The Archive

Frederick Atkins Collection

Frederick Atkins shot these films of his wife, Loretta, and children in the East Side neighborhood. The collection includes the opening of the Chicago (formerly Calumet) Skyway. 8mm, Super 8mm. 1950-1980. 48 films.

Lora Branch Collection

Charles Branch shot these films of his family in Morgan Park. The collection includes family trips to Tennessee, the annual Roberts Family Picnic in the Dan Ryan Woods, and the 50th wedding anniversary of George and Mamie Roberts Thompson. This collection also features rare footage of Roberts Temple Church of Christ in God, preserved by Claude and Naomi Driskell, family relatives and descendants of Bishop William Roberts. 8mm, Super 8mm. Silent. 1930s-1985. 5 films.

Buford Family Collection

Shirley Jones and her sisters shot these films of the Buford family around their Englewood home. The collection features a wedding and several family parties, and also includes films shot during their time stationed in Okinawa, Japan. 8mm, Super 8mm. Silent. 1950-1970. 18 films.

Alphonse and Nancie Teer Ellis Family Collection

Alphonse and Nancy Ellis shot these films in and around their Auburn Gresham home. The collection also includes a trip to Disneyland, Washington D.C. and visits to the family cottage in Lakeside, Michigan. Super 8mm. Silent. 1960-1970. 40 films.

Lynette Frazier Collection

Lynette Frazier shot these films of her life in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, as well as her many travels around the globe. The collection includes the aftermath of the MLK Riots, Resurrection City in Washington, DC and the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. 8mm. Silent. 1950-1960. 31 films.

Holland Family Collection

John Holland shot these films of his wife Margaret and their children Greg, Debbie, Doug and Karen in and around the East Side neighborhood. The collection includes graduations, holidays and Catholic ceremonies. 8mm, Super 8mm. 1950-1970. 47 films.

Gordon L. Hostetter Collection

Gordon L. Hostetter shot these films of his family and children in Flossmoor, Illinois. The collection features scenes of country clubs, golf, children playing in costumes. 16mm. Silent. 1920-1950. 14 films.

Sylvester Matthews Collection

Dr. Helen Nash Collection

Dr. Helen Nash shot these scenes of family life in Atlanta, Georgia and St. Louis, Missouri, as well as trips to Chicago to visit relatives. Dr. Nash also traveled extensively with her sisters and mother, visiting Europe, China, Russia, and Africa in the late sixties and seventies. 16mm, Super 8mm. Silent. 1950-1970. 23 films.

Jean Patton Collection

The Jean Patton collection was shot by both Jean Patton and her husband Robert and documents family life in Chatham and their extensive travels overseas. Consisting of over 100 reels Jean and her husband visited China, Japan, Europe and the Caribbean and documented nearly 20 years of family celebrations and events. 16mm, 8mm, Super-8. Silent. 1940-1970. 100 films.