260 Actualities motion pictures, Silent films Images: LOC's Public Domain Archive Public Domain Search

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Launch of life boat /. 19th century, Library of Congress collection

"Pacific Coast Life Saving Service series: These subjects are illustrative of the work performed by the Life Saving Corps of the United States Government, and show the methods in vogue at one of the most import... More

Blanket-tossing a new recruit /

"Company F, 1st Ohio Volunteers, initiating a new man. Nineteen times he bounces in the blanket, and each toss is funnier than the last one. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 38240 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright... More

N.Y. Journal despatch yacht "Buccaneer" /

"Shows the despatch boat of the "New York Journal" steaming through the water, having aboard the war correspondents. This is one of the fastest yachts engaged in the business. She approaches rapidly and as she ... More

South Spring Street, Los Angeles, Cal. /

"Various equipages pass, including a tally-ho and six white horses. A peculiar, open-end trolley car comes along; bicycle riders and pedestrians. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog, no 105. "Southern Pacific Compan... More

Astor Battery on parade /. 19th century, Library of Congress collectio...

"As they appeared in New York on Saturday, January 21 [i.e., January 23], 1899 on their return from active service in the Philippines. The picture is taken as they cross Broadway, Union Square, north. First com... More

Swiss village, no. 2 / - Exposition Universelle Internationale de 1900...

"The scene opens by showing the village girls driving home a herd of cows, and shows the native peasantry of Switzerland returning from their daily occupation--watching the herds. After driving the cattle to th... More

Babies rolling eggs / motion picture

"Some small children in winter clothing face the camera in a semicircle. They throw what appear to be eggs down the incline toward the camera position. From left and right of the camera, a great number of young... More

Skating on lake, Central Park /

The view is of a frozen lake in Central Park crowded with ice skaters. The film is of such poor quality that it is difficult to tell if the apparent "snow" is real or just scratches on the film. H21313 U.S. Cop... More

Women suffragettes visit TR at Sagamore [1917] /

Film is the opening of the second New York State suffrage campaign on Sept. 8, 1917 at Sagamore Hill. The first campaign, beginning in 1913, was unsuccessful; the woman suffrage amendment was rejected by the vo... More

Procession of floats / motion picture

"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 l... More

Burning of the Standard Oil Co's tanks, Bayonne, N.J. /

From Edison films catalog: This picture shows a street scene at Constable Hook, Bayonne, N.J. In the background rise immense volumes of dense black smoke from the burning oil, reaching high in the heavens. Outl... More

Panorama of Place de L'Opera /. 19th century, Library of Congress coll...

From Edison films catalog: The busiest square in all Paris. 75 feet. $11.25. D16389 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 9Aug1900; D16389. Duration: 1:14 at 16 fps. MAVIS 1627559; Panorama of Plac... More

Esquimaux village / motion picture

"The first of three camera positions shows a low building resembling an igloo beside a small pool, and an ice floe. Dark-complexioned people dressed as Eskimos run up and down alongside the pool, and a dog pull... More

"Columbia" winning the Cup - movie film screenshot

"The decisive moment in the great International Yacht Races is shown in this picture. Against a background of well defined clouds, the light boat is seen marking the finishing line in this great aquatic struggl... More

President McKinley's speech at the Pan-American Exposition /

The film begins by showing the introductory speaker at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. The speaker introduces the incumbent president of the United States, William F. McKinley. The remainder of the film... More

Elevated railroad, New York / - movie film screenshot

Taken from the front end of a locomotive following an express train at high speed around the high curves of the Ninth Avenue Elevated, from the 104th to 116th Street station. This section, with its reverse curv... More

Fireboat "New Yorker" in action /

A demonstration by the famous fireboat "New Yorker." The picture shows the fireboat with all its nozzles spurting water as it goes back and forth in front of the camera. Put in service on February 1, 1891 as En... More

Annual parade, New York Fire Department /

"Taken in front of the reviewing stand at Madison Square, New York City. Shows the arrival of Mayor McClellan, and other New York officials. The parade is headed by Chief Croker and battalion chiefs. The fireme... More

Logging in Maine / motion picture

The subject is the movement of cut timber from the forest to the mill. The few scenes that make up the film are loggers performing the various operations necessary to prevent logs from jamming together. The men... More

Scenes in San Francisco, [no. 2] /

Panoramas filmed in the ruins of downtown San Francisco and outlying refugee camps following the 1906 earthquake and fire. A scene-by-scene description of the film: [Frame: 0102] Begins with a long, pan of down... More

Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria greeted by his people /

Views of Francis Joseph I, Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and an entourage of military officers and civilians walking down a wide avenue; the street is lined with people greeting the Emperor. Interior title notes ... More

[End of school day at coeducational school] /

A factual film in which exuberant boys and girls, apparently high school students, walk through the arches of a school building and down the steps. Most of the boys wear caps and most of the girls wear fancy ha... More

Cattle driven to slaughter /. 19th century, Library of Congress collec...

"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 Rai... More

Loading baggage for Klondike, no. 6 /

"This was the first ship sailing for the Klondike from Seattle during the gold rush of 1897. The picture shows the excitement and enthusiasm that attended the great Klondike exodus. Crowds of anxious gold seeke... More

Champs Elysees / motion picture

"Near the main entrance. Hundreds of carriages and characteristic Parisian buses are passing. 75 feet"--Edison films catalog. D16384 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 9Aug1900; D16384. Duration... More

Panorama of gorge railway /. 19th century, Library of Congress collect...

"One of the most interesting places in the vicinity of Niagara Falls is the Whirlpool Rapids, where the immense volume of water which passes from the Falls, speeds along through its rocky and tortuous passage t... More

Building a harbor at San Pedro /

"This picture was secured from a launch furnished by Mr. Eager, President of the California Construction Co., who are fulfilling this $5,000,000 contract. Here is seen the largest derrick in the world at work, ... More

Esquimaux leap-frog / motion picture

"The film, photographed from a single camera position, shows buildings resembling igloos on ice floes, in front of which persons clothed as Eskimos play a game of leapfrog"--Early motion pictures. This shows se... More

President McKinley's funeral cortege at Buffalo, N.Y. /

"This starts with the funeral procession leaving the Milburn house on Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y., headed by the mounted police of Buffalo, followed by Companies I and F, of the 14th U.S. Infantry, under per... More

What happened on Twenty-third Street, New York City /

"The scene as suggested by the title is made on 23d Street, New York City. In front of one of the large newspaper offices on that thoroughfare is a hot air shaft through which immense volumes of air is forced b... More

Steamscow "Cinderella" and ferryboat "Cincinnati"

"The film, photographed from a camera positioned on a dock, shows a large steam scow passing the camera location; simultaneously, a large paddle-wheel ferryboat passes in the opposite direction. The weather was... More

Bargain day, 14th Street, New York /

The film shows hundreds of tightly packed people crowding into the front door of the Rothschild Co. 5 and 10 cent store. They are so closely packed it is difficult to tell one from another. The view is from acr... More

International contest for the heavyweight championship--Squires vs. Bu...

This is an actual film of the heavyweight championship prize fight between Canadian, Tommy Burns (defender) and Australian, Bill Squires. The fight was labeled the shortest and fiercest prize fight on record up... More

TR at Sagamore Hill [1916] / - movie film screenshot

On May 27, 1916, shortly before the Republican Party and Progressive Party conventions, the newly formed Roosevelt Non-Partisan League sponsors a demonstration of support for TR at Sagamore Hill. Many prominent... More

[Flag services for TR at Oyster Bay, October 1919] /

On October 27, 1919 the Roosevelt memorial flag, which has been carried across New York State in TR's honor, is brought to rest at his grave in Youngs Memorial Cemetery, Oyster Bay, N.Y. View of two young girls... More

[Scenes from Mexico and the 1900 Paris Exposition] / - Exposition Univ...

The Exposition Universelle Internationale de 1900, also known as the Paris World Fair of 1900, was a world's fair that was held in Paris, France from April 15 to November 12, 1900. The fair was held to celebrat... More

Fisherman's Wharf / motion picture

"Shows the wharf at San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor. The crews are engaged in mending nets, arranging lines, etc., all of which lend action to the view. The figures are clear ... More

Capsize of lifeboat / motion picture

"Daily practise [sic] of life boat crew, showing boat being upset purposely by the men. As these boats are self-righting and self-bailing, the scene is particularly interesting. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. ... More

Coptic S.S. "Coptic" sailing away /, Egypt

From F.Z. Maguire catalogue: Shows the vessel after she has been fully turned and on her way across the Pacific. The boat shows large and clear with smoke coming from the stack. In the foreground is a constantl... More

Breaking of the crowd at military review at Longchamps /

This picture shows thousands of people leaving their seats in the grand stand and going across the parade grounds toward Paris. A very sharp and clear picture. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. D18580 U.S. Copyri... More

Push carts--East side - movie film screenshot

Market scenes which show push cart vendors displaying a variety of merchandise on a busy, crowded street in what appears to be a multi-ethnic tenement district. Camera is mounted on a moving vehicle and passes ... More

Champs de Mars / motion picture - Exposition Universelle International...

"Shows all the prominent buildings on this thoroughfare, ending with a close view of the base of the Eiffel Tower, with the Trocadero Palace in the background. 135 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 105. D16382 U... More

Bathing at Atlantic City / - movie film screenshot

"A panoramic view taken from Young's Pier, showing the boardwalk, the auditorium pier, new steel pier, beach and bathing. Without an exception the only film on the market showing at least 50,000 people. This gr... More

Excavating for a New York foundation /

The scene is an excavation pit at an unidentified New York City construction site. A crew of six men can be seen shoveling dirt into a four-wheeled wooden cart. Then a full cart is slowly lifted out of the pit ... More

Panorama, Union Square, San Francisco / during American Civil War

This film shows the crowd gathered in San Francisco for the dedication of the Dewey Monument in Union Square, on Thursday, May 14, 1903, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. The Monument, which is still in place, commem... More

Delivering newspapers / motion picture

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 "... More

President reviewing school children /

From the side of a broad avenue, a crowd of people await the arrival of President Theodore Roosevelt. The marching military that precedes his carriage can be seen at a distance of a quarter of a mile away. Four... More

Sheep run, Chicago stockyards /

"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 catal... More

S.S. "Williamette" leaving for Klondike /

"Shows the steamer backing out from the docks of the Northern Pacific R.R. Co. at Seattle Wash., with its immense load of passengers waving adieux to relatives and friends"--F.Z. Maguire & Co. catalog. 60556 U.... More

Racing at Sheepshead Bay /. 19th century, Library of Congress collecti...

"The finish and weighing out of a running race with nine starters. Won by famous Clifford, Sloane up. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 43414 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 31July1897; 43414. ... More

Wash day in Mexico /. 19th century, Library of Congress collection

"Mexican International R. R. Series: the interesting views catalogued below were photographed by our artists, while enjoying the special privileges extended to Mr. Edison's party. Under a broad and intelligent ... More

Morro Castle, Havana Harbor /. 19th century, Library of Congress colle...

"A most excellent picture of the grim old fortress which stands at the entrance of Havana Harbor. The high ramparts and lofty battlements look very formidable. Parts of the stronghold date back to the seventeen... More

[Lancaster, Pa., high school] /

Shows boys and girls going out the door and down the steps of a high school building in Lancaster, Pa. The boys come out first, led by a man, probably a teacher, holding a young boy's hand. The boys wear suits,... More

Annie Oakley / motion picture - movie film screenshot

Annie Oakley, the "Little Sure Shot" of the "Wild West," in an exhibition of rifle shooting. Copyright: no reg. Performer: Annie Oakley. Camera, William Heise. Duration: 0:21 at 30 fps. Summary from sources in ... More

A perilous proceeding / motion picture

The film follows a group of approximately ten men who are suspended on the cable of a large crane atop a building under construction. As the men are lifted over the site and gradually lowered, they wave to the ... More

Arnold Genthe - Scene in Chinatown / motion picture

This film was shot in an alley of San Francisco's Chinatown on Saturday, September 15, 1900, at midday. The topography of the site (sloping down to the far street), the width of the alley, the location of utili... More

Panorama of Riker's Island, N.Y. /

The film was photographed from a boat going around Riker's Island. Located on the East River north of Hell Gate between the Bronx and Queens, Riker's Island was the site of a massive, controversial New York Cit... More

Parade of "exempt" firemen / - movie film screenshot

The film shows a large group of people watching the approach of a color guard followed by a number of elderly marching firemen [Frame: 1734] pulling antique fire equipment [2486]. In the background is the white... More

Parade of horses on Speedway / - movie film screenshot

The film is of a parade of fine horses and fashionable carriages taken along what is now the Harlem River Drive, in the Highbridge section of northern Manhattan. The view is from the Manhattan side of the river... More

Trained cavalry horses / motion picture

From Edison films catalog: Shows the wonderful intelligence of these Troop F, 6th U.S. Cavalry, horses. At a command they lie down promptly, and at another order scramble to their feet. 50 feet. $7.50. 38235 U.... More

TR speaking at the dedication of Roosevelt Dam, 1911 /

On March 18, 1911, TR spoke at the dedication of the Roosevelt Dam. Providing irrigation for the Salt River Valley area of the territory of Arizona, the dam is largely the result of TR's reclamation efforts whi... More

Wreck of the battleship "Maine" /

"Taken in Havana Harbor from a moving launch, and shows the wreck of the "Maine" surrounded by wrecking boats and other vessels. The warped and twisted remains show how thoroughly this immense mass of iron and ... More

Freight train / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress coll...

"The long train is just coming out of the tunnel. An engine and a header, nineteen freight cars, a caboose and a pusher engine creep slowly round the curve and up the steep grade. Fine smoke effects. Magnificen... More

General Wheeler and Secretary Alger /

"This picture was taken in front of Gen. Wheeler's headquarters at Camp Wikoff during Gen. Alger's tour of inspection of the camp. The two distinguished military men are seen overlooking the immense camp ground... More

9th Infantry boys' morning wash /

"Imagine forty or fifty soldier boys each with a pail of water on the ground before him, sousing and spattering and scrubbing away for dear life. Soap and towels too. Every man jack of them looks as if he were ... More

A storm at sea /. 19th century, Library of Congress collection

"While our photographers were crossing the Atlantic Ocean a most wonderful and sensational picture was secured, showing a storm at sea. The picture was secured by lashing the camera to the after bridge of the K... More

The mob outside the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition /

"The camera was positioned at such a height behind a large group of people outside an exhibit building that mainly hats are visible"--Early motion pictures. On Friday, September 6th, 1901, we had our cameras in... More

Opening, Pan-American Exposition /

"This is a great historical event. Our cameras were stationed in the center of the Esplanade looking toward the Main Approach to the Pan-American Exposition, with the Triumphal Bridge, and the entrance in the f... More

Wagons loading mail, U.S.P.O. /

"The photographer placed his camera to encompass as much of the loading ramp of a mail delivery building as possible. As the film begins, several horse-drawn postal transportation vehicles are backed up to the ... More

Broadway & Union Square, New York /

A horse-drawn street car with a sign for Broadway pulls away from the camera with a full compliment of passengers. Another approaches the camera position and they pass. The first car stops to pick up and drop o... More

Scenes and incidents, Russo-Japanese peace conference, Portsmouth, N.H...

Scenes from the 1905 peace conference between the Russian and Japanese Governments, mediated by the U.S. Government at the invitation of President Theodore Roosevelt. Scenes of the dignitaries and celebrities w... More

Funeral of Hiram Cronk / - movie film screenshot

The film shows a city thoroughfare lined with crowds of people watching a military parade. The first group to come into view is a marching band [Frame: 0120], then a large formation of soldiers in the uniform o... More

Crossing ice bridge at Niagara Falls

A 360 degree pan of Niagara Falls during the extremely severe winter of 1903-04; the camera was positioned on or near the ice frozen over the top of the rapids created by the Falls, panning over the Falls, the ... More

Czar Nicholas of Russia / - Public domain portrait print

Long shots of Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra leaving what may be a church located in Russia and passing between two lines of men who appear to be Cossack Escort of the Imperial Guard; Alexandra walks to... More

[Claremont Theatre, N.Y.] / motion picture

Shows the entrance to the Claremont Theatre in New York City at 135th St. and Broadway where Edison is showing Gertrude McCoy and Bigelow Cooper in On the stroke of twelve. Large numbers of men, women and child... More

Giant coal dumper / motion picture

"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 cou... More

Launching, no. 2 / motion picture

"The camera was changed after the former subject had been photographed [i.e., Launch of Japanese man-of-war "Chitosa"] and the ship [Chitose] is seen nearly head-on, bow first, still floating backward into the ... More

Union Iron Works / motion picture

"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 P... More

71st Regiment, Camp Wyckoff / - movie film screenshot

"Of the thousand and more men who left New York for the Cuban Campaign, scarcely three hundred were able to shoulder their rifles to march before the Biograph camera at Camp Wikoff. The picture shows many of th... More

Launching a stranded schooner from the docks /

"During the terrific storm all of the light craft along the dock front was lifted out of the water and washed up into the streets, many of them being carried for miles inland. This subject shows a number of boa... More

Panoramic view of the Champs Elysees /

"The camera was mounted on a moving vehicle on a main street of Paris, France. The Arc de Triomphe can be seen in the distance. The vehicle carryingthe camera makes an abrupt turn and proceeds down a street hea... More

An historic feat / motion picture

"Gen. Franklin Bell's famous mule pack train swimming the Agno River in Northern Luzon. This is one of the most notable incidents of the Philippine War. The picture has made a decided sensation wherever it has ... More

Sham battle at the Pan-American Exposition /

Large arches and columns are seen surrounding a flat field. In the foreground of the field, some American Indians on horseback ride toward the camera. The Indians are wearing feathers, war paint, and are carryi... More

Taking President McKinley's body from train at Canton, Ohio /

"Here, as in the other pictures, we secured a most advantageous location, and we present a life-size view of the casket containing the body of President McKinley as it is slowly and carefully taken from the win... More

Panoramic view of Electric Tower from a balloon /

"Here we have recorded a very novel scene, the camera having been placed in the basket of the captive balloon at the Pan-American Exposition. It was then slowly elevated to the top of the Tower, a distance of 4... More

Boys diving, Honolulu / motion picture

A large group of small boys stand on a pier, sillhouetted against the sky. In the distance, six large clipper ships can be seen at anchor. The boys jump and dive into the water, apparently to retrieve coins tha... More

Buffalo Bill's wild west parade /

The film shows a parade down Fifth Avenue, New York. In the foreground many children, both black and white, can be seen following alongside the parade. The participants in the parade include cowboys, Indians, a... More

Pres. Roosevelt at the dedication ceremonies, St. Louis Exposition /

President Theodore Roosevelt is on the speaker's platform. He rises and doffs his hat. A carriage passes in front of the platform. The President then appears briefly below the platform, possibly preparing to en... More

Panorama of beach and Cliff House /

This film is an afternoon panorama of weekend crowds at the north end of Ocean Beach, the western shore of San Francisco near the famed Cliff House. The film postdates the nearby Dutch Windmill (1902) and preda... More

Opening ceremonies, New York subway, Oct. 27, 1904

"New York City's Subway railroad was opened to public travel on the above date. The contract for the present Subway was awarded December 18, 1897, and work was commenced March 24, 1900. The picture opens with M... More

TR speaking at Sagamore Hill [1916-1918] [1] /

Three sequences of TR addressing groups from the porch at Sagamore Hill. First sequence is TR speaking to a group of people on Sept. 8, 1917 at the opening of the second New York State suffrage campaign at Saga... More

Corner Madison and State Streets, Chicago /

"The busiest corner in Chicago. Cable cars and street traffic of all descriptions. Hundreds of shoppers. Fine perspective view looking north toward the Masonic Temple. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "Erie Rail... More

Arnold Genthe - Arrest in Chinatown, San Francisco, Cal. /

This film shows the arrest and conveyance of a Chinese man in Chinatown, watched by a crowd of onlookers. The precise date of this film and the arrest charge are uncertain. It is possible that the arrest was co... More

The ball game / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress coll...

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 sec... More

Transport "Whitney" leaving dock /

"This boat was the first one to leave for the South with troops. On board is a battalion of the 5th U.S. Infantry. She is a sidewheeler, and the churn of her wide paddles makes the white foam seethe and boil as... More

U.S. cavalry supplies unloading at Tampa, Florida /

"Here is a freight train of thirty cars loaded with baggage and ambulance supplies for the 9th U.S. Cavalry. In the foreground a score of troopers are pulling, lifting and hauling an ambulance from a flat car. ... More

Burial of the "Maine" victims /

"Taken at Key West, Fla., March 27, 1898. First comes a detachment of sailors and marines in the left foreground, while at the right is seen a crowd of small colored boys, which precedes any public procession i... More

104th Street curve, New York, elevated railway /

"Taken from the front platform of a special train run backward over the celebrated S curve. Not only are the passing trains and crowded platforms of great interest, but the view of up-town New York is an excell... More

2nd Special Service Battalion, Canadian Infantry--parade /

"This picture shows the Canadian troops departing from Quebec for the war in the Transvaal. The scene opens with the soldiers clad in campaign uniform, marching under the triumphal arch, cheered by thousands of... More

New Brooklyn to New York via Brooklyn Bridge, no. 2 /

"This is a new negative showing the entire trip from Brooklyn to New York, in which the immense towers stand out clear and distinct against the sky. The best picture of the Brooklyn Bridge yet secured. 150 feet... More

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