Accession 14-207

Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications

Productions, circa 1976-1994

Descriptive Entry

This accession consists of audiovisual elements created during the production of "Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition," "Thomas Edison and His Amazing Invention Factory," "Work of Peace," and "Yorktown."

"Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition" accompanied the exhibition "1876: A Centennial Exhibition," which opened in the Arts and Industries Building in 1976, and documents the history of the Philadelphia Exhibition. It was narrated by James Whitmore. In 1976, the film won the CINE Golden Eagle Award, and, in 1978, it won four Emmy Awards.

"Thomas A. Edison and His Amazing Invention Factories," produced in 1979, is a companion film to the exhibition "Edison: Lighting a Revolution" at the National Museum of American History. The 28 minute film was a biography featuring the invention of electric light and the founding of research labs. The film won the 1980 CINE Golden Eagle Award.

"Work of Peace" is a 30 minute television program about the Treaty of Paris of 1783. The program had its national premiere on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) network. It won the Silver Medal at the International Film and TV Festival of New York, the Silver Award at the Houston International Film Festival, a CINE Golden Eagle, and second place in the 1985 National Educational Film Festival.

"Yorktown" was produced by Guggenheim Productions Inc. with oversight from the Office of Telecommunications. The 28 minute film was completed and released in 1982, and was created to commemorate the bicentennial of the Battle of Yorktown, the final battle of the American Revolution. The film features the bicentennial re-enactment of the battle.

Materials include videotapes, a reel-to-reel audiotape, and reels of 16 mm film and soundtrack. Some materials are masters.

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Restrictions

Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

• 1876: A Centennial Exhibition (1976: Washington, D.C.)
• Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.)
• Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition (Motion picture : 1976)
• Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.)
• Definitive Treaty of Peace Between Great Britain and the United States (1783 September 3)
• Edison: Lighting a Revolution (Exhibition) (1980: Washington, D.C.)
• Guggenheim Productions, inc.
• National Museum of American History (U.S.)
• Public Broadcasting Service (U.S.)
• Thomas A. Edison and His Amazing Invention Factories (Motion picture : 1979)
• Whitmore, James
• Work of Peace (Television program : 1984)
• Yorktown (Motion picture : 1982)

Subject

• Documentary films
• Documentary television programs
• Motion pictures -- Production and direction
• Museum exhibits
• Television -- Production and direction
• United States -- History. Revolution, 1775-1783
• Yorktown, Battle of, 1782.

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

• Audiotapes
• Motion pictures (visual works)
• Videotapes

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 14-207, Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications, Productions

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