History of the Negro in America: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A documentary series with the title History of the Negro in America. It consists of three (3) reels of black-and-white 16mm acetate film with optical sound.

Each film has a different focus and title. The first film (part 1) is titled "1619-1860 Out of Slavery;” the second film (part 2) is titled “1861-1877 Civil War and Reconstruction;” while the third film (part 3) is titled “1877- Freedom Movement.” The films use black-and-white stills to describe key points of American history such as the election of President Abraham Lincoln; the role of African Americans in the American Civil War; the role of churches and philanthropists in the education of African Americans; African Americans during the Great Depression; and the activities of the Ku Klux Klan.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1965
• Directed by: Milton Meltzer, American, 1915 - 2009
• Directed by: Alvin Yudkoff, American, born 1923
• Written by: Milton Meltzer, American, 1915 - 2009
• Written by: Alvin Yudkoff, American, born 1923
• Narrated by: James Earl Jones, American, 1931 - 2024
• Owned by: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
• Type: sound films
• Type: black-and-white films (visual works)
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 1): 20 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 700 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 2): 17 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 600 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 3): 20 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 700 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Antislavery
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Freedom
• Topic: Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
• Topic: Religion
• Object number: 2017.55.24.1abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.