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Maurice Machris film collection

 Collection
Identifier: NHM-ARC-0020

Scope and Contents

The Maurice Machris film collection consists of 1432 film reels, the bulk of which are 16mm films and also include 35mm film, 16mm magnetic audio tape, and 35mm sound loops. These scientific and ethnographic films document Museum collecting expeditions sponsored by Maurice A. Machris (1905-1980), primarily in East Africa and South Asia shot between 1955-1979.

Dates

  • 1939-1976, bulk 1959-1976

Biographical / Historical

Maurice A. Machris (1905-1980) and his wife Paquita Machris (1912-2007) were long time donors and sponsors of the Museum's habitat groups. Maurice A. Machris served on the Museum Board of Governors between 1963-1970 and contributed to the African Watering Hole, Chimpanzee, Greater Kudu, and Arabian Oryx dioramas. He produced a number of films documenting ethnographic and scientific collecting expeditions to the Tres Marias Islands, the Galapagos Islands, Brazil, India and Africa. The completed documentary films were shown at habitat group opening events, at Museum lecture series events, and throughout the education department, oftentimes being loaned out to other institutions.

Extent

1432 Reels (447 metal and cardboard film cans/boxes containing a total of 1432 film and audio reels.) : 16mm and 35mm film reels, 16mm magnetic audio reels, 35mm audio loops

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Maurice Machris film collection consists of 1432 film reels, the bulk of which are 16mm films and also include 34mm film, 16mm magnetic audio tape, and 35mm sound loops. These scientific and ethnographic films document Museum collecting expeditions sponsored by prominent museum patron Maurice A. Machris (1905-1980), primarily in East Africa and South Asia shot between 1955-1979.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series:

Series 1. 16mm Films, 1939-1979, Series 2. 35mm Films, n.d. Series 3. Audio Reels, n.d.

Title
[Maurice Machris film collection], 1939-1979
Subtitle
A collection in the NHMLAC Archives.
Status
In Progress
Author
Cyrene Cruz
Date
©2022. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. All rights reserved.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Museum Archives Repository

Contact:
900 Exposition Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90007 United States