Preserving Local History Through Film: A Conversation with Northeast Historic Film

The Photo Detective

Northeast Historic Film is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 to preserve and share historic films from Maine and the broader New England region. Based in Bucksport, Maine, their extensive collection includes home movies, local TV news, documentary films, and more. In this episode of the Photo Detective podcast, co-founders David Weiss and Jane Donnell discuss their mission to save endangered films and make them accessible through digitization and online platforms.

• They provide film preservation services like digitization for individuals and institutions. They have climate-controlled vaults for long-term storage of film.
• Home movies are a core part of their collection. These give insights into everyday life, local history, family dynamics, fashion, and architecture.
• Their theater shows archival clips before contemporary films. They also share films on their website, YouTube, etc.
• Filmmakers and documentarians contact them looking for footage to license.
• They constantly get new donations as historic films surface from basements, attics, etc. Digitization is a key focus to make the films more accessible.

Related Episodes:

Episode 172: Vintage Film Finds with B. Wells Douglas

Episode 65: Lost Films Needs Your Help with Eli Savada

Links:

• Northeast Historic Film
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About My Guests:

David S. Weiss is the co-founder and executive director of Northeast Historic Film, a non-profit moving image archive located in Bucksport, Maine. Jane Donnell is the Marketing, Membership & Theatre Manager. Since its founding in 1986, NHF has built collections including more than 12 million feet of film and 10,000 hours of videotape. The facility includes a 3-story climate-controlled moving image vault building, technical services section, study center and the Alamo Theater.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveTM helps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Learn more at

I'm thrilled to be offering something new. Photo investigations. These collaborative one-on-one sessions. Look at your family photos then you and I meet to discuss your mystery images. And find out how each clue and hint might contribute to your family history. Find out more by going to maureentaylor.com and clicking on family photo investigations.

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