83 America at work america at leisure motion pictures from 1894 1915 Images: LOC's Public Domain Archive Public Domain Search

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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

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

[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

Herding horses across a river /

Approximately forty horses can be seen in the distance across a river. They are being driven into the water by men on horseback. The horses approach the camera position as they ford the river. The film ends as ... More

Spanish dancers at the Pan-American Exposition /

The film was photographed from the area back of the midway of the Pan-American Exposition. The immediate background indicates the camera was in front of the living quarters of the gypsy dancing troupe. Several ... 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

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

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

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

Mining operations, Pennsylvania coal fields /

The film opens on an area covered with snow where the following operations are visible: track laying, and dirt moving by explosion, grader, steam shovel, and steam engine. H54720 U.S Copyright Office Copyright:... 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

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

Circular panorama of Electric Tower /

"A most interesting picture at the Pan-American Exposition structure was taken from the north side of the Electric Tower. It presented the most perfect and diversified views of the Transportation Building, Mexi... More

Princeton and Yale football game /

"First is shown a fine panoramic view of the grandstand at the Yale field, showing the enormous gathering of football enthusiasts who have come from far and near to witness the giants struggle for the collegiat... More

Annual baby parade, 1904, Asbury Park, N.J. /

Shows the Baby Parade at Asbury Park, N.J., in 1904. Includes scenes of boys (dressed as soldiers and sailors) and girls (dressed in oriental costume) marching in groups, mothers pushing decorated perambulators... 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

Midway of Charleston exposition /

The film, photographed from a single-camera position, shows people walking on the midway at the Charleston Exposition. Very few objects are discernible because of the distance. H16713 U.S Copyright Office Copyr... More

Coaches arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs /

"The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway...The scene is the broad piazza of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and shows the arrival of tourists. Up dashes... 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

Albany, N.Y., fire department /

A sidewalk crowd on a main street of Albany, N.Y., watches as fourteen pieces of horse-drawn fire equipment quickly pass by. Copyright: no reg. Main title lacking; out of frame at 12 ft. Duration: 1:42 at 18 fp... More

Panoramic view of Charleston exposition /

The camera was placed in almost the center of the compound area by the exhibit buildings, and the cameraman began to photograph and pan his camera simultaneously. The film consists of pictures of the walkways, ... 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

Sorting refuse at incinerating plant, New York City /

The subject is a group of about thirty men and boys who are sorting combustible refuse, mostly paper, and stuffing it into large sacks. In the background a man in a hat with an emblem on it can be seen unloadi... 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

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

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

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

[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

Rube and Mandy at Coney Island /

"The first scene shows a country couple entering Steeplechase Park. They proceed to amuse themselves on the steeplechase, rope bridge, the "Down and Out" and riding the bulls. The scene then changes to a panora... More

Buffalo Fire Department in action /

"Another of those stirring fire scenes which have proved so popular. There are ten pieces of apparatus in the picture. Every piece fully manned is under full headway, and is shown almost head-on to the beholder... More

Panorama of esplanade by night /

"The first objects visible in this film, which was taken at night, are the glowing light globes that outline the buildings closest to the camera position. The camera slowly pans, encompassing the complete area ... More

Parade of floats, St. Louis Exposition /

One of the parades of floating craft held in the waterways of the St. Louis Exposition is shown in this film. The cameraman placed equipment on shore at a distance to include each of the competing craft. Photog... More

Coil winding section E, Westinghouse works /

Rows of women are shown at tables with winding machines. They wind using material from spools behind them, apparently putting the finished products on the table in front of them. Various supervisory staff, male... More

Rube and Mandy at Coney Island /

A rube couple at a county fair /

From Edison films catalog: Scene I--Driving into the Grounds. Scene II--Machinery department. Scene III--Getting weighed. Scene IV--On the Pike. Scene V--Looking at the big pumpkins. Scene VI--Cattle parade. Sc... More

A trip around the Pan-American Exposition /

The entire film was photographed from an excursion vessel traveling through all of the waterways surrounding the Exposition. The major exhibit buildings and amusement attractions of the fair can be seen as the ... More

New York City "ghetto" fish market /

"A fine panoramic view of this busy market on a Friday morning. Immense throngs of people are seen passing along the stands and making their selections of fish. A great character study. 165 feet"--Edison films ... More

Hyde Park School, room 2 / - movie film screenshot

Four rows of pre-adolescent children, both boys and girls, are standing in front of a blackboard on which the words "Kansas City, Missouri" can be seen. Each boy and girl has a pair of Indian clubs and for the ... More

Auto boat race on the Hudson / - movie film screenshot

"The new-fangled high-speed launches which are now the fad of sporting millionaires make an admirable subject for the moving picture camera, and this film shows the best of them in a race for the American champ... More

Basket ball, Missouri Valley College /

"The subject is a basketball game played between teams of girls. The film shows a section of a basketball court in the foreground, the backboard, and the basket. In the background is a three-story brick schoolb... More

Leonard-Cushing fight / motion picture

From Edison films catalog: An actual six-round contest between Mike Leonard, commonly called the "Beau Brummel" of pugilism, and Jack Cushing. Full of hard fighting, clever hits, punches, leads, dodges, body bl... 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

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

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

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

Hockey match on the ice /. 19th century, Library of Congress collectio...

"The skaters dart to and fro, swinging their hockeys [i.e., hockey sticks] and trying to hit the disc toward the goal. 150 feet"--Edison films catalog. 13572 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 2... More

"Columbia" winning the Cup /. 19th century, Library of Congress collec...

"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

Brook trout fishing / motion picture

The camera shows a small waterfall and a stream. Across the stream on the bank is a man with a fishing pole in one hand and a retrieving net in the other. During the course of the film, he makes the normal move... More

High school field exercises, Missouri Commission /

The cameraman placed his equipment on the side of an athletic field adjacent to a high school. During the course of the film, teen-age boys exhibit their skill at high jumping, pole vaulting, shot putting, disc... More

Shooting the chutes / motion picture

"A lively scene on the famous water chutes at Coney Island"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue. Copyright: no reg. Camera, William Heise. Duration: 0:23 at 30 fps. Filmed June 18-23, 1896, at Bergen Beach, Coney Islan... More

Sleighing scene / motion picture

"A view taken on the West Side Drive in Central Park. Shows a continuous stream of handsome rigs and turnouts passing in both directions. Pedestrians watch the gay carnival. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 7346... More

Charleston chain-gang / motion picture

"This picture shows the prisoners after completing their day's work of cleaning up the grounds of the Charleston Exposition, taking their positions along the long chain which secures the whole band of prisoners... More

Women of the ghetto bathing / - movie film screenshot

The subject is a group of women and girls in a public swimming pool wearing turn-of the-century bathing attire. Many women and girls are playing in the pool, while others climb out and jump into the pool. The w... More

Rural wagon delivering mail, U.S.P.O. /

"The subject is the delivery of the U.S. mail in a rural area. The camera was positioned in full sight of a standard rural free delivery post box located in front of a well-kept house and garden. A small boy an... More

Asia in America, St. Louis exposition /

"The film begins with a wide shot of an area crowded with people, some riding elephants, others marching in procession in front of a structure with the sign "Asia" on it. The people are wearing various costumes... More

The roller skate craze / - movie film screenshot

During this short film, the cameraman photographed many different people in varied walks of life all of whom are wearing roller skates. Each scene, since the camera changed from individual to individual, is too... More

Chicago-Michigan football game /

Excerpts of a 1903 football game between the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. Includes views of the uniformed players, the spectators in the stadium and surrounding stands, and the game its... More

Rube and Mandy at Coney Island /

Buffalo stockyards / motion picture

"A long line of horses, mules and ponies are led, driven and ridden into the yards, where they are sold and distributed"--Edison films catalog. 43408 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 31July189... More

Esquimaux game of snap-the-whip

"The film, photographed from a single camera position, shows a large tent of animal skins in front of which are two spectators watching two participants perform a game of skill using whips"--Early motion pictur... More

[Easter Sunday, Atlantic City boardwalk] /

Crowds of people in their Easter finery parade on the boardwalk near Green's Hotel, and near a pier in Atlantic City. Some people ride in stroller chairs, one man pushes a baby carriage, and the ladies hold the... More

Bass fishing / motion picture - movie film screenshot

"Virginia. Taken for the U.S. Fisheries Commission to illustrate the benefits of stocking inland waters. A well-known fisherman, Mr. Henry Talbot, is seen casting in a picturesque pool for bass. He gets a strik... More

Loading sugar cane / motion picture

"The short length of this films leaves much to be desired to give proper description. However, it is possible to see a large receiving car in a cane brake where several people are visible chopping cane and carr... More

Cleveland fire department / motion picture

The subject is the activities of a fire department that can be seen coming out of the fire engine house located across the street from the camera position. The action must have been a drill or rehearsal as the ... More

Free-for-all race at Charter Oak Park /

"Shows a part of the enormous crowd and the start and finish of the free-for-all pacing race, in which the fastest harness horse in the world, John R. Gentry (2:00-1/2), the coming Star Pointer and Frank Agan c... More

Lurline Baths / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress coll...

"A large indoor swimming pool can be seen. The camera was directed toward a slide from which people can be seen entering the pool in rapid succession"--Early motion pictures. "At San Francisco. The main feature... More

A glimpse of the San Diego exposition /

The film begins from a single-camera position high above the Exposition grounds. The camera begins to pan from left to right, following the horizon. The picture includes all of the spires and buildings of the f... More

Cattle leaving the corral /. 19th century, Library of Congress collect...

Taken at Hacienda de Soledad, Sabinas Mexico, and shows a herd of 900 cattle being driven out of the corral, after having been branded. This immense herd, driven by Mexican cowboys, comes through the gates head... More

Cutting sugar cane / motion picture

The poor condition of the film, its short length, and the distance of the subject matter from the camera position do not permit much description other than saying some workers are in a field. In the foreground,... More

[Labor Day parade] / motion picture

Shows a parade through bunting-draped streets, probably in the town of Leominster, Mass. First, a decorated grandstand bearing the banner "Leominster heartily greets its guests" is seen, and then the camera pan... More

Sutro Baths / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress collec...

"Another view in which the figures show larger. A springboard furnishes the bathers with much amusement; also a toboggan slide. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "A large indoor swimming pool is shown, as well as... More

Tourists going round Yellowstone Park /

"The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway...Rapidly one after the other coach after coach passes before the camera. First comes a big one, six horses, c... More

Pan-American Exposition by night /

The film begins with a slow pan over the tower building of the exposition, which was lighted by electric lights. The pan goes from a daylight shot of the grounds to what appears to be a special effects situatio... More

Shooting the chutes, Luna Park, Coney Island /

"The camera was positioned to view the Shoot-the-Chutes concession from the best location. A special added attraction for the entertainment of the spectators is a man in a swimming suit who rides down the Shoot... More

Driving cattle to pasture / - movie film screenshot

The camera was placed to get the best view of the many cattle being driven toward grazing land. Edision Foundation records (envelope 135): "photographed by A. C. Abadie, May 9, 1904, Bliss, Oklahoma Territory. ... More

A rube couple at a county fair /

Sutro Baths, no. 1 /. 19th century, Library of Congress collection

"One of the sights of San Francisco. A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions. The bathers are clad in black trunks, making fine contrast with the flesh ti... More

Parke Davis' employees / motion picture

Photographed from a single-camera position, this film encompasses a scene of a large number of people either walking or riding bicycles as they leave what appears to be a factory. The title indicates they are e... More

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america at work america at leisure motion pictures from 1894 1915