William O’Farrell Fellowship Awarded
Northeast Historic Film (NHF) is pleased to announce the first award of the William O’Farrell Fellowship to Caitlin McGrath, Ph.D. candidate in Cinema and Media Studies, University of Chicago. The William O'Farrell Fellowship is awarded to an individual engaged in research toward a publication, production, or presentation based on moving image history and culture, particularly amateur and nontheatrical film. The award honors the legacy of Canadian film archivist William S. O’Farrell, an advocate for amateur and nontheatrical film collections. O’Farrell was a valued supporter of NHF and an unparalleled mentor and friend. (for a full description of the Fellowship and criteria read below)
The selection committee was delighted with the strong field of applicants and the range of their proposals. The Fellowship provides a stipend of $1,500 to support research at NHF, a regional moving image archives established in 1986.
McGrath, who expects to receive her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in June 2010, will pursue research relating to amateur film taken at the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair. Her previous research has focused on how films helped establish the Fair’s theme of “The World of Tomorrow.”
Her current study, to be undertaken at the archives in Bucksport, Maine, this summer, will focus on amateur film records of the New York World’s Fair, studying what the creators found most striking and worth recording on film. She will, in one instance, compare coverage from the Fair in 1939 and in 1940. She writes, “In my previous research into the fair, I examined how the fair changed between its two seasons. The first season, when the theme was “The World of Tomorrow,” was followed by an extensive transformation of the fairgrounds in the wake of the eruption of World War II. After this transformation, the fair’s theme became “For Peace and Freedom.” These two reels [from the Samuel Horovitz Collection] may reflect this shift – did they film things that had changed? Is this change what motivated their return trip?”
The 2011 William O’Farrell Fellowship competition will be announced in the fall, with applications accepted through mid-January 2011. For more information, contact
Barbara Manning, NHF Business Manager, at barb@oldfilm.org.
William O'Farrell Fellowship at Northeast Historic Film
Northeast Historic Film (NHF) is pleased to announce the William O’Farrell Fellowship program. The William O'Farrell Fellowship is awarded to an individual engaged in research toward a publication, production, or presentation based on moving image history and culture, particularly amateur and nontheatrical film. It honors the continuing legacy of Canadian film archivist William O’Farrell, a long time advocate for amateur and nontheatrical film collections.
The fellowship is designed to support a month’s study within Northeast Historic Film’s collections. Awardees must commit a minimum of two weeks to research in residency at NHF.
Eligibility
· Researchers from all academic disciplines are eligible and encouraged to apply.
· Applicants may be current graduate students, faculty, or staff at a college or university; archive professionals; film producers; or independent scholars.
· The fellowship is open to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals with appropriate visas
· Proposed research must be for work intended for publication, production, or presentation with significant research in the collections of Northeast Historic Film.
Selection Criteria
The William O'Farrell Fellow selection committee reviews the following:
· The applicant's experience,
· The significance and interest value of the project, and
· The appropriateness of the proposed research to the collections of Northeast Historic Film.
Available support
· The program provides a stipend of $1,500
· Staff support with access to NHF collection and related databases,
· Use of film and videotape viewing facilities within NHF business hours,
· Up to 8 hours of transfer and/or editing services, if applicable (fees waived),
· Copyright releases for educational and research purposes, if applicable (fees waived), and
· Office space including a computer with network and internet connections, telephone, and photocopier.
· Housing is not provided, but NHF staff will assist the fellow in identifying lodging if needed. (Please note, seasonal rentals are plentiful on the Maine coast, but they can be expensive. Off-season rentals typically start at $400 - $600/week. Summer rates are higher. Short-term apartment rentals are difficult to find, but may be available for $600 - $1,200/month.)
How to Apply
The following materials comprise a complete application:
· Application form
· Current curriculum vitae
· The names and contact for two references
Application materials should be emailed to Barbara Manning, NHF Business Manager, at barb@oldfilm.org. The complete application must be received no later than January 20, 2010. The fellowship will be awarded on or before April 1, 2010. Application Form
Other Requirements
The fellowship may be assumed any time beginning April 1, 2010, and must be completed by October 31, 2010. The fellow is required to produce an 800 – 1,200 word journalistic article describing activities and findings for the Winter 2010 Moving Image Review.
The fellow is required to conduct a minimum of two weeks research on site at NHF.
Participation in NHF’s Summer Film Symposium in 2010 and/or 2011 is strongly encouraged but not required. (The award will include, in addition to the $1,500 fellowship, complimentary symposium registration.)
About Northeast Historic Film
Northeast Historic Film, an independent nonprofit organization, was founded in 1986 to preserve and make available moving images of interest to the people of northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts). We hold ten million feet of film in 8mm, Super 8mm, 9.5mm, 16mm, 28mm, and 35mm and 8,000 analog and digital video recordings that do not duplicate the film holdings. For a more detailed description of the collections and related materials, click here.
NHF is located in a 1916 cinema building with newly constructed cold storage and a study center, where the organization hosts an annual Summer Symposium and runs a community cinema.
The William O’Farrell Fellowship was established in 2009 to honor an important individual who contributed in significant ways to the history of NHF. Bill O’Farrell (1954-2008) worked as Chief, Moving Image and Audio Conservation of the Archives of Canada. He was a valued Advisor to NHF, providing intellectual and practical support to the archives for many years.