Russell V. Zahn Collection

Collection Identifier
C.2013-04
Extent of Collection
38 reels of 8mm film
Language Of Materials
English
Custodial History
These films were given to Russell's daughter around 1960 where they remained in shoeboxes on the shelves of the family room in Racine, Wiconsin until they were donated to the Chicago Film Archives in 2013.
Related Materials
The Matthew V. & Sue Z. Sisak Collection (http://www.chicagofilmarchives.org/collections/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/15220) contains home movies shot by Russell V. Zahn's daughter and son-in-law.
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 owns the rights to the home movies in this collection.
Creators
Zahn, Russell Victor (was created by)
Russell Victor Zahn was born May 14, 1901 in Racine, Wisconsin. He came from a family of settlers that were amongst the first flour millers in the area, and he himself was a merchant by trade. His father had started a business, Zahn Dry Goods Company in 1898 in downtown Racine, and by the mid 1910's it had become a full-fledged department store. Upon his fathers death, Russell became the president of the business and remained as so from 1932 to 1950. In 1923 he was married to Leona Bulgrin of Burlington, Wisconsin – where she was born and raised. They had met at the Zahn department store where she had worked as a secretary to Russell’s father. The couple had two children together. Russell Zahn passed away on September 28, 1993 – thirteen years after his wife. Much of the footage was shot by Russell in and around their North Racine home.