Moving Images: Motion Picture Film Collection, 1927-1983 | Oberlin College Archives

The motion picture film collection comprises approximately 252 reels of safety film, primarily 16mm, dating from 1927 to 1983, with the bulk dating from 1927 through the 1950s.  The films are inventoried on a FileMaker Pro database accessible to Archives staff.  The following subject index to the film collection is not complete but will enable the researcher to grasp the range of films available on commonly searched topics.  Films cannot be played on equipment.  Some films have been transferred to videotape or digital media by professional labs and can be accessed in the reading room; see RG 57/2 Videotapes and RG 57/3 DVDs.

Subject Index of the Motion Picture Film Collection

1. Aluminum (i.e., Charles Martin Hall and ALCOA) – (3 films) 1957-58

2. Alumni/Reunions/Alumni Association (not including Commencement films) – (5 films) 1950, 1957, 1960

3. Buildings – (39 films) 1930, 1933, 1938-39, 1946, 1953, 1956-58

    Buildings included:

              Allen Memorial Hospital

              Art Building/Museum

              Carnegie Library

              Chemistry Building

              Conservatory (old and new)

              Cox Administration Building

              Crane Pool

              Dormitories

              Finney Chapel

              First Church

              Graduate School of Theology

              Hales Gym

              Hall Auditorium

              King Memorial

              Memorial Arch

              Physics Building

              Second Congregational Church (old and new)

              Warner Gym

              Westervelt Hall

              Zoology Building

4. Camp Pemigewasset (i.e., John Herbert Nichols) – (18 films) 1944, 1948-49, c. 1969

5. Co-education – (5 films) 1937, 1956, 1961-62

6. Commencement – (30 films) 1927-33, 1935, 1938-39, 1947, 1953, 1956-57

7. Football Films – (63 films) 1927-30, 1935-36, 1938-40, 1944-46, 1950, 1952-55, 1957,

              1959, 1961-64, 1977-78

8. Mock Convention – (22 films) 1928, 1936, 1940, 1948, 1952, 1956

9. Navy V-12 Program – (2 films) 1943

10. Presidents (College) – (13 films)

              Henry Churchill King – (4 films) 1927-29 (includes retirement, June 21, 1927)

              Ernest Hatch Wilkins – (2 films) 1927-28 (includes inauguration, October 24, 1927)

              William Edwards Stevenson – (6 films) 1950, 1953, 1957-58

              Robert Kenneth Carr – (1 film) Inauguration, October 22, 1960

11. Shansi Memorial Association – (33 films) 1928-30, 1934, 1937-40, 1947-50, c. 1970s

12. Student Productions/Performance – (7 films) 1939, 1948, 1957, 1965, 1970

13. Miscellaneous Athletics (not including Football) – (11 films) 1927-31, 1935, 1938, 1940,

              1942, 1946-48, 1950, 1953, 1957

14. Miscellaneous

              Artist Recital - (2 films) 1928

              Guest Lecturers – (2 films) 1963

              Faculty – various films from 1928-1972

              Kent State Shootings (i.e., Vietnam War) – (1 film) 1970 (includes A & B rolls)

              Oberlin College “feature” films for promotional use (prospective students) and

                        orientation – (13 films) 1950, 1952-54, 1956-57, 1960-62, 1965

              Women’s Glee Club – (3 films) 1928-30, 1948

              WOBC Radio Station -- (1 film) 1967 (duplicate negative only)

              YMCA/YWCA – (5 films) 1928-31, 1933, 1935