UW News

February 4, 2010

Lost and Found Film: Help identify the goings-on at Thomson Hall

Editor’s Note: The UW Audio Visual Services Materials Library has more than 1,200 reels of film from the late 1940s through the early 1970s, documenting life at the University through telecourses, commercial films and original productions. Some of the short films are easily identifiable, but many more remain mysteries. Who shot these films and why? Can you help answer those questions? Faculty and staff can use the comments field at the end of the story to send ideas. Those outside the University can e-mail filmarc@u.washington.edu.  


Ivy-covered walls are often associated with universities, and in this week’s undated film, it’s literally true. Ivy Planting depicts just that — a ceremonial planting of some ivy near Thomson Hall.

The silent, two-minute film opens with three older adults — a man and two women in hats — sitting in a convertible, smiling and chatting. Then the scene switches to two men wearing caps and gowns. The older of the two presents a ceremonial shovel to the other. We see a close-up of the shovel with dates carved into it. Then the older man holds up a pot full of ivy, and this he also gives to the younger man. The younger man, still wearing his cap and gown, digs a hole with the shovel and plants the ivy. The film closes with a close-up of the building name — Thomson Hall — followed by the car carrying the three people moving away.

Film Archive Specialist Hannah Palin would like to know:


  • Who are the people in the car? Is the old gentleman David Thomson himself?
  • What ceremony is being performed?
  • Who is the younger gentleman involved in the ceremony?


Palin is still looking for information about last week’s film, UW Prisoner Release Give her a hand, if you can, with that film or this week’s.