Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsmi/mbrsmi.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2007641041
Collection material predominantly in English; there are some materials in French or Spanish.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation deposited the collection at the Library of Congress in 2003.
Some time between 2003 and 2005, Vidipax, a magnetic media restoration company, was hired to rehouse materials from their original storage in steel filing cabinets to acid-free archival document boxes. Presumably at this time, photocopies of some documents throughout the collection were made.
Further processing occurred between 2005 and 2007 during a cooperative project between the Library of Congress and the University of South Carolina. The Newsfilm Library of the University of South Carolina owns a discrete portion of the paper records included in this finding aid. Specifically, the dope sheets from approximately August 1942 to January 1945 are housed at the University of South Carolina. Please see the Scope and Content Note for more information about these materials.
Most story numbers are filed individually. However, an individual story or event could be recorded by multiple cameramen. Therefore, an individual story could be recorded by multiple story numbers. If more than one story number was clipped together when received, they were foldered together when processed. Additionally, if a story had ephemeral material clipped to it, these items were foldered together with the story when processed.
Fox Movietone newsreel collection - World War II paper records is housed within the Moving Image Section of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center of the Library of Congress. For further information and for access to the collection, contact the Reference Desk in the Moving Image Research Center at (202) 707-8572.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation retains the rights governing subsequent use of materials in the collection. For permission to quote or republish materials from the collection, contact Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation at Fox News in New York, NY.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Fox Movietone newsreel collection - World War II paper records, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The Newsfilm Library at the University of South Carolina in Columbia owns an estimated 11 million feet of Fox News film and paper materials associated with this collection. To access, see: Records of the Movietone News [MVTN] .
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation at Fox News, New York, NY retains portions of this collection.
Newsreels described by the paper documentation of this collection can be found in the Moving Image Section of this division. Contact the Moving Image Research Center for more information.
Other moving image collections can also be requested through the Moving Image Research Center . See:
The Recorded Sound Section of this division holds related recorded sound collections. To begin a search, consult the World War II finding aid and the Recorded Sound Catalog Supplement through the Recorded Sound Research Center . See also these individual collections:
Although the title of this portion of the Fox Movietone newsreel collection designates World War II records, it is noted that other stories are reported, including sports, fashion, news of the nation, weather disasters, and entertainment. While the war dominated the news reported during this period, the news on the American home front is also well documented in this collection. The finding aid created in 2007 describes the materials in the Fox Movietone newsreel collection documenting the US involvement in World War II, roughly 1941-1946. The entire collection includes materials from 1916-1963. It is anticipated that the remainder of the materials will be processed and added to this finding aid in the future.
The majority of the materials in this collection were created at a time when the United States had just undergone a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The documents were originally created for a limited, private readership, and emotions were not as camouflaged as they might be when considered by current standards. Some of the language found in the collection could be construed as politically incorrect at the time this finding aid was created. No attempt to censor these materials has been made. By making this collection available, it is hoped that researchers will gain a greater insight into the complexities of this period in American history.
As stated in the Related Materials and Processing History portions of this finding aid, the Newsfilm Library at the University of South Carolina owns materials associated with this collection. Specifically, the dope sheets from approximately September 1942 to January 1945 are housed at the Newsfilm Library. However, the continuity sheets and turnovers, which provide synopses of the stories, can be found at the Library of Congress. It is anticipated that all of the materials in these two repositories will be digitized in the future for Internet access to researchers.
This collection is organized into three series: Dope Sheets , Continuity Sheets , and Turnovers . The Continuity Sheets Series is organized into two subseries: Lavenders and Summaries.
The first series, Dope Sheets , 1922-1946, undated, contains the most detail for all stories filmed. They can include the cameraman's name, his notations of story topic, location where the story was shot, dates surrounding the filming, principal personalities in the story, shot-by-shot descriptions of the story, environmental conditions during filming, length of footage shot, and other details germane to the story and its filming. Ancillary materials may also be found within each story and can include photographs, telegrams, news clippings, speeches, biographies of personalities, and event programs. The Dope sheets are arranged numerically, with each film assigned a unique story number. Prominent figures are frequently featured in these materials. Please see the Selected Search Terms section of this finding aid for a detailed listing.
The second series, Continuity Sheets , span the dates 1941-1946, and are organized into two subseries: Lavenders and Summaries. Continuity Sheets record the stories that made up the newsreels distributed to theaters, and the dates of distribution. They do not include all stories filmed. They provide synopses of the details included in the Dope Sheets. What differentiates the two subseries is: Lavenders supply the individual story numbers that create the newsreel; Summaries supply the footage length of each finished newsreel segment. Continuity Sheets are arranged in chronological order, with a volume and release number assigned to each distribution date.
The third series, Turnovers , 1940-1946, is organized by year, then date distributed to theaters, with a volume and release number assigned to each distribution date. For each distribution sheet, a list of story numbers, a one-sentence description for each story number, and the cameraman or creator for each story is listed. In addition, each turnover sheet separates the stories that were included in newsreels from those that were not. Scanning this series for specific stories is a good place for researchers to begin, if one knows the approximate date of the story sought.
The collection is arranged in 3 series:
Cameramen's details of films shot, including dates, locations, subjects, length of footage. Story numbers may contain ancillary materials including photographs, news clippings, speeches, event programs, telegrams, and biographies.
Arranged numerically by story number assigned to each film created. Separated oversize materials are listed at the end of this series.
Synopses of newsreels distributed to theaters. The boxes and folders that contain the Lavenders subseries of materials are heavy due to enclosing the majority of documents in Mylar for protection.
Arranged chronologically, with volume and release numbers.
Includes individual story number(s) that make up each newsreel.
Arranged chronologically, with volume and release numbers.
Includes length of footage contained on each newsreel.
Arranged chronologically, with volume and release numbers.
Turnovers provide a one sentence description of each story filmed, and the cameraman or creator who filmed it. They also distinguish which stories were used to create each newsreel, the date the newsreels were distributed to theaters, and which stories were vaulted.
Arranged chronologically, with story numbers and volume & release numbers.
The original folders were labeled using story numbers. During processing, the archivists added volume and release or issue numbers to the folder titles for clarity. These appear within brackets.