Harris H. Stilson Richmond film collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library
James Branch Cabell Library
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 842003
901 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA 23284-2003
Contact for questions and access:
POC: SCA Staff
Phone: (804) 828-1108
Fax: (804) 828-0151
Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Harris H. Stilson Richmond film collection, circa 1929-1931, M 575, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Summary

Extent:
2 Linear Feet 2 record storage boxes
Creator:
Stilson, Harris, 1868-1934 and Snow, Kitty
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Harris H. Stilson Richmond film collection, circa 1929-1931, M 575, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes 12 films taken by Harris Stilson between 1929 and 1931, which provide a unique glimpse into the everyday life of Black and white residents of Richmond and Virginia during that time. The film collection documents a variety of places and events in and around Richmond and the Virginia coastal area, including Deltaville and Buckroe Beach. Highlights of the collection include bustling city street scenes, streetcars, and buildings; animals and circus acts at state fairs; farming in rural Virginia; leisure activities at local parks and beaches, among them Richmond's Byrd Park and Shields Lake; and footage of a silent film starring Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix, considered one of Hollywood's first Western movie stars, shot in a local theater.

Biographical / historical:

Harris H. Stilson (1868-1934) was a Richmond streetcar motorman and amatuer photographer. While traveling along his route, the West Clay Street line, he took photographs of the street scenes and the people. His photographs document early 20th century Richmond, especially the Jackson Ward and Carver neighborhoods. Stilson's photographs depict people in everyday situations as well as historic events. Stilson also made home movies which capture life in Richmond and portions of the Virginia Coast in the 1930s. Stilson's great-granddaughter Kathleen "Kitty" Snow created the non-profit organization Richmond in Sight to preserve and share this unique collection of photographs and films.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Kathleen R. "Kitty" Snow, great-grandaughter of Harris Stilson, January 2012.
Physical description:
The physical film collection is comprised of twelve 16mm films, estimated at a total of 2,270 feet of film footage, dating from 1929 to 1933. The films include 10 rolls of 16mm black and white, positive and 2 rolls of 16mm Kodacolor safety film. All the films are acetate or diacetate, are silent, and derive from Kodak and Gevaert stock. Some films have tears, splices, and perforations, while others show signs of minor warping and curling. Of the twelve, 8 are on cores in the original boxes, which include the name of the local business, Galeski Optical, where Stilson purchased supplies. On the exterior of the boxes is hand-written information about the content. The remaining 4 are on aluminum reels, housed in canisters, which, through labels or hand-written markings, note the contents.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard