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Film, Video President McKinley's funeral cortege at Washington, D.C.

Digital viewing copy

About this Item

Title

  • President McKinley's funeral cortege at Washington, D.C.

Summary

  • "When photographing the funeral of President McKinley we secured an excellent position at the foot of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., having had the exclusive right for animated picture apparatus inside the lines. Our camera is focused looking up Pennsylvania Avenue and shows countless thousands of mourning people who line the streets along the way. As the funeral procession which accompanies the body of our martyred President approaches, our camera is set in motion and pictures of the marching multitude who pay the last tribute to President McKinley at our National Capitol are recorded in the following order. The line is headed by a troop of U.S. Cavalry, followed by detachments of heavy artillery; then comes the Loyal Legion, followed by G. A. R. detachments, made up of both Federal and Confederate veterans. Next in order comes the Guard of Honor, who are in turn followed by the hearse, which is drawn by six black-plumed and black-netted horses. Inside the hearse can be seen the flag covered casket. The light and color of the procession is suddenly gone; spectators silently bow and bare their heads. The pageant has suddenly been transformed into a funeral cortege. Our position was so excellent that as the hearse passed our camera a distinct and life-size view was procured, showing this vehicle of sadness in all its detail. The hearse is closely followed by the Admirals of the Navy and the Generals of the Army. Next in order come the carriages of the family and the relatives, and then the carriage of President Roosevelt, which is drawn by four black horses. Next come the carriages which contain the President's Cabinet, the Diplomatic Corps, Chief Justice Fuller and Associate Justices, Senators, Congressman, Governors of States and Government Officials. These carriages are followed by the United States Marine Band, which forms a most imposing spectacle as it marches slowly and solemnly to the strains of "Nearer My God to Thee". Following the United States Marine Band and in step with the slow funeral march comes the National Guard of the District of Columbia and sailors from United States Battleships, clad in their natty uniforms and jackey hats. The sailors and soldiers are marching sixteen abreast and make a very imposing spectacle as they pass our camera. The procession having passed, the crowd immediately surges toward the Capitol, intent on securing a place in the line that they may enter the rotunda and look upon the face of the illustrious President McKinley. Our panoramic device is then set in motion and a most perfect and interesting picture is secured as an ending to the Washington film. The picture shows the immense crowds surging toward the Capitol, and as rain begins falling at that moment tens of thousands of umbrellas are raised for protection. Our camera having been above the heads of the people, a most novel effect is secured. As the camera rotates, the base and steps of the Capitol are brought into view and the crowd is shown crushing and struggling for entrance to the rotunda. One of the most perfect of the McKinley funeral pictures. 350 ft." --Edison films catalog, no. 135.

Names

  • McKinley, William, 1843-1901
  • Thomas A. Edison, Inc
  • Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

  • United States : Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1901.

Headings

  • -  McKinley, William,--1843-1901--Death and burial
  • -  Presidents--United States--Death
  • -  Funeral rites and ceremonies--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Processions--Washington (D.C.)

Genre

  • Actualities (Motion pictures)
  • Silent films
  • Short films
  • Nonfiction films

Notes

  • -  H8915 U.S. Copyright Office
  • -  Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 21Sept1901; H8915.
  • -  Duration: 6:14 at 15 fps.
  • -  Paper print shelf number (LC 2158) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
  • -  Additional holdings for this title may be available. Contact reference librarian.
  • -  Sources used: Niver, K. Early motion pictures, p. 257; AFI catalog, film beginnings, 1893-1910, p. 856; Biograph production logs; Edison films catalog, no. 135, September, 1902, p. 14-15; White House Historical Association WWW site (William McKinley Funeral, September 17, 1901) viewed April 8, 2020; The Washington post, September 18, 1901, p. 4, "The Solemn pageant: Last Journey from the White House to Capitol", viewed online April 8, 2020 via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  • -  Photographed September 17, 1901. Location: First Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
  • -  Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
  • -  paper pos (copies 1 and 2) Received: 1901-09-21; copyright deposit; Paper Print Collection.
  • -  Early motion pictures : the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.
  • -  Paper print roll lacking suffix.

Medium

  • viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (146 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 350 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (146 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 350 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • master pos pic 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 145 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • master pos pic 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 350 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • paper pos 1 roll of 1 (ca. 350 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.
  • paper pos (copy 2) 1 roll of 1 (ca. 350 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • FLA 5172 (viewing print)
  • FEB 9427 (viewing print)
  • FRA 2118 (dupe neg pic)
  • FPE 5286 (dupe neg pic)
  • FRB 1595 (master pos pic)
  • FPE 5311 (master pos pic)
  • Box 0792 (paper pos)
  • Box 5705 (paper pos, copy 2)

Source Collection

  • Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress)

Repository

  • Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 00694353

Online Format

  • image
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress

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Suggested credit line: Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Mckinley, William, Inc Thomas A. Edison, and Paper Print Collection. President McKinley's funeral cortege at Washington, D.C. United States: Thomas A. Edison, Inc, 1901. Video. https://www.loc.gov/item/00694353/.

APA citation style:

McKinley, W., Thomas A. Edison, I. & Paper Print Collection. (1901) President McKinley's funeral cortege at Washington, D.C. United States: Thomas A. Edison, Inc. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/00694353/.

MLA citation style:

Mckinley, William, Inc Thomas A. Edison, and Paper Print Collection. President McKinley's funeral cortege at Washington, D.C. United States: Thomas A. Edison, Inc, 1901. Video. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/00694353/>.