motion picture broadcasting and recorded sound division

First Bell Telephone motion picture

Attached caption: "10. First Bell Telephone, June 1875." Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and businessman. He is best known for his development of the flat disc record and the Gra... More

[Dickson experimental sound film] /

Experimental sound film made for Edison's kinetophone -- a combination of the kinetoscope and phonograph -- but apparently never distributed. This LC copy is silent. Features two men dancing to a violinist. Sho... More

Duel scene, "By right of sword"

Opens on a stage with a painted backdrop of a lake surrounded by forest. A bearded man wrapped in a dark cloak and wearing a dark fur shako--apparently the novel's character of Major Devinsky--stands stage left... 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

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

Laura Comstock's bag-punching dog

Opens with the head and shoulders of a woman in full dress and hat and the front paws and head of a boxer visible behind a sign that reads "Miss Laura Comstock's Bag Punching Dog." Cuts to the dog sitting on hi... More

Arrival of emigrants [i.e. immigrants], Ellis Island /

Depicts scenes at the Immigration Depot and a nearby dock on Ellis Island. Appears to show, first, a group of immigrants lined up to board a vessel leaving the island, then another group arriving at the island ... More

TR on Fifth Avenue, New York, near St. Patrick's Cathedral after atten...

As an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of former New York City Mayor John P. Mitchel on July 11, 1918, TR appears with other funeral participants on Fifth Avenue. Surrounded by men in formal dress, TR speaks ... More

[Theater commercial--Onward flour] /

Film advertisement for Onward Flour, "the finest bread maker in the world." Features a multiple-exposure screen illustrating a bag of Onward flour, a woman making bread, a closeup of a finished loaf of bread, a... More

Emile Berliner, three-quarter length portrait, facing right, looking d...

Originally housed in Illustrations folder. Public domain photograph - Portrait, United States, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Patents booklet motion picture

"H'oenshein" ? handwritten on front cover. Pencil notations p.1, p. 5 , p. 15. Informally-bound booklet of various gramophone patents, diagrams, and specifications, including Emile Berliner's patents: 372,786; ... More

Ocean liners: European rest cure /

"On the gangplank of one of the large ocean liners leaving New York is shown an old gentleman kissing his wife and daughter good-bye before leaving on a tour abroad for a much needed rest from business cares an... More

Emile Berliner, seated and facing right in group portrait with two chi...

Originally housed in Joseph Sanders Collection Box 5. Originally mounted cardboard and paper frame.

Early Berliner recording machine built into large wooden stand

Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and businessman. He is best known for his development of the flat disc record and the Gramophone. Berliner worked in the telegraph industry experim... More

Portrait of Emile Berliner in later years

Copy 1. Public domain photograph - Portrait, United States, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

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

Filipinos retreat from trenches /

"An incident of the Battle of the Trenches at Candabar [sic]. The enemy threw up a high earth embankment during the night, and are defending it with great stubbornness. The pits are crowded with Filipinos, who ... More

Uncle Josh's nightmare / motion picture

"On a set of a man's bedroom, a woman can be seen helping a middle-aged man to retire. As soon as he falls asleep, an apparition appears at the edge of the room. The man begins to grapple with the vision and fe... More

San Francisco Chinese funeral /

This film shows most of the ceremonial portion of the funeral procession of Tom Kim Yung (1858-1903), military attache to the Chinese Legation to the United States. The funeral procession took place at 1:00 pm ... More

Cake walk - vaudeville film

Five African Americans--three men and two women--perform a cakewalk, a dance featuring fancy strutting that was named after the prize awarded in the original contests. The dancers wear rather formal attire, wit... 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

E. Berliner's gramophone motion picture

Advertisement of Berliner's gramophone contains girl sitting while playing gramophone. Verso contains handwritten list of band music and recitations, July 29, 1895.

The sounds of Earth - coin, public domain photograph

A gold-plated copper disc that contains sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. Includes 115 images, a variety of natural sounds, 90-minutes of musical selections from ... More

Journal, Cora A. Berliner - Public domain portrait drawing

Handwritten; only 38 p. contain writing; 8 loose p. inserted into journal. Contains inserted pencil drawing of Dr. Thaene by Emile Berliner. Cora A. Berliner's journal of her family's trip on board a steamer to... More

Patents booklet motion picture

"H'oenshein" ? handwritten on front cover. Pencil notations p.1, p. 5 , p. 15. Informally-bound booklet of various gramophone patents, diagrams, and specifications, including Emile Berliner's patents: 372,786; ... More

European rest cure / motion picture

"On the gangplank of one of the large ocean liners leaving New York is shown an old gentleman kissing his wife and daughter good-bye before leaving on a tour abroad for a much needed rest from business cares an... More

Edison kinetoscopic record of a sneeze, January 7, 1894 /

"Considered to be the first motion picture given legal status by copyright acceptance. The forty-five frames it contains were sent in for copyright as a still picture. The action consists of a man, Fred Ott, sn... More

Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Ry. /

"Taken at Fingal, Cal., where the world-renowned "Sunset Limited" trains pass each other. One runs on a side track, and the other dashes by at a high rate of speed. Switch is then turned, and the train passes o... More

Karina motion picture

On a bare stage with a black background stands a woman with short, curly hair, wearing a dark dress with a sleeveless top, low-cut bodice, mid-calf length skirt, and layers of petticoats. Smiling at the camera,... More

Paulette Goddard?, George Gershwin in Palm Springs--Ira Gershwin--Home...

Sound: This moving image content is silent, and was created without sound or a soundtrack. Summary: Footage of a woman, possibly Paulette Goddard, in a swimsuit, followed by exterior shots of a house, footage o... More

Angel--Screen Test. Don Collier

Sound: This moving image content is silent, and was created without sound or a soundtrack. Summary: Screen test for the Jess Oppenheimer written sit-com, Angel. This is a screen test of Don Collier for the role... More

The Second Largest Minority

Summary: Footage of one of the earliest Gay Pride demonstration marches, "Reminder Day Picket," held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1968.

Scrap book motion picture - Public domain portrait drawing

Scrapbook was probably compiled by Emile Berliner. Only excerpts have been digitized. Pages are empty except for 3. Article on cloud telegraphy is loose. Scrapbook is empty except for 3 pages relating to the Un... More

TR speaking to a group of suffragettes from the porch at Sagamore Hill...

TR addresses a group of men and women at the opening of the second New York State suffrage campaign on Sept. 8, 1917 at Sagamore Hill. Film includes a side view of TR and a frontal view shot from the rear of th... More

Emile Berliner reaches 75 today

Copy 3. Copyright Washington Post; reprinted by permission of the D.C. Public Library, [email protected]

The River of Doubt [2] /

Film is Roosevelt Memorial Association compilation of footage from TR's 1913-1914 trip to South America during which he combined a series of lectures with an expedition in the Amazon Valley of Brazil to collect... More

The Lonely Night motion picture

Summary: The story of Caroline Cram (Marian Seldes), who finds herself in an analyst's office awkardly and hesitantly groping for the truth about her hopelessness, fears, loneliness and anxieties. Credits: "Spo... More

Gay and Proud motion picture

Summary: Footage of one of the earliest Gay Pride demonstration marches, the first Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade, held in New York City, New York, on June 28, 1970, to commemorate the first anniversa... More

LC Performance. Interview. John Updike and Peter Taylor

Letter from Emile Berliner to Jacob Berliner, 1882 July 10

Letter from Emile Berliner in Boston to Jacob Berliner. Formerly in mylar sleeve labeled: "Documents #4, Emile Berliner's letters (7) to his brother Jacob in Hannover, January through Oct. 1882." Written on Ame... More

Apparatus for producing sound-records: specification forming part of L...

Copy 1. "Emile Berliner, of Washington, District of Columbia, Assignor to United States Gramophone Company, of Washington, District of Columbia, a corporation of West Virginia." Diagrams and specification of Em... More

Patent application Patent 462,062 filed 1908 Oct. 3, allowed 1909 May ...

Title derived from notes written in pencil at top of application. Corrections in ink, p. 2 , 3. Accompanied by typewritten note addressed to Emile Berliner, dated June 2, 1909, from Eugene W. Johnson, "Solicito... More

Birth of the pearl - Public domain historical image

Frame enlargements showing women in tights opening a curtain, an oyster shell with a sleeping woman in a flesh colored body suit, and the woman standing in the shell. Item in: Birth of the pearl / American Muto... More

Motorized gramophone motion picture

Mounted on card. Originally housed in Joseph Sanders Collection Box 5. Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and businessman. He is best known for his development of the flat disc reco... More

May Irwin kiss / motion picture

From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: An osculatory performance by May Irwin and John Rice. The most popular subject ever shown. From Edison films catalog: By May Irwin and John Rice. They get ready to kiss, begin t... More

U.S. troops and Red Cross in the trenches before Caloocan /

"Our troops have driven the Filipinos out of the trenches, and, after firing one or two volleys, press on in pursuit. The enemy returns the fire and the forward rush is marked by a trail of dead and wounded. Fo... 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

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 /

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

Humorous phases of funny faces /

J. Stuart Blackton "draws" a series of funny faces, including a line drawing of two faces, a man with an umbrella, a line drawing of two faces in profile, and a clown. H75272 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Th... More

The Making of an American

Sound: This moving image content is silent, and was created without sound or a soundtrack. Summary: An Italian immigrant arrives in America unable to speak English. Following disappointments and misfortunes, he... More

Gershwins, 1936-1939--Ira Gershwin--Home Movies

Sound: This moving image content is silent, and was created without sound or a soundtrack. Summary: Collection of home movies featuring George and Ira Gershwin. All segments in color except where noted. 1. Grou... More

A Special Report on Polio

Summary: HEW Secretary Oveta Culp Hobby and Surgeon General Leonard Scheele talk about the Salk polio vaccine and assuage concerns about its safety.

Patents booklet motion picture

"H'oenshein" ? handwritten on front cover. Pencil notations p.1, p. 5 , p. 15. Informally-bound booklet of various gramophone patents, diagrams, and specifications, including Emile Berliner's patents: 372,786; ... More

HMV logo motion picture - Early photography, Public domain image

Originally grouped in Brown Berliner photo box, item 24. List description: "HMV logo on paper." Mounted on 8.5 x 11 in. sheet of paper. Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and busine... More

Cuban refugees waiting for rations /

"A group of escaped reconcentrados, saved from the fate of starvation imposed by the Butcher, Weyler. They stand in line waiting, each man with his tin dish and cup. One expects to see just such men as these, a... More

The tramp's unexpected skate

On a stage with a painted backdrop of a terrace overlooking a park, a man identified as a tramp by his ragged costume and beard lies asleep against a potted palm tree. Two boys enter from screen right, each rol... More

Betsy Ross dance - vaudeville film

Opens on a bare stage with a painted backdrop of an interior theater wall and pillar. From screen right, a woman in a short, ruffled dress and sash, tights, and ballet slippers, with long, dark hair worn in cur... 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

Letter from Emile Berliner to Jacob Berliner, 1882 July 10

Letter from Emile Berliner in Boston to Jacob Berliner. Formerly in mylar sleeve labeled: "Documents #4, Emile Berliner's letters (7) to his brother Jacob in Hannover, January through Oct. 1882." Written on Ame... More

Scrap book motion picture - Public domain portrait drawing

Scrapbook was probably compiled by Emile Berliner. Only excerpts have been digitized. Pages are empty except for 3. Article on cloud telegraphy is loose. Scrapbook is empty except for 3 pages relating to the Un... More

Patents booklet motion picture

"H'oenshein" ? handwritten on front cover. Pencil notations p.1, p. 5 , p. 15. Informally-bound booklet of various gramophone patents, diagrams, and specifications, including Emile Berliner's patents: 372,786; ... More

Early hand wind machine - Early photography, Public domain image

Title taken from Brown Berliner photo box list. Originally grouped in Brown Berliner photo box, item 2. Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and businessman. He is best known for his ... More

Louise Berliner, full-length portrait, as a child

Mounted on board. Written on front: "CM Gilbert" Verso: "Louise, High Art Photography, Gilbert Studios, 926 Chestnut St., Philada, cor. F & Eleventh St., Washington, D.C., Atlantic City, N.J." Emile Berliner 1... More

Uncle Josh in a spooky hotel /

"The landlord enters with his rural guest. After examining the bed and other things in the room, Josh takes a seat beside the landlord, who tells him that there is a rumor that a ghost appears in that room ever... 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

The House I Live In

Summary: Frank Sinatra, apparently playing himself, takes a "smoke" break from a recording session. He sees more than 10 boys chasing a Jewish boy and intervenes, first with dialogue; then with a little speech.... More

Gramophone patents: U. S. Gramophone Co

Handwritten notations throughout. Correction page tipped in at beg. Patent 548, 623. Some blank pages between patents and facing diagrams. Gramophone patents bound informally together. Includes Berliner patents... More

Gramophone litigation motion picture

Hardcover. Title taken from spine. Contains compiled material on Victor Talking Machine Co. and U.S. Gramophone Co. vs. American Graphophone Co.; American Graphophone Co. v. National Gramophone Co. and Frank Se... More

Group portrait of Emile Berliner and others

Mounted on cardboard. Originally housed in Joseph Sanders Collection Box 5.

Samuel? Halton?, half-length portrait, facing left

Verso: "Samuel? Halton?" Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and businessman. He is best known for his development of the flat disc record and the Gramophone. Berliner worked in the ... More

Emile Berliner in mirrors - Public domain portrait print

Originally grouped in Brown Berliner photo box, item 19. Title taken from list description: "Emile Berliner in Mirrors"

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

Comedy cake walk - vaudeville film

Five African Americans--three men and two women--perform an exaggerated cakewalk in fancy evening clothes. Two of the men wear formal black tie in tuxedos with tails, while the third wears a gray tux of shiny m... 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

Keeping up with the Joneses. [Men's styles] /

A domestic comedy about the McGinis family--husband Aloysius, wife Clarice, daughter Julie, and housemaid Belladonna. The simple story lines often parody society's concern with material goods as an indicator of... More

[Gertie on tour--excerpts] / - Drawing. Public domain image.

Gertie is a dinosaur who lives in present times. She encounters a train and dreams of being the life of the party in her time. Copyright: no reg. Additional animators, John McCay, John Fitzsimmons. Main and end... More

Microphonic contacts motion picture

Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and businessman. He is best known for his development of the flat disc record and the Gramophone. Berliner worked in the telegraph industry experim... More

Adventure in Telezonia motion picture

Summary: "In trying to find his lost dog, Bobby uses the telephone incorrectly. Handy, a marionette, offers to help and brings Bobby to the fanciful land of Telezonia where the marionette inhabitants try to fin... More

Big Mama Thornton [album cover]

Public domain photograph - Portrait, United States, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

The sounds of Earth - coin, public domain photograph

A gold-plated copper disc that contains sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. Includes 115 images, a variety of natural sounds, 90-minutes of musical selections from ... More

Patents booklet motion picture

"H'oenshein" ? handwritten on front cover. Pencil notations p.1, p. 5 , p. 15. Informally-bound booklet of various gramophone patents, diagrams, and specifications, including Emile Berliner's patents: 372,786; ... More

Berliner Gramophone Co., complete catalogue

ML156.B4

Patents booklet motion picture

"H'oenshein" ? handwritten on front cover. Pencil notations p.1, p. 5 , p. 15. Informally-bound booklet of various gramophone patents, diagrams, and specifications, including Emile Berliner's patents: 372,786; ... More

Emile Berliner, bust portrait, facing slightly right

Mounted on cardboard. Originally housed in Joseph Sanders Collection Box 5.

James J. Storrow, half-length portrait, facing left

Attached caption: "James J. Storrow, eminent patent counsel for the Bell Telephone interests who defended the Bell and Berliner patents." Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and busi... More

Emile Berliner, full length portrait, facing left

Originally housed in Joseph Sanders Collection Box 5. Mounted on cardboard labeled Bachrach & Bro, Baltimore, Md, Washington, D.C.

Annie Oakley / motion picture

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

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

Microphonic contacts by opaque illumination

Originally housed in envelop labeled: "Roy M. Allen 1926." Verso: "Roy M. Allen, Bloomfield, N.J., Photomicrograph, subject: Microphonic Contacts by opaque illumination. No. C-81, magnification 1125x." Emile B... More

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer : With Christmas Greetings From Montgom...

Credits: Narration: Paul Wing. Animation: Fletcher Smith, William Sturm, Robinson McKee, Howard Kakudo.

What Makes Us Tick

Summary: Describes the operation of the New York Stock Exchange and explains how wise investments help to make the Nation powerful and prosperous. Credits: Music score, Eugene Poddany.

Gramophone: specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,786, ...

Diagram and specifications. Original application filed May 4, 1887, Serial No. 237,060. Divided and this application filed September 26, 1887. Serial No. 250,721. Patent detailing Emile Berliner's "useful impro... More

Gramophone patents: U. S. Gramophone Co

Handwritten notations throughout. Correction page tipped in at beg. Patent 548, 623. Some blank pages between patents and facing diagrams. Gramophone patents bound informally together. Includes Berliner patents... More

Dr. Ernest C. Schroeder, three-quarter length portrait, facing slightl...

Verso: "Dr. E.C. Schroeder." Attached caption: "Dr. Ernest C. Schroeder, biologist, Director U.S. Animal Experiment Station, Bethesda Md. Whose friendship and co-operation Berliner enjoyed for many years." Emi... More

The Bell Magneto telephone in 1877

Title taken from attached caption: "The Bell Magneto telephone in 1877." Emile Berliner 1851 – 1929 was a German-born American inventor and businessman. He is best known for his development of the flat disc re... More

Glenroy Bros. motion picture - Drawing. Public domain image.

From Raff & Gammon price list: Farcical pugilists in costume. 15.00. Copyright: no reg. Performers: Glenroy Brothers. Camera, William Heise. Duration: 0:18 at 30 fps. MAVIS 180327. Filmed October 6, 1894, in Ed... More

Gramophone : No. 534,543, patented 1895 Feb. 19 photocopy

1 page photocopy of a diagram from patent No. 534,543. Witnesses listed as: Percy C ? Bowen and F. J. ? Chapman, Joseph Lyons, Attorney. 1 page photocopy of diagram on page 3 of a four page patent. "4 Sheets--Sheet 3."

Hooligan assists the magician /

From Edison films catalog: This is a new adventure in which our friend, Mr. Hooligan, appears in an entirely new capacity. On a stage a professor of magic is performing some wonderful experiments, and when he r... 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