Maurice Sorrell Home Movie #8: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Consists of: 8mm Film (a), Original film reel (b), Original film canister (c).

2016.95.11.1a: 8mm film. This home movie begins with a title card that reads “Ansco”. The opening footage is of shriners’ participating in a parade. Multiple camera angles cover the parade at various points throughout the route. Along the route, various store signs can be seen in the background. Some of the signs that can be seen are “Morris Market”, “Standard” (drugs, cosmetics, liquor), and “Brass Brail”. There are a number of shots featuring women bandleaders.

2016.95.11.1c: Original film can. Inside, there is a pink, handwritten note. Handwritten pen reads: “Shriners’ New York”.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1950-1965
• Created by: Maurice Sorrell, American, 1914 - 1998
• Type: motion pictures (information artifacts)
• Type: 8mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: 8mm Film (a): acetate film;
• Medium: Reel (b): plastic;
• Medium: Film Can (c): metal
• Dimensions: Duration: 3.5 Minutes
• Dimensions: Film Length: 60 Feet
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Associations and institutions
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Holidays and festivals
• Topic: Men
• Topic: Societies
• Topic: Travel
• Object number: 2016.95.11.1abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Bonita F. Bing & The Late Blanche Beatrice Sorrell
• 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: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.