Colorama #285

DISCOTHEQUE

Photographer: Neil Montanus

Displayed Feb. 13- March 3, 1967

George Eastman House collections 

This is a high spot of the year – a nice tradition I enjoy: Just before New Year’s John and Susan Edwards Harvith visit Eastman House to present gifts from their extraordinary collection of photographs and ephemera related to Karl Struss. Today we did the paperwork to receive to the museum’s collection four pictures Struss made as a still photographer on Hollywood movie sets early in the 20th century. Three of the pictures feature Gloria Swanson and the other is a set piece from Cecile B. De Mille’s “Male and Female” (1919). I’m a huge fan of Struss’ work.  Is anyone else reading this a fan, too? I’m curious to learn what you enjoy about Struss’ career. Here’s  link to a fabulous blog on Struss by the great cinematographer (and good friend of the Eastman House) John Bailey.

Here I am (center) with John and Susan Edwards Harvith.

The Harvith’s gifts this year are stills of Swanson and Elliott Dexter from De Mille’s “Something to Think About” (1920),Swanson laying on an elaborate daybed in De Mille’s “Male and Female,” Swanson on the set of De Mille’s “The Affair’s of Anatol” (1921), and the set piece from “Male and Female.” I wish I could post the images, but copyright restrictions prohibit that.  Struss was associated with Alfred Stieglitz and Clarence White in New York City as part of the early century movement advocating the fine art of photography.  After World War I, Struss relocated to Hollywood, working at first as a still photographer with De Mille and later as one of the great cinematographer in film history, his credits including many classic titles, notably such as his collaboration with Charles Rosher on the F.W. Murnau masterpiece, “Sunrise” (See John Bailey blog and his interpretation of the film on the DVD available commercially). Struss’ film career evolved over time into tricky and dazzling special effects and 3-D, but he kept on working, well into the second part of the century.  He died at 95 in 1981.

John and Susan Harvith have made huge contributions to the understanding of Struss’ accomplishments.  John is the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of University News and Magazines at the University of Pittsburgh.  Susan is a professor of film history at Oasis, associated with SUNY in Syracuse.  Together they interviewed Struss beginning in 1974 and organized in 1977, a touring exhibition of Struss’ forgotten still photography and films.  Thanks to the Harvith’s and others through the years, Eastman House has a solid collection of Struss’ work as a fine art photographer, as a movie still photographer and as a cinematographer. The House archive of De Mille’s films and materials is a mighty resource for Struss work, and our technology collection has the lenses that Struss developed, together with the materials he used to market them.  That is one of the pleasures of the Eastman House collection – that it is so often one stop shopping, so to speak, with its representation of careers that stretch through several disciplines – as with Struss, in photography, film, technology and manuscripts.  I’m eager to hear your appreciation of Struss – either here, or when you come to The House for a visit.

 At the core, the work of a museum is safeguarding cultural treasures and making them accessible as sociological and artistic documents. At Eastman House, a staff of about 100 supports that work in one way or another. From those who work with the collections to those whose jobs it is to manage the business of a museum — from development to facilities staff, and everything in between. My department, Publications, falls into the second category. Whereas the collections management staff — the curators — tell the stories of our collections through interpretation, it is the Publications Department’s job to tell the Museum’s stories.

One such story is ongoing and many faceted. The work of the conservation officers at the Museum is akin to doctors saving patients. By extending objects’ lives as long as possible, they make the collections available for future generations of viewers and interpreters.

The Fall 2010/Winter 2011 issue of the Museum’s members’ magazine, Image, focuses on the job(s) of conserving the artifacts in our collections. Articles discuss topics from the latest forensic technologies being used to help treat the oldest types of photographs, to how Eastman House is keeping vintage photographic processes alive by teaching them to people just like you and me … people with little or no training but a lot of interest. 

The issue also includes the voices of the people doing that work. Conservation staffers who have a passion for what they do and what they save.  As Managing Editor of Image, that is what I hoped we would capture and share in this issue — the passion that drives these individuals dedicated to making sure that my (and your) grandchildren will be able to experience the films and photographs that have helped shape our world.

Below is a conversation with Museum staff member Dan Wagner, a Film Preservation officer, and Taina Meller, the Conservator in Charge of photographic preservation projects. It talks about the passion, philosophy, and practices used when conserving photographs and preserving motion pictures at Eastman House. I hope you read it and I suspect that you’ll find it interesting. I know I find it what we do behind the scenes here at the “big house” fascinating every day.

The Roles of Conservation ©George Eastman house2010

Click here to access the Image Magazine archive.

Colorama #213
FAMILY WITH SANTA & TREE
(Brownie Super 27 camera)
Photographer: Don Marvin
Displayed Nov. 19- Dec. 17, 1962
George Eastman House collections 

View more Coloramas.

Shari Clement is a Docent and Eastman House Council member who combines her docent experience with greeting and welcoming the community into the Museum’s Visitor Enhancement experience. Among many other activities, Shari is the driving force of what is quickly becoming one of the most popular holiday traditions at the Museum: our Pancakce Breakfast. Our thanks to her for sharing her reflections on this year’s event:

 I really think the two Eastman House Council Pancake Breakfasts this year were the best yet!  The Council is building a tradition within the community by providing a graceful, enchanting opportunity for families to visit with St. Nick and Santa in a beautiful historical home and have fun inside the Museum during the holiday season. The Pancake Team (my nickname for the wonderful council volunteers) have been together for years now and we really have quite a bit to be proud of. We started the Pancake Breakfast fund raisers in the cafe with 44 guests and it has grown to sold-out capacity, with approximately 100 guests each Sunday.  

Shari (fourth from the right) with the Pancake Team.

All the families commented that they feel their celebration with us is a tradition and how they now look forward to this event each year. Of course, with so many photo ops among the holiday displays, taking pictures of these families with their smiles and excitement makes it all worthwhile.

Sometimes, I am asked about being the only person taking reservations and this is what I love most:  each reservation I take is a personal connection to the family coming to visit with us.  I learn about them and the number of children who will be visiting.  We share stories about their visits from past years and I get to brag about the beautiful decorations in the historical home of George Eastman when explaining what we offer.  When we meet and see each other again , I feel as if we are catching up like friends, which is what this fund raiser is all about.  I sincerely appreciate the Museum staff and violunteers that work to make this such a success. Thank you to all of the families who returned and a warm welcome to the new families who joined us this year!  Wishing you all peace, joy and future visits to George Eastman House.