Researching LC Moving Image Holdings
Most of our films and videos have not been fully cataloged and
are therefore accessible primarily by title. Identifying films
and videos by subject requires a variety of strategies, such as
keyword searching of our various databases and manual card files
(including LC's online catalog) and compiling title lists from
secondary reference sources. Since our staff cannot perform this
time-consuming subject research for archival/stock footage requests,
a personal visit to the Library is often required. Another option
is to hire a freelance researcher. A list of freelance researchers
in the Washington, DC area is available upon request.
A significant portion of our holdings appear only in manual title
card catalogs. For assistance in identifying titles that do not
appear online, contact the reference staff.
The Library of Congress Online Catalog
Although the Online Catalog is not a comprehensive database of
our moving image holdings, it is possible to selectively retrieve
cataloging records for film and video materials. To do so:
- Set Search Limits button available at Basic Search or Guided
Search.
- Choose the Location' limit.
- Select Motion Picture & Television'.
Guided Search example:
Search: cbs evening news 1993 [ all of these ] As: [ Title: All (KTIL)
]
For some searches you may prefer to use the term movingim'
in each search statement instead of setting a search limit.
Guided Search example:
Search: detroit movingim [ all of these ] As: [ Keyword Anywhere (GKEY) ]
Both of these search strategies will exclude the retrieval of
pre-1972 cataloging record since pre-MARC records do not identify
moving image material by location. To retrieve pre-MARC records,
substitute the term motion picture' for movingim.'
This method will not be sucessful if the 'Location' limit is not
cleared. (Holdings information is not available in pre-MARC cataloging
records.)
Guided Search example:
Search: detroit motion picture [ all of these ] As: [ Keyword Anywhere (GKEY)
]
Not all of the films and videos listed in the Online Catalog are
available for viewing at the Library. Access copies are identified
by the designation ref print or viewing copy,
which appears in parentheses following the call number. For further
information of the availability of non-access copies (e.g. master,
neg, arch pos), contact the reference staff. See Viewing
Guidelines for information on making appointments.
American Memory
The American Memory Historical Collections are multimedia collections
of digitized documents, photographs, recorded sound, moving pictures
and text from the Library's Americana collections. Currently, there
are over 700 early actuality and fiction films available for viewing
and downloading from the website. Bibliographic records, including
detailed descriptions of each film, can be searched by keywords
or subject headings. Broadcast quality copies are also available
for purchase, see Obtaining Copies
of American Memory Films Collection Materials.
Resource Guides and Finding Aids
Full-text copies to several resource guides
and finding aids, including American Indians in Silent
Film and Jazz on Film and Video in the Library of Congress,
can be accessed at our reading room website.
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