MOTION PICTURES & SOUND AND VIDEO RECORDINGS in the National Archives National Archives and Records Administration Washington, DC The National Archives houses one of the world's largest audiovisual collections. In terms of unique items, there are over 150,000 reels of film, 160,000 sound recordings, and a rapidly growing collection of more than 20,000 videotapes. There are generally several copies of each item to ensure preservation and research needs. The preservation copies are securely stored in a climate-controlled facility, equipped with refrigerated vaults, in Alexandria, VA. The research or reference copies are kept in the National Archives Building in downtown Washington and are accessible in the audiovisual research room. Over 2,000 linear feet of card catalogs and a computerized database provide detailed subject access. The National Archives Act of 1934, which established the Archives as a federal agency, was one of the earliest pieces of legislation to recognize the importance of motion pictures and sound recordings as historical documents. Subsequent laws and regulations defined the record character of audiovisual documents produced or acquired by federal agencies, which are required to offer their permanently valuable records for deposit in the National Archives when no longer needed for current business. Under this same authority the National Archives also accepts donations of audiovisual materials from private individuals and organizations. The audiovisual holdings are a specialized collection of historical documentation. The films are primarily nonfiction and consist of edited and unedited footage, documentaries, newsreels, news film, instructional films, screen magazines, combat films, research and development test films, and other formats. The sound recordings consist of voice recordings of speeches, interviews, press conferences, interrogations, proceedings, and meetings. Original videotapes are primarily television news programs and telecast proceedings of the U.S. Congress. Most audiovisual documentation relates to the activities of federal agencies, including coverage of their principal officials, programs, and impact in the United States or abroad. Among the many diverse subjects are farming, environment, labor, urban affairs, military operations, international relations, culture, civil defense, nuclear power, aviation, and space exploration. The Gift Collection contains numerous items such as newsreels and recordings of radio broadcasts that relate to many aspects of U.S. and world history since the turn of the century. Some of the larger government record groups and gift collections are listed below: U.S. GOVERNMENT Agriculture Department Air Force Army Signal Corps House of Representatives Foreign Records Seized Marine Corps National Aeronautics and Space Administration Navy Department Office of Economic Opportunity Office of War Information Peace Corps Senate Supreme Court U.S. Information Agency GIFT COLLECTIONS ABC Radio News, 1943-72 C-SPAN, 1983- Ford Film Collection, 1914-56 Fox-Movietone News, 1957-63 Harmon Foundation (films), 1930-51 League of Nations (films), 1920-46 March of Time Stock Film Library, 1935-50's MacNeil-Lehrer Reports, 1976-83 Milo Ryan Phono Archive, 1933-77 Mutual Radio News, 1935-72 National Public Radio, 1971- News of the Day, 1963-67 Paramount Newsreel, 1941-57 Universal Newsreels, 1929-67 Archival responsibilities relating to motion pictures, sound recordings, and videotapes are carried out by the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch, which is part of the Special Archives Division. Among the branch's principal functions are appraisal and disposition; accessioning, preservation, and storage; description or cataloging; and reference service. In addition to responsibility for the permanent holdings, the branch operates a stock footage depository where federal agencies are encouraged to deposit outtakes and trims of current productions in order to make them readily available to other government or private filmmakers. The program also includes courtesy storage for an agency's original copies. Current audiovisual programs produced by or for the U.S. Government may be obtained from the National Audiovisual Center, Washington, DC 20409. It should be noted that each Presidential library has its own distinct audiovisual collection. The audiovisual collection of the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch may be examined in the Audiovisual Research Room (G-13) in the National Archives Building, located at 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. in downtown Washington. Research hours are 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Reservations for audiovisual equipment are advised. Videotape copies of many films are available on a self-service basis. Although loan service is not available from the permanent holdings, reproductions may be purchased for a laboratory fee. Audiovisual records of U.S. Government origin are generally in the public domain, but copies from other sources may require special permission before duplication and sale. The branch reference staff will try to answer written and telephone inquiries, but scholars and media producers interested in broad subject areas are encouraged to visit the research facilities. For additional information or reservations, please write or telephone: National Archives and Records Administration Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch (NNSM) Washington, DC 20408 (202) 501-5449, 501-5626, or 501-5627 Fax (202) 501-5778 National Archives and Records Administration Washington, DC 20408 General Information Leaflet Number 33 Revised 1993 [Electronic edition, June 1993] Illustrations [Illustrations have been omitted from the electronic edition.] Cover: Orson Welles (1945), Records of the Office of War Information, RG 208. 1. Threat of Soviet communism (1951), Department of Defense, filed in Records of the U.S. Information Agency, RG 306. 2. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ca. 1954), Records of the U.S. Information Agency, RG 306. 3. "Private Snafu" (1944), Records of the Army Signal Corps, RG 111. 4. "The Plow That Broke the Plains" (1936), Records of the Farmers Home Administration, RG 96. 5. Henry Ford and the 15 millionth Ford (1927), Ford Film Collection, National Archives Gift Collection, RG 200.