Organization and Work of the Film Library of the Museum of Modern Art

Until last year no organization existed for preserving films of outstanding merit or for arranging for their distribution and study by those interested in film as living art and in its history and development. A grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and private gifts permitted the Museum of Modern Art to establish such a Film Library in June, 1935, under the presidency of John Hay Whitney, with Will H. Hays, Chairman of the Advisory Committee. — The functions of the Film Library are to trace, obtain, and preserve important films, American and foreign; to edit and assemble such films into programs for educational and non-commercial exhibition; to arrange notes and critical appraisals of them; to assemble a library of books and data on the films; and otherwise to make available information concerning their artistic, dramatic, and historical aspects to all who may be seriously interested. The series for 1936 consists of (1) The Development of Narrative (1895–1911); (2) The Rise of the American Film (1912–17); (3) D. W. Griffith (Intolerance); (4) The German Influence; (5) The Talkies.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1937-03

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J08563