Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Search Results

Collections Search Center
9 documents - page 1 of 1

Gordon Hendricks Motion Picture History Papers

Creator:
Hendricks, Gordon  Search this
Names:
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931  Search this
Extent:
27 Cubic feet (55 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Clippings
Field notes
Notes
Flip books
Professional papers
Date:
1895-1970
Summary:
Contains Gordon Hendricks's collection of clippings, correspondence, and research notes, and other professional papers related to his books and articles on motion picture history. Includes files on Edison, William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, and other pioneers in motion picture inventions.
Scope and Contents note:
This large collection contains correspondence, notes, and copies of documents from many repositories, which were used as research materials for Hendricks's publications in this field, as well as black-and-white photographs. Copies of photographs come from the Edison National Historic Site archives, Eastman House, the Smithsonian, and other museums. Gordon Hendricks stored his research material in grey binders, orange manuscript boxes, clay-colored folders, and black binders, hence the grey, orange, clay and black series. It is not certain whether this arrangement represented an identification or coding system related to separate projects or whether it simply reflects the chronology of his work through a succession of filing and boxing systems.

Hendricks's arrangement has been retained generally, and the series arrangement of the collection reflects Hendricks's original groupings. Series 1 consists of Lantern slides, Series 2 of material found in grey binders, Series 3 of material found in orange boxes, Series 4 of material in clay-colored folders, Series 5 of material in black binders and Series 6 is the miscellaneous series. [These groupings have been identified, as David Burgevin conducted an inventory while the collection was in its original containers.]

These papers contain much correspondence and other materials relating to Hendricks's books in the field of motion picture history, such as copies of manuscripts, and galley proofs. Photographs: Graphic materials included in the collection, such as photographs, frequently are not original but are copies of items from repositories in which Hendricks did research. However, there are a few noteworthy original items, such as examples of motion picture flip books (one partly intact, plus loose fragments from this flip book and others).
Biographical/Historical note:
Hendricks was an art historian who wrote works on painters such as Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Eakins, as well as on early motion picture history, including analyses of inventors of apparatus and technology; in his book THE EDISON MOTION PICTURE MYTH he showed how Edison's assistant, W. K. L. Dickson, and other inventors actually were responsible for the development of cinematic technology for which Edison unfairly took credit. Hendricks apparently was born in 1917 and died in 1980.
Related Materials:
Some materials from this collection, primarily photographs of apparatus, are in the Division of Work and Industry, History Photographic History Collection.

129 black-and-white photographs, many copy prints used as illustrations in Gordon Hendricks books, and other images of early motion picture apparatus are in the Gordon Hendricks Collection in the Photographic History Division. The Collection also includes 240 glass plate negatives, which appear to have been taken in Europe, and a binder of contact prints of the negatives.
Provenance:
Collection donated by Gordon Hendricks, through Guido Castelli, February 13, 1990.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Motion pictures -- History -- 1890-1930  Search this
Motion picture devices -- 1890-1930  Search this
Genre/Form:
Correspondence -- 1930-1950
Clippings
Field notes
Notes
Flip books
Professional papers
Citation:
The Gordon Hendricks Motion Picture History Papers, 1895-1970, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0369
See more items in:
Gordon Hendricks Motion Picture History Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8cf93c4db-8f6f-425d-9846-e145e308e638
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0369
Online Media:

W.K.L. Dickson, 1860-1935 [Folder]

Additional name:
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Dickson, William Kennedy-Laurie  Search this
Dickson, William K.L.  Search this
Dickson, William Kennedy L., Dickson, W.K.-L.  Search this
Contents:
Folder(s) may include exhibition announcements, newspaper and/or magazine clippings, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, illustrations, resumes, artist's statements, exhibition catalogs.
Topic:
Artists  Search this
Location:
Art & Artist files at the Smithsonian American Art Museum/ National Portrait Gallery Library
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:SILAF_110385

Thomas Edison

Artist:
William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, 1860 - 1935  Search this
Sitter:
Thomas Alva Edison, 11 Feb 1847 - 18 Oct 1931  Search this
Medium:
Cyanotype on paper
Dimensions:
Image/Sheet: 15.2 x 19.8 cm (6 x 7 13/16")
Type:
Photograph
Date:
1890
Topic:
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Stool  Search this
Interior\Laboratory  Search this
Equipment\Laboratory Equipment  Search this
Equipment\Laboratory Equipment\Beaker  Search this
Equipment\Laboratory Equipment\Test tube  Search this
Equipment\Laboratory Equipment\Flask  Search this
Thomas Alva Edison: Male  Search this
Thomas Alva Edison: Science and Technology\Inventor  Search this
Thomas Alva Edison: Congressional Gold Medal  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number:
NPG.2004.51
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4c4d305e5-d577-4ac4-8704-4546d6d2f888
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.2004.51

Mutoscope reel: “President Faure Shooting Pheasants"

Maker:
American Mutoscope and Biograph Company  Search this
Cinematographer:
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Object Name:
mutoscope reel
Place made:
United States: New York, New York City
Date filmed:
1898
Subject:
Motion Pictures  Search this
Entertainment, Film  Search this
Hunting  Search this
France  Search this
ID Number:
2008.0095.061
Accession number:
2008.0095
Catalog number:
2008.0095.061
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Photographic History
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-62a6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1337113

Portrait of W. K. L. Dickson

Depicted:
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Physical Description:
paper (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 10 1/2 in x 11 1/2 in; 26.67 cm x 29.21 cm
Object Name:
photograph
Place made:
United Kingdom: England, London
Date made:
1930-1935
ID Number:
1990.3015.039
Catalog number:
1995.3015.039
Nonaccession number:
1995.3015
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Photographic History
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-f5c0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1367735

Four photographs of AM&B executives on roof

Depicted:
Casler, Herman  Search this
Marvin, Henry Norton  Search this
Koopman, Elias  Search this
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Maker:
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Physical Description:
paper (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 7 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in; 19.05 cm x 13.97 cm
Object Name:
photograph
Date made:
1895-1900
Subject:
Motion Pictures  Search this
ID Number:
1990.3015.004
Catalog number:
1990.3015.004
Nonaccession number:
1990.3015
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Photographic History
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-f5c1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1367762

Portrait of W. K. L. Dickson

Depicted:
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Physical Description:
paper (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 6 in x 4 in; 15.24 cm x 10.16 cm
Object Name:
photograph
Date made:
1890s
ID Number:
1990.3015.001
Nonaccession number:
1990.3015
Catalog number:
1990.3015.001
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Photographic History
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-c77a-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1367763

KMCD syndicate members in Canastota, New York

Depicted:
Koopman, Elias  Search this
Marvin, Henry Norton  Search this
Casler, Herman  Search this
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Maker:
Lauste, Eugene Augustin  Search this
Physical Description:
paper (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 7 1/4 in x 8 1/4 in; 18.415 cm x 20.955 cm
Object Name:
photograph
Photograph
Place Made:
United States: New York, Canastota
Date made:
September 22, 1895
Subject:
Motion Pictures  Search this
ID Number:
1990.3015.007
Accession number:
1990.3015
Catalog number:
1990.3015.007
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Photographic History
Photography
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-f5c2-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1367764

History of the kinetograph, kinetoscope and kinetophonograph. By W.K.L. Dickson and Antonia Dickson

Author:
Dickson, William Kennedy Laurie  Search this
Dickson, Antonia  Search this
Physical description:
53 p. illus
Type:
Books
Date:
1895
1895]
Topic:
Kinetograph  Search this
Kinetoscope  Search this
Kineto-phonograph  Search this
Call number:
TR870 .D561hZ
TR870.D561hZ
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_298424

Modify Your Search







or


Narrow By