UW News

Lost and Found Films


October 16, 2013

Lost and Found Films: Building the Space Needle, 1961

A man works on construction of the Space Needle.

We travel back in time 52 years for the latest installment of Lost and Found Films, to the 1961 construction of the Space Needle and the Monorail in downtown Seattle.


August 1, 2013

Lost and Found Film: ‘History and Industry, 1965’

typewriter photo from the film featured.

The title of the latest Lost and Found Film — “History and Industry, 1965” gives away the “where” and the “when” of the mystery footage —it’s the “what” and “why” parts that film archivist Hannah Palin is interested in.


July 27, 2012

Lost and Found Films: ‘Play Fair, 1950’

Film Icon

Welcome back to 1950 for an installment of Lost and Found Films, old footage promoting a play festival that aims for a Norman Rockwell feel, with maybe a little Twain thrown in. Lost and Found Films is an occasional UW Today series where readers help identify historic bits of film unearthed from the UW Audio…


June 15, 2012

Lost and Found Films: An opera scene from 1952

Film Icon

The latest installment in the Lost and Found Films series — where readers help identify old UW footage — is a three-minute film apparently from a campus opera. Don’t adjust your volume — it’s silent.


May 18, 2012

Lost and Found Films: The UW Nuclear Reactor, 1963

Film Icon

It’s 1963 again in our latest installment of Lost and Found Films, where readers help identify historic bits of film from the Audio Visual Materials Library, provided by film archivist Hannah Palin. Can you help her learn what’s happening here?


March 9, 2012

Lost and Found Films: ‘Inaugural’ from 1958

Film Icon

Return with us to 1958 for the latest installment of Lost and Found Films, where readers help identify and describe old film clips from UW Libraries audio visual collections.This weeks film clip is titled “Inaugural,” and probably shows part of the inaugural dinner for UW President Charles Odegaard, which was indeed in November of 1958.


January 27, 2012

Lost and Found Films: ‘University Parking, 1960

Film Icon

It’s a new round of News and Informations Lost and Found Film clips, where readers help identify historic bits of film from the UW’s Audio Visual Materials Library. This time, a 1960 film about campus parking — so then why is a referred to as a “basketball” film?


December 7, 2011

Lost and Found Films: A Friday Harbor epic

Film Icon

This weeks film — and the last one for a while — shows what appears to be the UWs Friday Harbor Laboratories in 1958. People walk between buildings and some kind of experiment is undertaken on a small motorboat. Know any more?


November 16, 2011

Lost and Found Films: Welcome to Mt. Adams, 1957

Film Icon

A meeting in a high school gymnasium, a rousing speaker, cake and pie. Whats going on in this gem from 1957?


November 9, 2011

Lost and Found Films: Chemical Engineering, 1940

Film Icon

We visit the world of pre-World War II chemical engingeering in this weeks Lost and Found Film, which is silent but filmed in color — not bad for 1940. Can you help film archives specialist Hannah Palin figure out what’s going on?


November 2, 2011

Lost and Found Films: ‘Art and Architecture Pavilion’

Film Icon

Welcome back to 1962, where there is an art exhibit taking place on the UW lawn for this weeks Lost and Found Film, titled Art and Architecture Pavilion. Can you help Hannah Palin, film archives specialist, learn more?


October 26, 2011

Lost and Found Films: Back to 1958 for ‘Operation Cooperation

Film Icon

This weeks Lost and Found film takes us back to 1958 and folks watching a street parade advertising “Ye Olde Town Meeting” at the Woodland High Gym on Sept. 2. Its a little slice of life from the Eisenhower years.


October 19, 2011

Lost and Found Films: Halftime hijinx, 1962

Film Icon

Reel back the years with us to the fall of 1962 to watch footage from halftime at a Huskies football game where a trampoline and a particularly daring clown take center stage — that is, field. Anyone know who we were playing, and who the athletes and clowns were?


October 12, 2011

Lost and Found Films: Glenn Hughes speaks at Johns Hopkins — but why?

Film Icon

Its 1957 and the dapper, well-spoken fellow at the microphone is Glenn Hughes, founding director of the UW School of Drama. Hes at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, but can anyone say why?


October 5, 2011

Lost and Found Films: ‘Womens Classes, circa 1965

Film Icon

Set your Wayback machines for 1965 again this week as we present this silent, black and white, 96-second film appropriately titled Womens Classes, circa 1965. Anyone know whats going on here?


September 28, 2011

Lost & Found Films: ‘Coulee Cleanup, Outtakes

Film Icon

Its 1937 in Grand Coulee, Washington. A sign in a store window says, “Were out breaking our backs, tearing down old shacks. Cleaning up our city.” Anyone know any more? Is this film related to the UW?


August 17, 2011

Lost and Found Film: ‘Kazakh Reel 6

Film Icon

Scenes of village life are featured in this weeks film, “Kazakh Reel 6,” but can you help with the location, who is depicted, and why it was filmed?


August 9, 2011

Lost and Found Films: ‘The American Dream, 1965

Film Icon

Still images of famous people and the titles “The American Dream” and “The Living End?!” make for an odd little film. Can you help Hannah Palin, UW film archives specialist, figure out who made this and why?


August 3, 2011

Lost and Found Films: ‘UW Penthouse, circa 1956

Film Icon

Scenes from the UW Penthouse Theatre as it was in 1956. Hannah Palin, film archives specialist with UW Libraries Special Collections,is looking for any information available. Can you help?


July 27, 2011

Lost and Found Films: ‘University District, circa 1965

Film Icon

Two young women walk in the University District in about 1965, apparently shopping. But what are they shopping for, and why was the film made? Hannah Palin, film archives specialist with UW Libraries Special Collections, is looking for any information available. Can you help?


July 20, 2011

Lost and Found Films: ‘Palo Alto Home,’ circa 1959

Film Icon

Two women happily leaf through a scrapbook in a garden and are then joined by an older man in this weeks mystery film, from 1959. Are these folks related to the UW in any way? Hannah Palin, film archives specialist with UW Libraries Special Collections, wants to know. Can you help?


July 13, 2011

Lost and Found Films: ‘Aberdeen Gathering

Film Icon

A dreamlike film from Aberdeen is this weeks entry. People walk ceremonially in a circle, children very much in evidence, and a document is burned. Anyone know whats going on here?


July 6, 2011

Lost and Found Films: Research at sea

Film Icon

Continuing our series of “orphan films” from Hannah Palin, film archives specialist with UW Special Collections. This week’s film depicts research at sea in about 1969 — but can you help her learn more?


June 29, 2011

Lost and Found films return: Can you help place the footage?

Film Icon

Film archivist Hannah Palin,of UW Libraries Special Collections,is back this summer with more mystery footage. Can you help her figure out the who, what, where and why behind these odd little films? This week: Welcome to 1948.