Film History

Our collections document the history of motion pictures from early cinema to contemporary film and video. Our holdings include Hollywood films, independent and international cinema, films created for African American audiences, educational and industrial films, television programs, and other works representing both popular and lesser-known areas of film history.

Early Cinema

The Sulphur Springs Pre-Nickelodeon Film Collection contains approximately 33 films dating from 1898 to 1906 and provides a view of some of the earliest forms of cinematic storytelling. Originally held by a private collector in Sulphur Springs, Texas, the nitrate films were donated to the archive in 1993 and transferred to safety film in 1994.

The collection includes works by the Edison Manufacturing Company, including "The Golf Girls and the Tramp" and films documenting the 1906 San Francisco earthquake; Siegmund Lubin's "The Great Train Robbery" and "Life of an American Fireman"; and William Selig's "Tracked by Bloodhounds".

Tyler, Texas Films

The Tyler, Texas Film Collection includes 16 films featuring primarily African American casts and, in many cases, African American crews. Created largely for segregated theaters, these "race films" from the 1930s through the 1950s document an important part of American film and cultural history.

Highlights include Spencer Williams' "The Blood of Jesus" and "Dirty Gertie from Harlem, USA"; Oscar Micheaux's "Murder in Harlem"; Powell Lindsay's "Souls of Sin", starring a young William Greaves; and Roman Freulich's "The Broken Earth."

35mm Film Collection

The G. William Jones Film & Video Collection holds approximately 1,700 35mm film prints spanning a broad range of motion picture history. The collection includes early Hollywood films, exploitation films, international cinema, and independent works.

Highlights include Alfred Hitchcock's first feature film, "The Pleasure Garden", and the 1956 film "Carib Gold," which marked the film debut of award-winning actors Cicely Tyson and Geoffrey Holder.

16mm Film Collection

Approximately 3,800 16mm titles represent a broad cross-section of film and media history. The collection includes 16mm reductions of Hollywood films, industrial and educational films, animation, student films and television programs, including one of the earliest episodes of "Captain Kangaroo."

The holdings also include a broad selection of prints from the National Film Board of Canada and the Saul/Love "War on Poverty" Collection.

Gene Autry

The Gene Autry Collection preserves film and television materials from the career of the actor, musician and producer. The collection includes approximately 50 35mm prints of Autry's films, along with duplicate negatives and fine-grain masters for television programs including "Death Valley Days" and "The Gene Autry Show."

A 35mm stock-footage library contains thousands of outtakes and trims from productions by Autry's Flying A production company.

Stephen P. Jarchow and "Gods and Monsters"

The Stephen P. Jarchow "Gods and Monsters" Collection documents the work of Dallas-based film producer and distributor Stephen P. Jarchow. The collection includes raw 35mm film elements and production records from Bill Condon's 1998 Academy Award-winning film "Gods and Monsters," which Jarchow produced.

The collection also includes posters and other marketing and promotional materials from productions released through Jarchow's companies, Regent Entertainment and Here Media.

Jeff Gordon Collection

The Jeff Gordon Collection brings together films, video, posters and other materials documenting film and studio history. It includes approximately 3,000 DVDs and VHS tapes, 600 16mm film prints, and more than 700 film posters dating primarily from the 1930s through the 1960s.

The collection reflects Gordon's particular interest in actresses Linda Darnell and Lynn Bari. Gordon chronicled Bari's career in his book, "Foxy Lady."