Special Films Collection: Ethnographic films, 1916-[ca. 1970]

ArchivalResource

Special Films Collection: Ethnographic films, 1916-[ca. 1970]

Ethnographic films presenting a study of the culture and customs of living peoples. Very few involve staff of the American Museum of Natural History. Films depict indigenous people worldwide, especially from many parts of Africa, South America, Australia and New Guinea, parts of Asia including Bali, and American Indians. Nearly all aspects of traditional life are portrayed with emphasis on daily life, initiation, burial and other rituals, witchcraft and magic, dance, music, hunting, cooking, and crafts including weaving and pottery manufacture. Dwellings and animals of the area are also shown. Specific subjects include children of Africa, Asia, and Mexico, dances of the Dogon of Mali, dances of Cambodia, headhunters of Brazil, sign language of Sioux Indians, and life in Hungarian villages of the 1920s. Also, "Dead Birds," a film made by Robert Gardner, concerning the avenge-reprisal system of the Dugum Dani of New Guinea; and a number of African films made by Edgar Monsanto.

54 films.

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

American Museum of Natural History

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The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869 to be of service to the city's public schools, advance scientific research in natural history, and to exhibit natural history objects for casual visitors. From the description of Administrative files, 1869-1968. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155513508 Museum exhibition displayed in the Museum's showcase in 1975. From the description of Cans from pressured city exhibition photographs, 1975. (Unknown). Wor...

Gardner, Robert, 1925-....

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p57qm5 (person)

Monsanto, Edgar.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6d82mt8 (person)