Kemp Niver collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 2324

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains binders of photographs, notes, clippings, and patents related to the films that were restored by American cinematographer and film historian Kemp Niver (1912-1996). Niver was hired by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to convert frame-by-frame paper photographs of 3,600 movies made between 1894 and 1912 back into film.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1950s-1970s

Creator

Niver, Kemp R. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Kemp Niver (1912-1996) was an American cinematographer and film historian. He restored the world’s earliest motion pictures. Niver was hired by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to turn frame-by-frame paper photographs of 3,600 movies made between 1894 and 1912 back into film. He created his own machine and process and over 15 years restored these films. He was given a special Oscar for this.

Extent

9 Linear Feet (8 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection consists of binders of photographs, notes, clippings, and patents related to the films that were restored by American cinematographer and film historian Kemp Niver (1912-1996).