Carl L. Godman Collection
Inclusive Dates
1951 – 1978
Bulk Dates
1959 – 1978
Abstract
A collection of home movies documenting the Godman family of Chicago and Evanston, Illinois. The patriarch of the family, Carl Lawrence Godman, shot the majority of the collection. The films primarily feature his wife, Fay F. Godman, and their three sons, David, Andrew, and James. Collection highlights include a 1968 Chicago River boat tour, a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo as well as home movies Carl shot while serving in the Korean War.
Collection Items
Film
1968 Fall: Yard & Ball State
October 20 1968
Film
1969: Astronauts Parade Downtown Chicago
1969
Film
1968 Summer: Chicago River Cruise with Godmans & Howensteins
1968
Film
Part 2, Carl's Navy Travels 1952, Aug. Sept. Oct. and Nov., Yokasuka-Fukia & sunset Otaru-onloading for mock landing near Wonsan Korea pohang-off loading Nov. Fujia area-Hotel koje Do prisoncamp Budha Shrine Kamakura, coming back
1952
Film
Christmas '71 (2nd reel), Train pix, Boys & mom dancing to music, David at Piano
1971
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
- 1st Christmas in new home 1973
- 1st Christmas Reel 1965
- 1st half-Kellys 2nd half-boys & grandmother in backyard 8/20/67
- 1960 vacation with Al Bradley…of 4, Adirondack
- 1960 vacation with Al Bradley…of 4, Maine
- 1961 Christmas
- 1963 Colorado-Arizona vacation
- 1966 and 1967 film compilation
- 1967 Fall: Expo 67 Montreal
- 1967: Godmans at Home and in Canada
- 1968 Fall: Uncle Dave - H. Melody Farm - Ball State
- 1968 Fall: Yard & Ball State
- 1968 Spring: Yard & Zoo
- 1968 Summer: Chicago River Cruise with Godmans & Howensteins
- 1968 Summer: Flora-Dale - Santa's Village
- 1968 Summer: Zoo & Tree-cutting
- 1968 Winter: Expo 1967, D&A Sled
- 1969: Astronauts Parade Downtown Chicago
- 1969 Summer: Flora-Dale (Part 1)
- 1969 Summer: Flora-Dale (Part 2)
- 1969 Summer: Flora-Dale Part 3 - Blue Angels & Clipper
- 1970 June-July: Kathy's Wedding - Hoot, Toot & Whistle
- 1970 Summer: Flora-Dale - Hansen's Visit
- 1970 Summer: Indiana State Fair with Hansens & Block Party
- 1970 Summer: Swanson's Cottage, Train at N. Freedom
- 1970 Winter: Boys in L. Room
- 1970 Winter: D-I-Skating & Hansens at Pokagon
- 1971 August: Flora-Dale - Boating, Beach, Tennis & Pool
- 1971 August: Flora-Dale - Dunes, Dune Buggy, Picnic & Sunset
- 1971: Labor Day Block Party (Part 1)
- 1971: Labor Day Block Party (Part 2)
- 1971 May-June: Backyard Ball & Karen's Graduation
- 1971 Spring: Basketball Weatherman
- 1971 Summer: 4th of July Big & Little Parade
- 1972 August: 1st Basketball Goal Simon & D's 1st Diving Flora-Dale
- 1972 October: Indian Guides Campout - Ravenswood (Part 1)
- 1972 October: Indian Guides Campout - Ravenswood (Part 2)
- 1973 August: Flora-Dale - Trail, Paddleboats & Mom on Raft
- 1973: Flora-Dale - D,A Diving & J. Playing Sand
- 1973: January Skiing with Hern. & July Flora-Dale
- 1973 March: Danville Precious with Boys, Chip & Family
- 1973 March: Verna, Peter, Karl & Us in Danville
- 1974: Flora-Dale - Beach, Mom & Sailboat
- 1974: Flora-Dale - Games, Glider, Tennis, Sign, Back Home
- 1974: Flora-Dale - Nature Center, Dunes & Picnic
- 1974 July: Indian Guides Campout - Indian Olympics with David & Andy at Camp Duncan (Part 1)
- 1974 July: Indian Guides Campout - Indian Olympics with David & Andy at Camp Duncan (Part 2)
- 1974 July: Swanson's Cottage
- 1974 Summer: Boys on Bicycles
- 1974: Vacation #1 - Home, Osbergers, Toronto, Algon Park
- 1974: Vacation #2 - Deep River, Verna & Family
- 1974: Vacation #3 - Verna & Family, Seedbury, S.S. Marie & Algoma Train Trip
- 1974: Vacation #4 - Agawa Canyon & Lock Tours
- 1974: Vacation #5 - Locks & Mackinac Island
- 1975-1976: Frosty & Flora-Dale From Air
- 1975 August: Flora-Dale - Jim's Swim
- 1975 August: Morrow & Jim on Bike & Blue Angels
- 1975: Godman Family Vacation - California (Part 1)
- 1975: Godman Family Vacation - California (Part 2)
- 1975 or 1976: Flora-Dale - Verna, Peter, Karl, Carolyn & Swimming Pool
- 1976: Flora-Dale - Swimming & Sailing
- 1976 July: 4th of July Parade
- 1976 July: Ontario Place Canada
- 1976 July: Ontario Place V&P
- 1976 Summer: Baseball, Osbergers
- 1976 Summer: Flora-Dale - Duck & Dune Buggy
- 1976 Summer: Flora-Dale - Trolley & Airplane
- 1976 Summer: Osbergers High Jump
- 1977-1978: Ford Retractable & Saucer Slide
- 1978: 114 Judy 500
- 1978: 115 Judy 500
- 1978 March: Florida with Janzens
- 1978 Spring: Uncle Dave & Janzens-Florida
- Andy coming home 10/66, David on sled 12-31-66
- Andy driving tractor, 4th of July parade (block parade)
- Andy ice skating Lessons 3/11/72 Races 3/18/72 2nd Place & 1st Place
- Andy's 1st birthday Oct. 22, '67
- Andy's b'day 1971 Jimmy dancing
- Andy walking 10-15-67, 2 of 2
- Andy with Squirt B's vs Kenosha 12-21-75 Score:3-0 Ev.
- Apr 1964-Sept. 66, The Life of David Emerson Godman etc. by lg and family
- April 1970 Jimmy home from hospital, Jenkins girls in backyard, Grandma & Grandpa
- Backyard with Dave & Donnie 6-20-66
- Bahama Windjammer
- Boys' birthdays 1969
- Boys dancing at birthday time 1968, Christmas 68 trombones & drums, living room accrobatics 2-25-69
- Boys in living room Early 1969, 1st Pix of Jimmy w/ grandmother & brothers
- Christmas 66 #1 of 2
- Christmas '66 #2 of 2
- Christmas '71 (2nd reel), Train pix, Boys & mom dancing to music, David at Piano
- Christmas '71 with Electric Train, Kathy & Ed, Grandparents
- Christmas 1962
- Christmas 1965
- Christmas 1970 I
- Christmas-1970 II & New Year's Day 1971
- Christmas 1975, Dave/Grandmother French Horn/Piano, Train in Living Room, Jim-hockey
- Christmas 1977 Living Room Tree
- Christmas at home 1972
- Christmas eve & Christmas morning 1974 I
- Christmas morn 1974 with Grandmother (& Twister)
- D&A bicycles, Swanson's cottage-D. Fishing July Aug. 1970
- David Age 11, Turtle & Baseball, Little/Pony League
- David & the big snow 2/ /67
- David-Andy & Tinkertoys June 67
- David eating-5mo (early April), David's new chair 4/24, Christening Day-5/25
- David in stroller Easter '65, Boswell Folks 6-12-65
- David on Burger King team scores age 10, Jim and Andy playing catch ages 5 & 8
- David's 3rd Birthday
- David's birthday
- David's birthday
- David's birthday (outdoors) Swimming pool 6/5/66
- David's class seeing pumpkin 10/7/70, apple picking 10/17, Pumpkin cutting 10/25/70
- David's Coming Home Pix.
- David with Pee-Wee B's vs Kenosha 12-21-75 Score 5-2 Ev.
- Decorating for Christmas '75 and Christmas morning. (new H0 train)
- Early July 1960 Vacation with Al Bradley 1 of 4
- Early May, New Lawnmower, Mary Lou & David in Boswell With Kellys in Mich late July
- End of David's 3rd Birthday Christmas 67
- Fall 1969 Block Party, David's Ice Skating lessons
- Grandma's B'day, Jimmy-cake Winter '71
- Hittingers 6-19-66
- I. 1959-Big Thompson Route Estes park-Y.M.C.A. of Rockies Nihart motel-Verna & friends at YMCA Camp
- II. 1959-Trip thru Colo. Road building-Old God Mine Idaho Springs-Loveland pass Royal Gorge-Air Academy Kansas Uni-Lawrence-Nancy's
- Indoor, David 8mo +/- beginning to walk
- Indy 500, Hansen's backyard pool, David in Marching band-ETHS & football game shots, 2nd half
- Jimmy at Andy's Kindergarten Class 11-22-71 Kingsley School
- Jimmy's 3rd birthday April 73
- Jimmy's first b'day at home and at Danville
- Johnson Family Reel 1
- Johnson Family Reel 2-Johnsons '59 & 60
- July 1960 Vacation with Al Bradley, 4 of 4, Also Backyard cookout at Ken Smiths'
- Kinfolk #2 Oct. 1952 Chrisman Bill & car, High School Dec. 1952 Grimes neighbor Grimes Golden Wedding Anni Jan. 24, 1953 Bill's birthday cake-Chrisman, Ill. Feb. 1953-New coat and pearls from Japan Mar. 1953 New Car Easter-1953
- The Kinsfolk
- Larry & Lavina Godman with Art & Verna Mae Gibbs and Winifred Swett at Niagara Falls March 2, 1962
- Mom's birthday '71, Dinner on Lincoln St., Jimmy early walking Late Apr '71, David playing Star Spangled Banner 11/22/71 (Began lessons in Dec.)
- N.U. Campus Navy Reviews Graduation
- Navy Part IV
- Northwestern 1951 Football
- The Nutcracker at Crown Center 2 of 2
- The Nutcracker at Crown Center with Jimmy Godman as the naughty 1 of 2
- Oct. 6, '73 Hittingers here, then Simon & Jim in backyard
- Orville Dam-Si & Dad, Dick Jeannette, Ray & Aileen Disneyland Summer 1968
- Outdoor, David in backyard Hittengers w Lafayette (2 ft(?))
- Part 1, Carl's Navy Travels 1952, Moline 6*4-Western U.S. Leaving Frisco-6-30 on Sitkoh Bay and entering Yokasuka, Jap.
- Part 2, Carl's Navy Travels 1952, Aug. Sept. Oct. and Nov., Yokasuka-Fukia & sunset Otaru-onloading for mock landing near Wonsan Korea pohang-off loading Nov. Fujia area-Hotel koje Do prisoncamp Budha Shrine Kamakura, coming back
- Part III Tournament of Roses Jan 1-1953, Plane practice landing, Hawaii-Marshalls
- Part V, pearl, Gallop, Zoo, and 1955 Vacation Trip, Canada
- Seattle Fair & West Coast #1 1962
- Seattle Fair & West Coast #2 1962
- Uncle Dave with mini RV at 1415 Lincoln St. (1968?) & investigators David & Andy. David on green tractor. End: Mr & Mrs. Mitchell (friends of Mom & Dad) at Merrill apt.
- Untitled
- Verna's & Peter Wedding, David's 2nd birthday
- Waukazoo Labor Day Weekend 1959 followed by water skiing at Paw Paw Lake
- Wheels Westward #2 Jan. 25, 1953-Feb. 8 Grafues, Route 66 Mo. etc, Harrison's Shamrock, Tex. Will Rogers' memorial Okla. Salt River canyon-Ariz. Calif. orange groves, etc. Meyers and Hendersons Route 99-Nutrlite
- Wheels Westward #2 Reel #2
- Wheels Westward Part One June & July 1951
- Wheels Westward Part Three July 1951
- Wheels Westward Part Two July 1951
- Willard/Dorothy Wilson(?), Larry/Lavina Godman in Tennessee, Dave/Donnie Godman N. Carolina trailer home, Busch Gardens/Florida Water show-ski jumps Birds/flowers
Collection Identifier
C.2013-09
Extent of Collection
95 reels of 8mm film totaling 9,050 feet
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Custodial History
The films traveled in boxes with Carl L. Godman, from residence to residence. For the years before 1962, he lived on the south side of Chicago (South Shore), after which he moved to Evanston, Illinois with his wife Fay. The films were donated to CFA in 2013 and 2014 by Fay F. Godman and her sons, David, Andrew, and James Godman.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to on-site access. Appointments must be made with Chicago Film Archives. Due to the fragile nature of the films, only video copies will be provided for on-site viewing.
Use Restrictions
Chicago Film Archives holds the copyright for the films in this collection
Creators
Godman, Carl Lawrence
(was created by)
Carl Lawrence Godman was born in Chicago on April 28, 1930. After graduating from South Shore High School in 1948, he was awarded a scholarship to Northwestern University where he entered the School of Business and the Naval ROTC program. He graduated with a B.S. Degree, and a commission in the U.S. Navy. His three year tour of duty began shortly before the Korean Armistice was signed. His longest assignment was aboard an LST (Landing Ship, Tank). He left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant.
Carl began working at age nine, using his wagon or bicycle to deliver jugs of filtered water (from a nearby experimental water filtration plant) to his neighbors. Once he returned home to Chicago from the Navy, Carl worked four years at the large commercial printing company, RR Donnelly & Sons. He began learning about investing by putting a portion of his earnings into the stock market. He soon went to work for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith. Carl retired from Merrill Lynch in November, 1999, after thirty-nine years.
Carl L. Godman shot all of the footage in the Carl L Godman Home Movie Collection, except for those instances where he is in the footage, and then it was either his wife, Fay F. Godman, or other family or friends holding the camera. In addition to developing an interest in photography, Carl created in his sons (David, Andrew, and James) an interest in building things and learning how things work. Setting up the slide and/or movie projector and putting up the screen always signaled a night of family fun. Carl's wife Fay was the designated person to turn out the lights once the film started to roll or the slides were ready to go.
Godman, David
(is participant)
David Godman is the son of Carl L. Godman.
Godman, Andy
(is participant)
Andy Godman is the son of Carl L. Godman.