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