Were You There?: The Black West: Museum Object and Cultural History
Were You There?: The Black West: Date: 1979. Written by: Carol Munday Lawrence, American. Produced by: Carol Munday Lawrence, American.
The object in the museum catalogue
A documentary film with the title The Black West from the mini television series Were You There? It consists of a single reel of positive 16mm acetate film with bilateral variable-area optical sound.
The film depicts the experiences of African American cowboys and the settler families of the late 1800s and early 1900s, relying on reenactments and personal narratives. Some of the individuals featured in the film include black cowboy George Ellison, rodeo competitor Frank Greenway, and Eunice Norris, who discusses her experience as a black child growing up in the West.
Materials, dates and provenance
- Date: 1979
- Written by: Carol Munday Lawrence, American
- Produced by: Carol Munday Lawrence, American
- Directed by: Robert N. Zagone, American, born 1938
- Published by: Beacon Films, American
- Published by: Nguzo Saba Films, Inc., American, founded 1973
- Subject of: Eunice Norris, American, born 1897
- Subject of: Frank Greenway, American
- Subject of: George Ellison, American
- Type: sound films
- Type: color films (visual works)
- Type: short subjects
- Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
- Medium: acetate film
- Dimensions: Duration: 28 min.
- Dimensions: Physical extent (film): 1000 ft
- Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place filmed: Colorado, United States, North and Central America
- Place filmed: Arizona, United States, North and Central America
- Place made: United States, North and Central America
- Topic: African American
- Topic: Agriculture
- Topic: American West
- Topic: Children
- Topic: Documentary films
- Topic: Film
- Topic: Gender
- Topic: Migrations
- Object number: 2017.55.1.1a
- 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.
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