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Film, Video Army pack train bringing supplies Variant title from the New York clipper, May 19, 1906: Army of pack train bringing supplies

Digital viewing copy

About this Item

Title

  • Army pack train bringing supplies

Other Title

  • Variant title from the New York clipper, May 19, 1906: Army of pack train bringing supplies

Summary

  • The first segment shows a series of loaded mule trains, guided by mules and horses. Many soldiers ride two-to-a-horse (or mule), possibly to facilitate quick unloading of supplies. Note the "Rough Rider"-style hats worn by many of the men. The dusty location is unclear; if the tower in the right distance is St. Boniface Church, the view could be west on Golden Gate Avenue from Van Ness Avenue. The second scene (1:21 min.) shows what are probably the same mule trains passing through an unburnt neighborhood. The row of Victorian homes, the distant slope, and the church on the hill suggest a possible view east on Geary Street from near Webster Street. If the location is correct, the supplies could be headed for the Hamilton Park refugee camp or for the Presidio supply center. Pack trains such as this were the quickest and most efficient method of transporting large amounts of supplies through the hilly and rubble-filled streets west of the docks.

Names

  • Thomas A. Edison, Inc
  • Kleine (George) Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

  • United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1906.

Headings

  • -  United States.--Army.--Cavalry
  • -  San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906
  • -  Disaster relief--California--San Francisco
  • -  Mules--California--San Francisco

Genre

  • Actualities (Motion pictures)
  • Silent films
  • Short films
  • Nonfiction films

Notes

  • -  According the The George Kleine Collection catalog, this film was distributed by George Kleine, however according to an advertisement in the New York clipper, it was distributed by the Edison Manufacturing Co.
  • -  Duration: 2:14 minutes.
  • -  Sources used: The George Kleine Collection...catalog, p. 5-6; American Film Institute catalog, film beginnings, 1893-1910, p. 37; Edison films catalog, no. 288, July, 1906, p. 92; the New York clipper, May 19, 1906, p. 378 and May 26, 1906, p. 384 viewed online October 30, 2020 via the Internet Archive.
  • -  Photographed in San Francisco, California, probably between April 8, 1906 and May 10, 1906.
  • -  Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
  • -  This film highlights the role of the United States Army in transporting supplies following the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco. The Army's relief operations headquarters was at their base, the Presidio, outside the burned part of the city. The Army played a major role in relief and refugee operations. In the first weeks after the fire, food, water, tents, blankets, medical supplies, and hay for horses, were the principal needs. To pay for these supplies, Congress appropriated nearly $2.5 million in emergency aid for San Francisco. An estimated 300,000 people were camped out in late April, but the number had dropped to 25,000 by July, and emergency relief switched to long-term care in the substantial camps of "earthquake cottages."
  • -  Collection purchased from Kleine estate March 27, 1947. 35 mm. nitrate film destroyed.
  • -  The George Kleine Collection of early motion pictures in the Library of Congress : a catalog / prepared by Rita Horwitz and Harriet Harrison with the assistance of Wendy White. Library of Congress, 1980.

Medium

  • viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (40 ft) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (40 ft) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • non-viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (40 ft) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • FLA 1369 (viewing print)
  • FRA 3534 (dupe neg pic)
  • FRA 3533 (non-viewing print)

Repository

  • Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 00694429

Online Format

  • image
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Before and After the Great Earthquake and Fire: Early Films of San Francisco, 1897 to 1916 Collection are in the public domain and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division, Before and After the Great Earthquake and Fire: Early Films of San Francisco, 1897 to 1916 Collection.

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Thomas A. Edison, Inc, and Kleine. Army Pack Train Bringing Supplies. United States: Edison Manufacturing Co, 1906. Video. https://www.loc.gov/item/00694429/.

APA citation style:

Thomas A. Edison, I. & Kleine. (1906) Army Pack Train Bringing Supplies. United States: Edison Manufacturing Co. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/00694429/.

MLA citation style:

Thomas A. Edison, Inc, and Kleine. Army Pack Train Bringing Supplies. United States: Edison Manufacturing Co, 1906. Video. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/00694429/>.