Series VII. Film, 1920s-1950s, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The series includes film taken mostly by Myron Falk in the 1920s-1930s. Falk's travels to the Middle East, Egypt, Europe, Panama, Brazil, Caribbean, and Western United States are included, but there do not appear to be any images from the American Silk Mission or other Asian travel. Falk's films also include images of home and family in Greenwich, Connecticut (commonly referred to in the collection as Port Chester, New York) and elsewhere. Some moving images were made by Myron Falk Jr. (Johnny), including European travel in the 1930s and later family images. Much of the film was digitized by the family and digital copies were included with the collection and in the series.
During processing, the film was not viewed. Subject content noted in the container list was derived from the various labeling found on the reels and their canisters. Various labels appear to have been added over time and the container list notes their references, to the extent they could be read. All but a few reels included a reference number and a "new" number; both numbers are included in the container list.
Arrangement Note
The series is arranged, with minor adjustment, as presented to N-YHS by the donor. Film related to "travel" opens the series and is found in boxes 9 and 10. These are followed by film related to "family" in boxes 11 and 12.
Most of the reels were originally in four tin storage cases, labeled A-D. During processing at N-YHS, the film reels were rehoused into archival containers. The tin storage containers were discarded, however, the tins that housed the individual reels were retained as they have information written on them. Reels that were loose in the collection (i.e., not stored in one of the four tins) are also in Box 10. Digital media provided by the donor are noted at the close of the series.
Access Restrictions
The film reels are restricted from being viewed though the cans can be accessed for their information. The DVDs and USB with the digitized content provided by the donor are also restricted to avoid corruption of the original files. However, the contents were copied to N-YHS's network. For access to the files, contact manuscripts@nyhistory.org.
Processing Information Note
The series was inventoried by archivist Larry Weimer in May 2018. The film was surveyed by conservator Alan Balicki in May 2018 who confirmed that it was safety film; the materials were labeled as such by him. The film was also rehoused into archival containers by the conservator in 2018.
#21 / New #26
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can includes notes in Falk's handwriting, but cannot be fully made out: [2 words?] pictures of Scythian[?] trip. Modern tape on can: "Egypt."
#22 / New #27
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can is faded, but appears to refer to Luxor and other sites, 1923-1924. Original tape around can has notations: "Scythia trip", "Feb 23, 1927: Ferry up Nile River trip," "ED * FOU," and [Trip 2/24 Luxor?]. White leader on film marked as "Kids 1938 & 1939."
#23 / New #28
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can and similar to tape around can: "2/26/27: Nile, Luxor, Assuan, Kamomba [Kom Umbu?]." Modern tape on top of can: "Egypt."
#24 / New #29
Scope and Contents
Original handwritten note around can: "Scythia trip 1927, March." There are many other words; those that can be made out are: Jerusalem street scenes, Wailing Wall, Palestine, Bethlehem. Original handwriting on bottom of can: "Jerusalem, Egypt." Tape on reel: "Herbert [name?] Scythia trip, Feb-Apr 1927."
#25 / New #30
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "Mixture, Jerusalem, Venice." Modern tape: "Jerusalem."
#26 / New #31
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on tape around can: "Feb 1927: Constantinople, the Mosques[?], American College, Stadium, Acropolis, The Scythia [word?], Venice, St. Marks." White leader on reel marked: Panama 1932.
#27 / New #32
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can is too faded to read, but dates from March 14-22. Modern tape: Munich 192?
#28 / New #33
Scope and Contents
Original handwritten note around can: "Scythia trip, March 1927: Rhine [Bemberg?] Factory [several unidentified words], Amsterdam, [Brussels?], Paris Races, [Alice Cocher?]." Original handwritten on bottom of can: [?] 3/26, Amsterdam 3/28, Brussels 3/31, Paris Apr 1-[4?]." Modern tape: Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris."
#30 / New #34
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "Colored [word?], Pictures Panama, 1929 [1927 also appears]." Modern tape: "Panama 1927. Myron, Eleanor, Mildred "boy dancing" good. rest is boring." "Reviewed by Mike & Lynne, 12/3/12."
#37 / New #37
Scope and Contents
Written on bottom of can: "Montego Bay, 1934" and "Rapps, Pursells, Hoggs."
#36 / New #39
Scope and Contents
Handwritten on bottom of can: "Panama, Feb 1933. [word?] Caracas, [word?], Panama." Modern tape on can and on reel: "Panama 1933, ?, Caracas, Caracas, Panama. Myron Falk, Cruise."
#35 / New #40
Scope and Contents
No can. Modern plastic reel. Tape on reel: "1932: Panama, Havana [3 words]."
#39 / New #41
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "Scythia, #1 Pier, 4 Madeira, Granada." Original tape around can: "Roma, Feb 1937." Modern tape: "SS Romo '37, Medit"
#34 / New #43
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "Mexico City, Ribera, Cuernavaca, Buckingham Palace, [Berongaria?] Howes, Bemberg Pl."
#33 / New #44
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "Mexico, Apr 20/31."
#38 / New #45
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: 1936: Auto trip #2, Grand Canyon [other words unclear, including Patricia?]"
#5 / New #2
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "Duck hunting, football, Pre-28." Original tape around is difficult to read, but seems to include: [Yale West Point football?], Duck hunting, Naumberg, Bemberg officials, Godwin, Eleanor, Our house. Modern tape: "1925: Picnic, Duck hunting, aereal views of Portchester." On white leader of film: 1925: "Duck hunt/aereal."
#4 / New #3
Scope and Contents
Original handwritten on bottom of can: "Bucklands, Yale Game, Portchester scenes, 1925." Original tape around can is difficult to read but seems to include the following words, among many others: Portchester, father, Johnny on horse, Yale, Bucklands. Modern tape: 1925: "Family, football game, Portchester." On white leader of film: "Family 1925."
#6 / New #4
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "2nd Godwin, Naumberg, Parties [word?]" Original tape around can is difficult to read, but includes the following words, among others: summer, Grandma & children in garden, Godwin, Eleanor. Modern tape: "1926, football, Godwin Co Picnic, family w/dogs" and "1926 Godwin Co Picnic."
#8 / New #5
Scope and Contents
On bottom of can: '28. Modern tape: "1928: swimming, golf, dog play, Army vs. Yale game" and "1928: swim/golf."
#7 / New #6
Scope and Contents
On bottom of can: "circa 1927." No other subject information.
#1 / New #7
Scope and Contents
Modern tape: "Portchester in the 20s! Lots of the 3 kids, golf swings, an Isadora Duncan like dance, Perhaps Eleanor as child."
#10 / New #8
Scope and Contents
Written on bottom of can: "Old pictures, Cornell-Pa game, 1933, [caponizing hens?], Lake Placid, 1933."
#9 / New #9
Scope and Contents
Written on bottom of can: "Fire Island, July 1932; Jones Beach, Gill Haig, Johnny, Placid."
#11 / New #10
Scope and Contents
Written on can: "Feb 10, 1935: Miami, Coral Gables, [3 other words]". "[word?] Century, Arthur, Jesse, [word?], MSF: 1934." "Martin Erdmar, 1936." "Johnny @ Bermuda, 1936; Albert Hellers [word?] 1936."
#15 / New #12
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: Eleanor's [honey?]moon, Mildred's graduation, Johnny flying: 1933"; "[Tex?] OK 1948." Modern tape: "1. Joe & Eleanor leaving on boat for honeymoon?, 2. Mildred's graduating, 3. Construction? 4. NY family: Joe, Eleanor, Mildred, Grandpa, Uncle George P. Andrea [?] Einstein. Mike 5/15/14"
#13 / New #16
Scope and Contents
Written on can: "Johnny's wedding trip, 1935. Italy, Berlin." On white leader on reel marked: "MSF & PB Wedding Trip (No USSR)."
#17 / New #14
Scope and Contents
Written on bottom of can (over "Rio" and other words): "Mildred Wedding, July 11, '39." Also labeled on such on reel.
#12 / New #15
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can cannot be read. Original tape around can: "Pat & Bobby." On top of can: "Baby Pat & Bobby." On reel: "Baby Pat & Robert."
#13 / New #16
Scope and Contents
No can. No subject label on reel. Notes from donor indicate this reel includes "Kids '38 & '39."
#14 / New #17
Scope and Contents
Original handwriting on bottom of can: "[2 words?], Taormina[?], Pompeii[?]" Modern tape: "Pat & Bobby, 1941." On white leader of film: "Bobby & Pat, 1941?"
#18 / New #19
Scope and Contents
Written on bottom of can: "Europe 1952." Written on reel: "Children in Europe.'
#19 / New #20
Scope and Contents
Written on bottom of can: "Europe, Johnny, II." Written on top of can: "Europe." Written on reel: "Europe, 1934 [overwritten to be 1930?], MSF Jr."
#2 / New #1
Scope and Contents
No original can. White leader on film: "Sports & family, Portchester, 1924?"
#3 / New #11
Scope and Contents
Film in deteriorated condition. Written on reel: "Wedding trip, 1935, Italy & Berlin." Written on tape on reel: "Lake Placid." Written on Post-it: "Could be Portchester, 1920s/1924, Lake Placid, year?"
#31 / No new # (2 reels)
Scope and Contents
No original cans. Two reels. Card describes as "Paris/Bremen/Berlin, 1931?"
#? / New #18
Scope and Contents
No original can. On white leader of film: "Color, 66th Street, B-Day/Portchester, 1941/Elberon 1942."
No numbers, 1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Small reel in box labeled as from Edgar Loew for development, subject "Alison at farm." DVD of the film has Post-it label "Mildred Falk Loew and Alison Loew, Summer 1943, Top Hill Farm, Port Chester.
14 DVDs and 1 USB Drive (RESTRICTED), 1920s-1950s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Digitized versions of at least some of the film, provided by the donor. These versions include the film of Falk's travels and home movies. These discs are restricted from use. However the contents were copied to N-YHS's network. For access to the files, contact manuscripts@nyhistory.org.