Explore Black History

1957-1958

This film is from a collection of home movies filmed by the family of Michael Holman, an important figure in the history of hip hop. The collection predominately contains family vacation footage shot when Holman's father, Lt. Thomas Holman, was stationed in Europe with the US Army. Most of the footage was captured by Holman's grandmother, Pauline Thompson Wood. In addition to the European vacation films, the footage shot by Pauline Wood documents her involvement with the Baha'i Faith and includes footage of Baha'i events and pilgrimages to holy sites in Israel and Palestine. There is also footage of the family at home in San Francisco and other sites in California.

This film is from a collection of home movies filmed by the family of Michael Holman, an important figure in the history of hip hop. It consists of a single reel of 8mm silent acetate film with color (a), an original metal film reel (b), and an original metal can (c).
The film begins with a series of shots depicting street life during an unidentified festival and parade [Possibly Bastille Day] in an unidentified location in France. A child, Linda Holman, wearing a white dress and white cap The Holman children can be seen in some of the shots. The next series of shots depicts the ferry ride from Calais, France to Dover, England. This is followed by a sequence of shots depicting street life on Gloucester Road in the Kensington borough of London. There are multiple shots of the Montana Hotel, as well as shots of locals going about their day. A long section of leader follows before a new reel starts.
The second reel begins with a group of people outside a home in an unidentified location smiling and walking towards the camera. Alice Holman appears on the left of the group wearing a grey top and a blue skirt. A young Linda Holman wears a red sweater and white bows in her hair. The next series of shots depict religious festivities in an unidentified French town near Limoges [Possibly Poitiers]. Long lines of children dressed in white enter a church. There are also shots of the ceremony inside the church and various locals posing for the camera. The Holman childrens can be seen in several of the shots. Linda Holman wears a white dress and Michael Holman wears red overall shorts with a white shirt. The reel concludes with the children in white walking through the streets of the town. A long section of leader follows before the next reel starts.
The third reel begins with a series of shots depicting The Old Curiosity Shop in London and the Lancaster Castle. This is followed by a brief series of shots depicting the ferry journey from Dover to Calais. The reel concludes with a sequence of tourist sites and street life in Paris. A long section of leader follows before the next reel starts.
The fourth and final reel is a long series of shots depicting tourist sites and street life in London. The longest section of shots shows the changing of the guard and other military proceedings at Buckingham Palace.
An original metal film reel (b) with a brief content note and an original metal film container (c) with adhesive tape with handwritten information about its content also accompany the film.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Michael Holman Family Collection

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2016.31.3.29.1abc

silent films
home movies
color films (visual works)
8mm (photographic film size)

© Michael Holman
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

acetate film and metal

Duration: 22 Minutes
Length (Film): 300 Feet

Title • Michael Holman Family Home Movie #29

nmaahc_2016.31.3.29.1abc

NMAAHC

MICHAEL HOLMAN FAMILY HOME MOVIE #29

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1950s

Wood, Pauline Thompson • Holman, Michael • Holman, Linda

Lancashire • Calais • Kent • Europe • England • Lancaster • United Kingdom • Dover • Aquitaine • Île-de-France • Limousin • London • France • Paris

Description and travel • Religion • Family • Motion pictures • Worship services • Society

State • Limousin • Country • France • Continent • Europe • City • Paris • State • Île-de-France • City • Calais • State • Aquitaine • City • Dover • County • Kent • Country • England • Nation • United Kingdom • City • London • City • Lancaster • County • Lancashire

silent films • color films (visual works) • 8mm (photographic film size) • Home movies

Video recordings

Limited Use