Guide to the Sandra Bean Home Movie Collection

Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Sandra Bean Home Movie Collection

Collection number: MS 160

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

Oakland, California
Processed by:
Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:
2014-12-03
Encoded by:
Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Sandra Bean Home Movie Collection
Dates: circa 1930s-1950s
Collection number: MS 160
Creator: Bean, Sandra.
Collection Size: 1.5 linear feet (1 box)
Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: The Sandra Bean Home Movie Collection includes nine reels of 8mm and 16mm film documenting African Americans beginning in the late 1930s. The home movies include four b&w and four color films totaling 103 minutes and shows women gardening, children playing, sleeping car porters traveling across the country working for the Pullman Company, and families enjoying their leisure time dancing and fishing. A majority of the footage is thought to be taken by Ernest Bean, a sleeping car porter from the Bay Area, and documents the work of sleeping car porters working for the Pullman Company and middle class African Americans in the Bay Area during the 1930s-1940s.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Original film reels restricted. Digital files are open to the public.

Access Restrictions

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish from the Sandra Bean Home Movie Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

Sandra Bean Home Movie Collection, MS 160, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Acquisition Information

Collection was donated by Sandra Bean to the African American Museum & Library at Oakland in January 2007.

Processing Information

Processed by Sean Heyliger on December 3, 2014.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Sandra Bean Home Movie Collection includes nine reels of 8mm and 16mm film documenting African Americans beginning in the late 1930s. The home movies include four b&w and four color films totaling 103 minutes and shows women gardening, children playing, sleeping car porters traveling across the country working for the Pullman Company, and families enjoying their leisure time dancing and fishing. A majority of the footage is thought to be taken by Ernest Bean, a sleeping car porter from the Bay Area, and documents the work of sleeping car porters working for the Pullman Company and middle class African Americans in the Bay Area during the 1930s-1940s. The collection also includes four portraits of members of the Bean family.

Arrangement

Series I: Home movies Series II: Photographs

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
African American railroad employees.
African American families--California.
Amateur films.
Berkeley (Calif.)--Pictorial works.
Pullman cars--History.


 

Home movies

Physical Description: 9 reels + 9 digital files

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes 9 8mm and 16 mm reels and digital files of home movies recorded by Ernest Bean.
Box 1

Reel 2 circa late 1940s-1950s

Physical Description: b&w, 8mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 18 (min):33(s)
Material Specific Details: Intertitle: Kid Pulley on his way [Man crossing street] [0:20] Intertitle: Mrs. Brown, Ashley Ave., Berkeley, California [Woman in front of house] [0:53] Intertitle: Charley Johnson and His Cool Can [1:07] Intertitle: Mrs. Rowe [Woman in front of house][1:22] Intertitle: Porters on railroad platform [1:38] Intertitle: The Great Salt Lake [2:38] Intertitle: Supt. Armstrong and Porters, Eugene, Oregon [2:58] Intertitle: Willie Smith Jitter Bug Watch Him Go [3:29] Intertitle: Mt. Shasta from the Train [3:42] Intertitle: At Peace with the World [Two people sleeping on blanket in meadow] [4:07] Intertitle: Fishing at Whisky [sic] Slough Frank Nat Rose [Two men and woman fishing from shoreline] [4:25] Intertitle: Dave and Alia Washington[Man and woman walking next to parked car on roadside] [4:55] Intertitle: End of a Perfect Day Fishing [Group of men talking in residential street/Man watering front lawn – house on California HWY 24/Man painting front steps/Girl swinging on swing set and sliding down slide] [5:23] Woman and two girls walking on sidewalk [8:19] Three men talking on sidewalk [8:37] Two women and man in backyard [9:17] Older woman in front of house [10:28] Two men in crossing street with arms around each [10:40] View of New York City skyline [10:54] Man, woman, and two children in front of townhouse, snow on ground [11:21] Railroad operator waving from railroad engine 4358 [12:30] Two women carrying grocery bags crossing street, Safeway store in the background [12:49] Two men in suits leaving house [12:55] Group of men talking on sidewalk [13:01] Two men and woman playing with dog in yard and walking dog on sidewalk [13:30] Man stepping out of parked car [14:09] Two girls playing [14:14] Man and woman standing next to car with California license plate parked on street [14:23] Two men play boxing in train yard [14:34] Cars driving on street, Bill George storefront in the background [14:55] Downtown street with snow-capped mountain in the background [15:06] Three men in suits walking on sidewalk in front of the Healy Hotel [15:16] Man in suit standing on train station platform [15:22] Train moving past camera [15:49] Two men in suits standing on front steps [16:10] Two women walking on sidewalk [16:34] Doorman helping girl into Yellow Cab Co. taxi [16:40] Two porters and two men talking next to train car [16:45] Women crying looking out train car window, James Dwight painted on side of train car [16:50] Passengers getting on train, porter standing to the side of train car [16:54] Two men leaning against fence [17:02] Passengers on a train [17:07] Aerial view of woman crossing street and getting on bus [17:20] Family on walkway in front of house [17:31]
Box 1

Reel 3 circa 1940s - 1950s

Physical Description: b&w, 8mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 9 (min): 45 (s)
Material Specific Details: Woman sweeping front walkway [0:00] Two women sitting on front steps [00:14] Woman walking next to house and getting into parked car with two young girls [00:27] Two men talking and laughing as they cross street [00:49] Two boys and woman playing in front yard [1:06] Boy standing on front porch twirling hands [2:03] Girl putting on roller skates sitting on front porch steps, girl walking on walkway in front of house, man and two women sitting on front steps [2:16] Woman hanging laundry on clothesline in yard hiding from camera [3:11] Group of children playing in yard and street, foot race in street [3:34] View of mountains from moving train, train entering mountain tunnel, train crossing bridge [4:30] View of Tecate Railroad Station as train passes by [5:34] View of desert cactus as train passes by [5:49] Children standing next to train talking to passengers hanging out train windows [6:00] Woman sitting next to parked car talking to woman sitting in passenger seat [6:09] Man in military uniform walking on sidewalk [6:41] Woman standing next to parked car talking to woman sitting in passenger seat [6:50] Man and woman in backyard [7:06] Man waves to camera as he gets into parked car [7:40] Woman crossing street [7:50] Two children walking on sidewalk, woman helps them cross street [8:00] Woman sweeping from porch [8:24] Boy and girl sitting at table looking at magazine [8:41] Man and two children walking on sidewalk [9:08] Street scene, Dominick’s Grocery storefront across street [9:31]
Box 1

Reel 4 circa 1930s - 1950s

Physical Description: b&w, 8mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 14 (min):40 (s)
Material Specific Details: Street scene, Luzianne Tea, Regal Lager Beer, Pullman Bar, Rampart Inn, Jax Beer signs across street [0:18] Puppy and chickens in yard, [0:54] Train stopped in mountains, suspension bridge above [1:11] Woman and girl in front yard [1:26] Men and women outside of house [1:59] Woman getting into parked car [2:39] Man walking on sidewalk, older couple in front yard, two women and girl on sidewalk [2:49] Three men in suits talking in front of house [5:42] Man lying on dock holding fishing pole, group of men and women fishing from dock [5:44] Two figures walking towards parked car [6:59] Man and dog lying on dock [7:06] Woman fishing from dock, bridge in the background [7:18] Group of men and women walking on road [7:34]
Box 1

Reel 5 circa 1930s - 1950s

Physical Description: b&w, 8mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 14 (min):40 (s)
Material Specific Details: Two men throwing football in street [00:05] Five men and women and dog on sidewalk [00:38] Woman holding child in front of house [00:57] Toddler walking on walkway in front of house [1:09] Family in front of house [1:17] Woman wearing apron waving from back porch [2:01] Aerial view of man walking on sidewalk [2:08] Woman with broom on front porch [2:19] Person peeking out of window across street [2:28] Aerial view of man walking on sidewalk [2:37] View of snow-capped mountain range from moving train [2:55] Four men in suits talking on sidewalk in front of drycleaners [3:08] Woman and two men walking on sidewalk, liquor store in the background [3:13] Woman walking down front porch steps, waving from front porch [3:20] Man getting out of parked car, two men and woman pretending to hitchhike [3:36] Group of people getting a drink [4:07] Sleeping car porter standing next to train as passengers board train [4:22] Two ducklings and chickens in yard [4:26] Intertitle: Taking It on the Lam [Woman running into house away from camera] [4:49] Intertitle: Mr Ferniel Doing his Homework [Man washing windows] [5:03] Intertitle: Under the Plum Tree Watch the Get Away [Two women in yard, one running away from camera][5:33] Intertitle: Ducking the Camera at 60 mi. per. Hour [Man grabbing cloth off shrub, woman sitting on front porch drinking from glass] [6:14] Intertitle: Hattie the Baby and Jess [Woman and girl walking down front porch steps][6:35] Intertitle: Trying to Get Mrs. Channie Mills in Camera Range [Aerial view of man and woman getting into car] [7:06] Intertitle: Mrs. Alexandra and Tiny the Pup [Woman holding dog in backyard] [7:23] Intertitle: Jiggs the Cat [Kitten on table in backyard] [7:31] Intertitle: Grace and Janet [Woman and girl walking on sidewalk] [7:38] Intertitle: Mrs. Brazos at Play [Woman cooking/cleaning [?] in backyard] [8:17] Intertitle: Mr. and Mrs. Wasington at Work [Man and woman weeding yard] [8:33] Man crossing street, two men smoking cigarettes on sidewalk [9:23] Group of women drinking next to house [9:48] Man sweeping sidewalk [10:56] Intertitle: A. Very Busy Neighbor [Woman sweeping front steps][11:12] Man and woman talking on sidewalk [11:32] Group of men on sidewalk talking [11:49] Intertitle: Rev. Runyon and daughter Myrtle [Man and woman walking down front steps][12:38] Intertitle: Mow’em Down Anderson on the Job [Man mowing lawn][13:13]
Box 1

Reel 7 circa 1950s

Physical Description: b&w, 8mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 11 (min) 11 (s)
Material Specific Details: Woman walking down front steps of house, picking flowers in front yard [0:06] Man and three women standing in backyard [1:41] Man painting window sill [?][2:52] Group of children line dancing in backyard, group of children standing on sidewalk [3:05] Group of women in backyard parading in front of camera, waving to camera [3:35] Man in suit standing next to car parked in driveway waving to camera [5:07] Man walking on sidewalk [5:30] Aerial view of two women crossing street [5:35] Three girls and woman walking on sidewalk [5: 58] Elderly woman inspecting plants in garden [6:26] Man and woman walking on sidewalk [6:37] Three women standing in front yard [6:45] Woman wearing high heels and large hat crossing street [7:00] Women talking next to parked car, man picks up kitten [7:07] Four women and girl talking on sidewalk, two women and girl walking on sidewalk towards camera [7:50] Woman locking shed door [8:47] Woman riding bicycle with no hands down street [8:51] Man and woman holding baby walking on sidewalk [8:54] Two cats and two geese eating in backyard [9:33] Two women and boy next to parked car [9:45] Woman and two boys walking on sidewalk outside of store, two boys playing with balls [9:59]
Box 1

Reel 1 circa 1950s

Physical Description: color, 16mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 6 (min) 00 (s)
Material Specific Details: Three woman and man holding toddler sitting outside on bench [0:03] Two women and man walking on sidewalk [0:49] Group of men and women standing on sidewalk [1:26] Three men in suits walking on sidewalk toward camera [2:52] Two men and woman in backyard looking at plants in garden [3:03] Three men shaking hands next to house [3:41] Two women looking at plants in garden, cooking [3:51] Two women, chicken, dog, and cat in backyard [5:07]
Box 1

Reel 2 circa 1950s

Physical Description: color, 16mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 8 (min) 08 (s)
Material Specific Details: Man in suit waving to camera, Sunset Gas Station in background [0:11] Two men and woman drinking in backyard [0:40] Man and three women having picnic under tree [1:51] Man and two women in garden pot store [2:25] Man and woman playing with kitten on sidewalk [2:43] Man smoking cigar watering lawn with garden hose [3:27] Man and woman playing with kitten on sidewalk [3:40] Women walking on walkway to house [3:51] Woman and girl walking away from house [4:25] Boy driving peddle car and girl riding tricycle pulling Radio Flyer wagon in driveway, boy kissing girl on cheek, man and boy playing with cap guns [4:40] Group of women posing in backyard joined by two men [5:50] Rockwell Realty store front in the distance [6:20] Two men in suits standing in front of house, group of women standing on patio two of which are dancing [6:25] Five men and women in backyard [7:07]
Box 1

Reel 3 circa 1950s

Physical Description: color, 16mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 5 (min) 48 (s)
Material Specific Details: Aerial view of woman carrying groceries into house [0:12] Group of men, women, and children standing on sidewalk in front of house, one man in military uniform [0:22] Man and woman sitting in lawn chair smoking [0:55] Man and three women standing on sidewalk with arms around each other [1:22] Man and two women in backyard [1:33] Two women and man walking on sidewalk [1:43] Woman running down front steps of house [1:50] Group of men and women drinking and laughing in driveway [1:57] Man and two women getting into parked car [3:34] Two women sitting on bench outside talking, one holds a newspaper in her lap [4:05] Aerial view of man and woman getting into car [4:17] Two women in formal attire and man smoking cigar standing on sidewalk [4:39] Aerial view of man crossing street, kicks car tire in road, and continues walking on sidewalk smoking cigarette [5:03] Two men and woman sitting outside at patio table talking [5:25]
Box 1

Reel 4 circa 1950s

Physical Description: color, 16mm
Physical Description: Run Time: 21 (min) 36 (s)
Material Specific Details: Man and three women standing on sidewalk [0:11] Woman carrying branch [?] wagging nose at someone in the distance as she crosses street [0:17] Group of men, women and children hanging out on sidewalk in front of house [0:30] Woman in backyard twirling flower, cutting flowers, playing with dog [1:55] Woman holding purse standing on front steps in front of house, two men walking back and forth in yard [3:44] Man and women standing next to car in driveway, two men on front porch shaking hands laughing [4:33] Group of men and women dancing in yard [4:58] Man looking under rear bumper of parked car [6:35] Boy standing in doorway, family standing next to house, man talking to camera [6:41] Man and woman weeding yard [6:28] Exterior of house [7:45] Woman walking through yard towards camera, man comes out of house and gestures toward camera, man unhooking hose [7:54] Man and woman standing on sidewalk next to parked car [8:45] Two women picking hydrangea blooms in garden [8:57] Girl riding bicycle in street, two women walking on sidewalk [9:20] Group of men, women, and children standing on sidewalk in front of house, one man in military uniform [10:45] Group of men and women watching toddler walk in backyard [12:16] Group of men and women eating at patio tables in backyard [12:43] Two women in backyard [13:54] Aerial view of railroad yard, view from moving train of Eli 340 E. 47th St. sign [14:01] Boy standing next to building, man smoking [14:32] Exterior sign of the DuSable Hotel, ‘transients welcome’ [15:02] Woman and two girls standing next to building, workers in the background [15:07] Mountains in the background [15:19] Two men sitting on front steps of house talking [15:30] Two women walking next to house looking at flowers, woman standing on sidewalk [15:53] Woman hiding from camera behind bush [16:24] Two boys walking on sidewalk [16:28] Blank [16:32]
 

Photographs

Physical Description: 3 photographs

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes four portraits of members of the Bean family.
Box 1

Portrait of Ernest Bean [reproduction][001] circa 1930s

Box 1

Portrait of Charles Bean, father of Ernest Bean [reproduction] [002] undated

Box 1

Portrait of Roger Jim Bean, brother of Ernest Bean [reproduction] [003] undated

Box 1

Portrait of Lillian C. Bean, wife of Charles Bean [reproduction] [004] undated