Finding aid to Sheldon Renan program notes, correspondence, and related Pacific Film Archive material PFA.MSS.003
Christine Chevalier
BAMPFA Film Library
2009-04-23
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
BAMPFA Film Library
Title: Sheldon Renan program notes, correspondence, and related Pacific Film Archive material
creator:
Renan, Sheldon, 1941-
Identifier/Call Number: PFA.MSS.003
Physical Description:
2 cartons
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1967-1975
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English
Physical Description: Some of the documents were originally printed on tracing paper and are torn or heavily creased. These documents have been
photocopied.
Physical Location: UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive Film Library and Study Center
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Accruals
The collection appears to be is complete. It contains all of the Sheldon Renan papers that have been stored at the Pacific
Film Archive since his departure as director in 1975.
Arrangement
The material is arranged into five series:
Series 1 - PFA early years
Series 2 - Film materials from Renan period at PFA
Series 3 - Film programming materials
Series 4 - Festivals and conferences
Series 5 - Correspondence
Biographical / Historical
Sheldon Renan was born in Portland, Oregon in 1941. He graduated from Yale University in 1963 and prior to his arrival in
Berkeley he wrote television commercials in New York City and then worked for film importing companies. As a recipient of
a Rockefeller grant he was able to write a book about experimental films, "Introduction to American Underground Film". Renan
then came to Berkeley from New York City in 1966. Renan is considered to be the principal founder of the Pacific Film Archive
at the University Art Museum, University of California, Berkeley. Using the model he had seen at New York's Museum of Modern
Art where the film department served as archive, study center and exhibition program, Renan set out to start the same type
of organization in the Bay Area. Renan began by proposing this model to the San Francisco Museum of Art and then the Oakland
Museum but both institutions turned him down. However, the University Art Museum at Berkley's new director, Peter Selz agreed.
Sheldon Renan was appointed the Pacific Film Archive's first director in 1967. In September 1967 film programs were presented
on a weekly basis at Wheeler Auditorium on the university campus, and sometimes in a Dwinelle lecture hall. However, in its
beginnings the official existence of the Pacific Film Archive was not recognized by the university administration. This situation
evolved and on January 22, 1971 the PFA was given its permanent official home in the University Art Museum's new building
on Durant Avenue.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Sheldon Renan program notes, correspondence, and related Pacific Film Archive material, 1967-1975.
[PFA--MSS--003]. UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, University of California, Berkeley.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains the papers of Sheldon Renan, during his professional affiliation with the Pacific Film Archive at
the University of California, Berkeley. This includes his early work, starting in 1967, of founding the film archive and being
appointed the PFA's first director up until his resignation in 1975. Therefore the scope of the collection is from 1967 to
1975. The collection is a record of Renan's work in developing the PFA. The Renan papers in the collection include his notes
and correspondence on film programming projects presented at the PFA, as well as film festivals and conference papers Renan
attended while acting as the PFA director. Sheldon Renan's work represents a significant contribution to the achievements
of the modern Pacific Film Archive today. This archival collection is an important part of the PFA's heritage.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion picture producers and directors--California
Film festivals
Film archives
Motion picture theaters
Motion picture film collections
Renan, Sheldon, 1941-
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
Renan, Sheldon, 1941-
Box 1
Series 1 -- PFA early years
1969-1973, undated
Physical Description: 9 folders
Arrangement
This series is arranged by year.
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials related to Renan's work and the early development of the Pacific Film Archive. As the main
founder of the PFA, Sheldon Renan was instrumental in the evolution of the PFA as an institution. These documents contain
information regarding Renan's crucial role as director, as well as personal documents such as photos of Renan during this
time period, a biographical sketch as a press release and Renan's resignation in 1975.
Box 1, Folder 1
PFA opening celebration
1971
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 2
Renan biography and photos
1971, undated
Box 1, Folder 3
PFA growth and development report -- S. Renan
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 4
PFA and regional development
1970-1974, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 5
Report on regional development [Rough draft?]
approximately 1972-1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 6
Draft Report on Short Film Distribution
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 7
Pilot Study of Cultural Film Centers -- Research materials
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 8
Report on PFA organizational and operational problems by Andre G. Borda
1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 9
Renan resignation
1975
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1
Series 2 -- Film materials from Renan period at PFA
1967-1975, undated
Physical Description: 5 folders
Arrangement
This series is arranged topically.
Scope and Contents
This series represents a collection of film organizations' documents during the time period in which Renan was director at
the PFA. The contents contain information regarding the film history of years 1967 to 1975 on the UC Berkeley campus, in the
city of Berkeley, in the Bay Area and in other university film institutions across North America.
Box 1, Folder 10
Film presentations, advertisements, and brochures
approximately 1970-1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 11
Film groups and presentations at UC Berkeley and in the City of Berkeley
approximately 1967-1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 12
Film festival materials
1971-1973, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 13
Film publications and lists -- Materials and supplies
1968-1974, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 14
Film study centers newsletters and workshop
1968-1973, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1
Series 3 -- Film programming materials
1967-1974, undated
Physical Description: 13 folders
Arrangement
This series is arranged by date.
Scope and Contents
The series represents Renan's papers on film programming and film education work at UC Berkeley. This includes film programs
that were presented on the UC Berkeley campus before the PFA was recognized as an official university institution in 1971.
Also, the collection includes Renan's international film programming projects.
Box 1, Folder 15
Yugoslav films [Winter 1967]
1967
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 16
Summer 1967 film programs
1967
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 17
Fall 1968 Brazilian film series
1968
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 18
"Targets" -- Peter Bogdanovich Fall 1968 screening
1968
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 19
Film studies course
1968
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 20
Educational program materials
1968-1971, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 21
Campus area screenings
1970
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 22
French film week
1971
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 23
Swedish film retrospective
1971
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 24
Temple of the Wings screenings
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 25
Danish film week
1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 26
Chinese film project
1971-1974, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 1, Folder 27
Japanese film project
1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2
Series 4 -- Festivals and conferences
1969-1973, undated
Physical Description: 13 folders
Arrangement
This series is arranged by date.
Scope and Contents
The series contains Renan's papers on conferences he attended during his time as PFA director.
Box 2, Folder 1
Center for Participant Education, UC Berkeley, National Student Film Festival
1969
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 2
Council on Foundations, Inc., annual conference
1970
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 3
Other Ways conference
Spring 1970
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 4
L.A. Film Teachers' Association Conference
1970
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 5
University Art Museum
Spring 1971
Box 2, Folder 6
Media Instructors of Northern California
1971
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 7
College Editors' Conference
1971
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 8
Women's Film Festival
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 9
National Association of Media Educators Conference
1972-1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 10
Regional Development of Film Centers and Services conference
1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 11
Regional Development conference -- Participants, agenda, documents
1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 12
Regional Development conference -- Finances
1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 13
Paper for National Conference on Teaching Resources of Film and Media
1972-1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2
Series 5 -- Correspondence
1968-1974, undated
Physical Description: 17 folders
Arrangement
This series is arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the recipient/sender. In some cases the correspondence is filed
under an individual name and in others, it is filed under the organization. This type of name filing has been retained from
Renan's original filing system.
Scope and Contents
The series contains correspondence regarding Renan's work in getting the Pacific Film Archive off the ground. Any correspondence
directly related to PFA programming and development has been included in this series.
Box 2, Folder 14
Fundación Cinemateca Argentina
1970, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 15
Camille Cook
1971-1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 16
[UC Berkeley] Chancellor, 1969-1973
1969-1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 17
Cine/Media
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 18
Film commission
1972-1973, undated
Box 2, Folder 19
Tom Freudenheim: UAM/Film Archive
1968-1970
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 20
Japanese film programming
1971-1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 21
India
1971-1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 22
India National Film Archive
1970
1973-1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 23
International Film Seminars
1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 24
Henry Kaiser
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 25
Dick Koler (Computer Image)
1970-1971
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 26
Media Study, Inc. -- Gerald O'Grady
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 27
Millennium Film Workshop -- Howard Guttenplan
1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 28
National Council of Teachers of English
1972
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 29
Randolf Pitts
1971
Physical Description: 1 folder
Box 2, Folder 30
Milton Stern (UC Extension Dean)
1971-1972
Physical Description: 1 folder