Guide to the Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club records
Amanda Graham
Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library
Copyright 2011
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 264-2976
Fax: (916) 264-2884
Email: sacroom@saclibrary.org
URL: http://www.saclibrary.org
Sacramento Public Library. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club records
Collection number: MC 13
Sacramento Public LibrarySacramento Room
Sacramento, California
- Processed by:
- Amanda Graham
- Date Completed:
- 2011
- Encoded by:
- Amanda Graham
Copyright 2011 Sacramento Public Library. All rights reserved.
Title: Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club records
Dates: 1947-1989
Collection number: MC 13
Creator:
Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club
Collection Size:
3 linear ft.
(4 archival boxes)
Repository:
Sacramento Public Library. Sacramento Room
Sacramento, California 95814
Abstract: The Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club records are comprised of administrative records, minutes, newsletters, films, scrapbooks,
photographs, awards and other printed material documenting the activities of the Sacramento Movie Forum (later Sacramento
Amateur Movie Makers Club) from 1947 through 1989.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please contact the Sacramento Room.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research.
Use of the described materials may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Sacramento Public Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
[Identification of item], Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club records, MC 13, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library,
Sacramento, California.
Sacramento's first movie club organized in June 1937 as the Sacramento Movie Forum, a member of the Northern California Council
of Amateur Movie Clubs (NCC of AMC). The club met at the Clunie Clubhouse in McKinley Park in Sacramento, California, and
welcomed amateur filmmakers from all professions. Its purpose was to further home motion picture making, proper editing and
titling, continuity and story technique. The club hosted demonstrations on filming and editing techniques, participated in
intra and inter-club competitions and produced community service pieces for local organizations. Meetings were later held
in the Garden Arts Center at McKinley Park soon after its construction. In 1970, the Movie Forum became the Sacramento Amateur
Movie Makers Club (SAMM). In subsequent years, the club moved toward video and digital technology and later became affiliated
with Access Sacramento, community media in Sacramento.
The Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club records are comprised of administrative records, minutes, newsletters, films, scrapbooks,
photographs, awards and other printed material documenting the activities of the Sacramento Movie Forum (later Sacramento
Amateur Movie Makers Club) from 1947 through 1989. Administrative records include the 1961 and later revised constitutions
and membership rosters. Bound and loose meeting minutes cover club meetings from 1952-1953 and 1962-1967. The collection
also includes an almost complete run of the club's member bulletin from 1961-1988. There are also numerous films created
by club members that are represented in the collection (ca. 1959-1984). These include award-winning short films as well as
home movies, the majority created by longtime club member and secretary, Jewell Dawson. Also contained in the collection
are scrapbooks with clippings and views of club events, including awards presentations and filming activities. General club
records include club cards, a library inventory and other printed material.
This collection is organized into seven series:
- Series 1. Administration
- Series 2. Minutes
- Series 3. Bulletins
- Series 4. Films
- Series 5. Photographs and scrapbooks
- Series 6. Awards
- Series 7. General
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club
Cinematography -- California -- Sacramento
Box/Folder: 1/1
Box/Folder: 1/2-3
Box/Folder: 1/4-11
Box/Folder: 1/12, Box 2-3
Series 4. Photographs and scrapbooks 1947-1981
Series 5. Films 1959-1984
Physical Description: 18 film reels and 9 VHS tapes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series is comprised of eighteen 8mm and 16mm color film reels with short films created by Jewell Dawson as well as footage
of the Dawson family; and nine VHS tapes with transfers of "Movies of the Dawsons, Wests and Cevolas," which include additional
short films captured by other club members.
Box/Folder: 1/13, Box 4
Series 6. Awards 1955-1983
Physical Description: 1 box and 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series is comprised of trophies and other honors awarded to the Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers Club and to Jewell Dawson.
The majority of the awards are from competitions of the Sacramento Amateur Movie Makers club and the Northern California Council
of Amateur Movie Clubs.