Collection Items

  • Film, Video
    Corbett and Courtney before the Kinetograph
    Title inEdison films catalog no. 105: Corbett-Courtney fight
    "This fight consists of six rounds, each round on a film 150 feet long. It is not a fac-simile or a "fake" of any description, but an actual contest between James J. Corbett, former champion of the world, and Peter Courtney. The films are listed as 1st Round, 2nd Round, 3rd Round, 4th Round, 5th Round, and 6th Round"--F.M. Prescott catalog, June, 1897.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Kinetoscope Exhibition Company - Dickson, W. K.-L. (William Kennedy-Laurie) - Heise, William
    • Date: 1894
  • Film, Video
    Leonard-Cushing fight "An actual six-round contest between Mike Leonard, commonly called the "Beau Brummel" of pugilism, and Jack Cushing. Full of hard fighting, clever hits, punches, leads, dodges, body blows and some slugging. Sold by rounds. Each round contains 150 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 105.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Kinetoscope Exhibition Company - Dickson, W. K.-L. (William Kennedy-Laurie) - Heise, William
    • Date: 1894
  • Film, Video
    Giant coal dumper "Erie Railroad Series: The following subjects present novel and interesting views along the line of the Erie, such as do not always come within the observation of the general tourist. We are indebted to the courtesy of the Erie officials, whose kind co-operation in affording us every facility within their power has enabled us to procure these unusual and effective pictures"--Edison films catalog. "Shows...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • 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
    Buffalo police on parade "A street scene showing parade of the entire Buffalo Police Department, 16 men abreast, with military band"--Edison films catalog.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Buffalo Fire Department in action "Another of those stirring fire scenes which have proved so popular. There are ten pieces of apparatus in the picture. Every piece fully manned is under full headway, and is shown almost head-on to the beholder. Several of the engines and wagons are drawn by three horses abreast. Fireman appear putting on their coats, etc., while the engines and trucks rush by. Many of...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Cattle driven to slaughter "A herd of long-horn cattle being driven through the Chicago stock yard gates to the slaughter house, where 280 of the animals are killed every hour of the day"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue. Part of the Erie Railroad series. The following subjects present novel and interesting views along the line of the Erie, such as do not always come within the observation of the general...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Hockey match on the ice "The skaters dart to and fro, swinging their hockeys [i.e., hockey sticks] and trying to hit the disc toward the goal. 150 feet"--Edison films catalog.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Sheep run, Chicago stockyards
    Title in Maguire & Baucus catalogue: Sheep run, Chicago stock yards
    "A large flock of sheep being driven over the runs from the cars to the slaughter beds. The sheep, pressed by the driver and frightened by the surroundings and confusion, move very fast"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Racing at Sheepshead Bay "The finish and weighing out of a running race with nine starters. Won by famous Clifford, Sloane up. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Lurline Baths "A large indoor swimming pool can be seen. The camera was directed toward a slide from which people can be seen entering the pool in rapid succession"--Early motion pictures. "At San Francisco. The main feature is the toboggan slide which the bathers use, some sitting, others lying down, head first or feet first. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog.
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Parke Davis' employees
    Title from Biograph bulletins 1896-1908, p. 51: Parke, Davis & Co. employees | Title from Biograph bulletins 1896-1908, p. 68: Employees of Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit, Mich | Title from American Mutoscope & Biograph picture catalogue: Employes of Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit, Mich | Title from AFI catalog: film beginnings: Parke, Davis employees
    Shows the employees of the Parke-Davis and Company pharmaceutical firm leaving the factory at noon, many of them on bicycles.
    • Contributor: Armitage, F. S. - American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1899
  • Film, Video
    Cattle leaving the corral Taken at Hacienda de Soledad, Sabinas Mexico, and shows a herd of 900 cattle being driven out of the corral, after having been branded. This immense herd, driven by Mexican cowboys, comes through the gates head-on to the audience. The cattle with their large horns, as they crowd together and pus rapidly out through the gates, make an interesting picture"--Edison films, March 15, 1898.
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Coaches arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs
    Title in Edison films catalog no. 105: Arrival of Yellowstone Park coaching party
    "The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway...The scene is the broad piazza of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and shows the arrival of tourists. Up dashes a spanking team of six, seemingly as fresh and spirited as when they started. Friends who are waiting on the piazza rush to greet the new arrivals and help...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1899
  • Film, Video
    Sleighing scene "A view taken on the West Side Drive in Central Park. Shows a continuous stream of handsome rigs and turnouts passing in both directions. Pedestrians watch the gay carnival. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898-01-01
  • Film, Video
    Delivering newspapers
    Distributing a war extra | Delivering a war extra on Union Square | World news wagon
    The film shows a group of about fifty pre-adolescent boys running and crowding around a one-horse paneled newspaper van that pulls up in the foreground of the picture. On the side of the van is a sign reading "New York World." As they gather around the rear of the vehicle, a fight breaks out between two of the boys. The film ends as the...
    • Contributor: Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Bitzer, G. W. - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Marvin, Arthur W.
    • Date: 1899-01-01
  • Film, Video
    Free-for-all race at Charter Oak Park
    Title in Edison films catalog: $6,000 free-for-all pace at Charter Oak Park | Six thousand dollar free-for-all pace at Charter Oak Park | Variant title in Edison motion pictures 1890-1900: $6,000 free-for-all race at Charter Oak Park
    "Shows a part of the enormous crowd and the start and finish of the free-for-all pacing race, in which the fastest harness horse in the world, John R. Gentry (2:00-1/2), the coming Star Pointer and Frank Agan competed for a purse of $6,000. The heat we photographed was won by Star Pointer in the fast time of 2:04-3/4"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue. "Great horse racing...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Armour's electric trolley "Shows the private electric railway of Messrs. Armour & Co. in their great Chicago yards"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue. "Part of the Erie Railroad Series. The following subjects present novel and interesting views along the line of the Erie, such as do not always come within the observation of the general tourist. We are indebted to the courtesy of the Erie officials, whose kind co-operation...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1897
  • Film, Video
    Kanakas diving for money, no. 2 Several native boys swimming in what appears to be a harbor area can be seen in the foreground. In the background several seagoing ships are loading and unloading cargo. During the course of the film, a man in an outrigger canoe paddles by the camera.
    • 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
    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
    Indian day school The film was photographed from a single-camera position and shows the doorway of a building with a sign in front indicating it is the Isleta Indian School. Children less than ten years of age come out of the door of the school and pass in front of the camera.
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1898
  • Film, Video
    Tourists going round Yellowstone Park
    Title in Edison films catalog: Coaching party, Yellowstone Park | Tourists going around Yellowstone Park
    "The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway...Rapidly one after the other coach after coach passes before the camera. First comes a big one, six horses, crowded top and inside with tourists. They wave hats and handkerchiefs as they pass. Then comes another; then follows four more, each drawn by a four-horse team, while ten or...
    • Contributor: Blechynden, Frederick - Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1899
  • Film, Video
    The ball game Photographed from one camera position behind home plate, the film shows a baseball game in progress. The Reading pitcher has just let a Newark batter walk to first. He gets up on his toes, ready to head for second base. The next batter up cracks first ball pitched for a two bagger, and races for the base with a burst of speed. The first...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Heise, William
    • Date: 1898
  • 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
    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