Medomak Camp Collection

Medomak Camp Collection
Credit: Medomak Camp Collection, Northeast Historic Film. Counselor with bugle at day's end, Washington, Maine.
Medomak Camp Collection, 1963
Camp 1971 Allagash Katahdin, 2568
film (15,000 ft.) : sd. and si., b&w and col. ; 16 mm.
1920 – 1970
Washington, ME
Credit: Excerpt from Medomak Camp Collection, Northeast Historic Film. Campers learn Maliseet traditions, ca. 1930s.
Collection contains film of boys' summer camp activities. Medomak Camp was founded in 1904 by Frank E. Poland as a farming camp for city boys on the farm where he was born in Washington, Maine. In the early part of the 20th century Poland strove to create a challenging and rewarding outdoor experience for boys. Frank Poland ran the camp until 1958, when his assistant, Howard Hoople, took over until 1979, when it was sold to the Church of the Nazarene. Medomak was purchased by a former camper and became a public camp again in the late 1990s. Most of the early film was shot by Frank Poland. Beginning in the 1950s much of it was shot by Chet Shepard, a professional photographer and a member of the camp staff. Some of the surviving footage was taken for promotion, other footage was clearly designed for entertainment.
Donor James Newton inherited the collection as a result of a family connection to the camp. His connection began with his grandfather, who went to Medomak as a counselor in 1919. James Newton also attended Medomak; his last summer was in 1978.
Northeast Historic Film
The Collection is open for research.
Authorization to reuse and/or reproduce must be obtained from Northeast Historic Film. See http://www.oldfilm.org/research for more information.

31 Items in this collection

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