Chicago Film Archives and Valparaiso University present the premiere of newly restored film that tells “The Pictorial Story of Hiawatha.” Discovered in the Special Collections Library at Valparaiso University, this nitrate film was shot between 1901-1903 by Charles L. Bowden and Katharine Ertz-Bowden, lecturers and headliners for the Circuit Chautaugua. The live presentation captured in this film took place in Desbarats, Ontario, Canada, and was performed by members of the Garden River Ojibwe community who lived nearby.
Colorlab restored 7 rolls of 35mm nitrate film from an extraordinarily early time in film history.
CFA thanks the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation for their support in our attendance at this conference.