (with two leaves) into larger beds and, after 8 months, transplanting again by wrapping root balls in banana leaves and carrying them to fields where they are planted among corn plants. School for older students (boys) which is also run by Federation shows older boys continuing to learn coffee cultivation. Shade trees are grown to help provide the right amount of shade for coffee trees. Newly matured coffee trees (at five years) are shown heavy with both blossoms and cherries in which the coffee bean resides. Shown are hand picking the ripe cherries from the coffee trees, pickers bringing the cherries to a central collection point, loading burlap bags of coffee onto mules (the best mode of transportation for the mountainous country) that are taken to a processing plant (paid for by the Federation) where cherries are shown going through a rotator to separate the beans from the cherry, beans being washed in water to remove the remaining cherry residue, raked in troughs by men with paddles and then spread to dry on floors and after drying being shoveled in burlap sacks and carried by mule to truck on a highway or carried by mule train to a town market where the coffee is weighed, tested for quality and then sorted by women in mills who remove defective beans, to trucks, trains and planes carrying the coffee to Cartegena where stevedores load the sacks of coffee on a ship to be carried to the United States and elsewhere. Film was produced by Richard Carver Wood, written by Frank Beckwith and edited by Lee Burgess.
Local Numbers:
HSFA 2005.3.1
Provenance:
Received from Patsy Asch in 2005.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Edited films, camera original film outtakes and uncut film footage (Afghanistan and Bolivia only), from the Faces of Change film series produced by the American University Field Staff. 27 edited films were created from filming projects in five diverse geographic locations: Afghanistan (the Maldar), Bolivia (Aymara), Kenya (Boran), Taiwan, and Soko Islands (Hong Kong) and are based around the themes rural society, education, rural economy, beliefs and women.
Supplementary materials: Study guides, still photographs, sound recordings, annotations, translations, reviews, essays, production logs and notes.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Numbers:
HSFA 2014.2
Provenance:
Received from Norman Miller in multiple accessions in the following years:
1975 (accession number 1975-002); 1986 (accession number 1986-010); 2005 (accession number 2006-005); and 2014 (accession number 2014-002).
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
