The collection contains the organizational records of and film and video elements created by GroundSpark, a documentary film company established by Debra Chasnoff. GroundSpark's educational films often address subjects of human rights and sexuality.

Debra Chasnoff (1957-2017) was an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker and producer whose educational films promoted greater tolerance for gays and lesbians. She was president of GroundSpark, a nonprofit company whose Respect For All Project distributes films and companion educational guides for classroom discussion. Chasnoff's first film was Choosing Children (1984) and was co-produced with Kim Klausner, her partner at the time. The film profiled six same-sex couples who were raising children. Chasnoff's documentary short Deadly Deception: General Electric, Nuclear Weapons and Our Environment won an Academy Award in 1992. She is probably best known for the films It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School (1996) and That's A Family (2000). Other films produced and/or directed by Chasnoff include: Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up (2009), Let's Get Real (2003) about bullying, One Wedding and a Revolution (2004) about the legalization of same-sex marriage, and Celebrating the Life of Del Martin (2011) about lesbian activist Del Martin.

35 Cubic Feet (35 cartons of records, 1 oversized envelope) + approximately 1,259 film and video elements.

Copyright retained by GroundSpark.

UNARRANGED COLLECTION. Closed for research. Contact Hormel LGBTQIA Center archivist for more information.