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  • Film, Video
    Surf at Monterey "The water breaks over the rocks, and is dashed into silvery spray, high into the air. Exceptionally fine water effects. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 105. "Southern Pacific Company Series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers special inducements to winter travelers, by reason of its southern route, thereby avoiding the extreme cold of the winter months. Its course lies through a section of...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Union Iron Works "Here was built the peerless battleship "Oregon." The scene is taken at lunch hour, and shows a great throng of employees leaving the shop. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 94, March 1900, p. 21. "Southern Pacific Company series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers special inducements to winter travelers, by reason of its southern route, thereby avoiding the extreme cold of the winter...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Ry
    Title in Edison films catalogs: Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Railway | Title in Early motion pictures: Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific R.R.
    "Taken at Fingal, Cal., where the world-renowned "Sunset Limited" trains pass each other. One runs on a side track, and the other dashes by at a high rate of speed. Switch is then turned, and the train passes on, slowly receding from view. 150 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 94, March 1900, p. 21. "Southern Pacific Company series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Launch of life boat
    Launch of lifeboat | Variant title from Edison motion pictures 1890-1900: Launch of a life boat, Fort Point Sta., Cal
    "Pacific Coast Life Saving Service series: These subjects are illustrative of the work performed by the Life Saving Corps of the United States Government, and show the methods in vogue at one of the most important stations on either side of our Continent. The exact routine pursued in actual practice is clearly illustrated. We are particularly indebted to Major T.J. Blakeney, Superintendent of the...
    • Contributor: White, James H. (James Henry) - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - United States. Life-Saving Service - Blechynden, Frederick - Fort Point Life-Saving Station (U.S.) - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - United States. Revenue-Cutter Service
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Procession of floats "Taken at San Francisco, Cal., at the Golden Jubilee. In the foreground are seen crowds of people, all being very close to the camera. The first float is drawn by four white horses and is at least twenty feet long. It carries a full load of little school girls, who sit along its full length facing the sides of the street. This is followed...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Return of lifeboat
    Title in Edison films catalog: Return of the life boat | Return of life boat
    "Shows a life boat coming through the breakers. The surf is high and the stout boat is tossed about like a cork. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "Pacific Coast Life Saving Service series: These subjects are illustrative of the work performed by the Life Saving Corps of the United States Government, and show the methods in vogue at one of the most important stations on...
    • Contributor: White, James H. (James Henry) - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - United States. Life-Saving Service - Blechynden, Frederick - Fort Point Life-Saving Station (U.S.) - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - United States. Revenue-Cutter Service
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Sutro Baths, no. 1 "One of the sights of San Francisco. A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions. The bathers are clad in black trunks, making fine contrast with the flesh tints. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "In the background are three tiers of spectators watching the bathers. There are many people bathing and diving into the swimming pool....
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Hotel Del Monte "Shows a party of tourists at this famous resort; located in Monterey, Cal., on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The magnificence of its surroundings is clearly shown. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "Southern Pacific Company Series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers special inducements to winter travelers, by reason of its southern route, thereby avoiding the extreme cold of the winter months. Its course lies...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Cal "The background of this picture is the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, Cal. This observatory, the gift of James Lick, of Pennsylvania, was constructed at a cost of $700,000, being equipped with one of the most powerful telescopes that has ever been produced, and is famous the world over. The view of the Observatory is very complete, showing the style of architecture, including the glass...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Capsize of lifeboat
    Title in Edison films catalog, no. 94: Capsize of life boat | Title in Edison films catalog, no. 105: Capsize of a lifeboat
    "Daily practise [sic] of life boat crew, showing boat being upset purposely by the men. As these boats are self-righting and self-bailing, the scene is particularly interesting. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "Pacific Coast Life Saving Service series: These subjects are illustrative of the work performed by the Life Saving Corps of the United States Government, and show the methods in vogue at one of...
    • Contributor: White, James H. (James Henry) - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - United States. Life-Saving Service - Blechynden, Frederick - Fort Point Life-Saving Station (U.S.) - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - United States. Revenue-Cutter Service
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Sutro Baths
    Title in Edison films catalog: Sutro Baths, no. 2
    "Another view in which the figures show larger. A springboard furnishes the bathers with much amusement; also a toboggan slide. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "A large indoor swimming pool is shown, as well as the walkways that separate the varying depths of the water, and a sign identifying the locale on the wall farthest from the camera position. In the immediate foreground, camera right...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Launching, no. 2 "The camera was changed after the former subject had been photographed [i.e., Launch of Japanese man-of-war "Chitosa"] and the ship [Chitose] is seen nearly head-on, bow first, still floating backward into the harbor, while in the foreground are seen numerous row-boats with their occupants. As the boat passes out of view the row-boats constantly move around and increase in numbers, thereby lending action to...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Troops embarking at San Francisco Shows troops of the First Regiment, California Volunteers, boarding the Pacific Mail steamer City of Peking to serve in the Philippine theater of the Spanish-American War. The film was shot at the Pacific Mail Steamship Company dock between 10:50am and 1:50pm on Friday, May 13, 1898. The dock was located at First Street between Brannan and Townsend streets. The camera is probably facing north.....
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Arrest in Chinatown, San Francisco, Cal This film shows the arrest and conveyance of a Chinese man in Chinatown, watched by a crowd of onlookers. The precise date of this film and the arrest charge are uncertain. It is possible that the arrest was connected with the smuggling of illegal immigrants from China. By mutual agreement between China and the United States, a small quota of merchants and students was...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1897
  • Collection
    Before and After the Great Earthquake and Fire: Early Films of San Francisco, 1897-1916 This collection consists of twenty-six films of San Francisco from before and after the Great Earthquake and Fire, 1897-1916. Seventeen of the films depict San Francisco and its environs before the 1906 disaster. Seven films describe the great earthquake and fire. The two later films include a 1915 travelogue that shows scenes of the rebuilt city and a tour of the Panama Pacific Exposition...
    • Contributor: Library of Congress. National Digital Library Program - Library of Congress. Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
    • Date: 1999

    Collection Items: View 34 Items

  • Film, Video
    Freight train "The long train is just coming out of the tunnel. An engine and a header, nineteen freight cars, a caboose and a pusher engine creep slowly round the curve and up the steep grade. Fine smoke effects. Magnificent scenery. 100 feet--Edison films catalog, no. 94, March 1900, p. 21. "Southern Pacific Company series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers special inducements to winter...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Leander Sisters
    Leander Sisters, Yellow Kid dance
    The Leander Sisters perform a clever, characteristic dance called the "Yellow Kid." Stage is in the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal., and the audience is composed largely of bathers. One sister appears to be dressed as Richard Outcault's Yellow Kid comic strip character.
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Leander Sisters - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Launch of Japanese man-of-war "Chitosa"
    Launch of Japanese man-of-war "Chitose" | Variant title from Edison motion pictures, 1890-1900: Launching of Japanese man-of-war "Chitose" | Variant title from MAVIS: Launch of the Japanese man-of-war "Chitosa"
    Shows the launching of the Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser Chitose at the Union Iron Works shipyard, San Francisco, on Saturday, January 22, 1898. The camera view is east, across a small inlet of Central Basin, to slipway no. 1. Four additional slipways lay beyond to the west. The camera viewpoint is today called pier 68, part of Southwest Marine's facilities. The launch took place...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Fishing smacks Taken at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor. From a single camera position, several small fishing vessels can be seen tied to the Wharf. Several men unload fish from the hold of the boat nearest to the camera.
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    S.S. "Coptic" at dock
    Steamship "Coptic" at dock
    From F.Z. Maguire catalogue: Taken at the docks of the Pacific Steamship Co., San Francisco, Cal., which is operated in connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. The "Coptic" is one of the best appointed, largest and fastest vessels that traverse the Pacific Ocean, and this view was taken as she was leaving for a voyage to the Sandwich Islands, Japan and China. The...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Fisherman's Wharf "Shows the wharf at San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor. The crews are engaged in mending nets, arranging lines, etc., all of which lend action to the view. The figures are clear and life size, and the scene is truthfully reproduced"--F.Z. Maguire catalogue.
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Mount Tamalpais R. R. no. 2
    Title in Early motion pictures: Mount Tamalpais R.R. | Variant title from Edison motion pictures, 1890-1900: Mount Tamalpais R.R. | Title in Edison films catalog, no. 135: Panoramic view from Mt. Tamalpais R. R. | Title in Edison films catalog, no. 315: Panoramic view, Mt. Tamalpais R. R. | Erroneous title from Edison motion pictures, 1890-1900: Mount Tamaltais R.R. | Mt. Tamalpais Railroad | Mount Tamalpais Railroad
    "On the front end of the flat car is a lady, whose feathers and ribbons flutter in the wind. The panoramic view of the hills and valley is very beautiful"--Edison films catalog. "Southern Pacific Company Series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers special inducements to winter travelers, by reason of its southern route, thereby avoiding the extreme cold of the winter months. Its...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Dogs playing in the surf Catalog Record Only "San Diego Beach, Hotel del Coronado. A pug dog, several terriers and water spaniels and a great St. Bernard are dashing into the water, retrieving sticks thrown by their masters"--Edison films catalog, no. 135.
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Mount Taw R. R. No. 3
    Title in Early motion pictures: Mount Taw R.R. | Title in Edison films catalog, no. 105: Mount Tamalpais R. R. | Title in Edison films catalog, no. 135: Panoramic view of Mt. Tamalpais R. R. | Title in Edison films catalog, no. 315: Panoramic view, Mt. Tamalpais R. R. | Erroneous title from Edison motion pictures, 1890-1900: Mount Tamaltais R.R. | Mt. Taw Railroad | Mount Tamalpais Railroad
    "View taken while ascending the scenic railroad, Marin Co., Cal. Right ahead is another train; the steep grades and dangerous curves are plainly shown. Grand mountain scenery is a striking feature of this picture. 140 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 105. "Southern Pacific Company Series: The Southern Pacific Company ("Sunset Route") offers special inducements to winter travelers, by reason of its southern route, thereby avoiding...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    S.S. "Coptic" in the harbor
    Steamship "Coptic" in the harbor
    From F.Z. Maguire catalogue: Shows the vessel away from the dock and slowly turning. The vessel is seen to good advantage, the four masts, smokestack and hull being faithfully reproduced. Clouds of smoke pour out of the funnel, and volumes of steam out of the exhaust pipe. In the foreground is a dense crowd, among which are numerous Chinamen. Clear and sharp with figures...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897