Collection inventory

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Creative Film Foundation Records

An inventory of the collection at Syracuse University

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Creative Film Foundation.
Title: Creative Film Foundation Records
Inclusive Dates: 1945-1961
Quantity: 1.25 linear ft.
Abstract: Administrative materials, correspondence, event records, financial materials, and grant management materials of the experimental film organization.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

The Creative Film Foundation was formed by American experimental filmmaker Maya Deren to broaden support for experimental film. Members of the foundation’s Board of Directors included writer and mythologist Joseph Campbell, book publisher Barney Rossett of Grove Press, and Cinema 16 founder Amos Vogel, among other writers and artists.

Upon its incorporation as a non-profit organization in 1955, the Foundation offered equipment loans and grants for production, exhibition, and educational activities. This support was available to filmmakers whose work was concerned with creative experimentation and development in film techniques and form. In 1956, they held a series of forums dedicated to exploring the relationship of film to dance, music, myth, plastic arts, poetry, and art. From 1956 to 1960, in collaboration with Cinema 16, the Foundation presented annual awards to independent experimental filmmakers.

The Creative Film Foundation is no longer active.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Creative Film Foundation Records contain administrative materials, correspondence, event records, financial materials, and grant management materials.

Administrative materials includes founding documents, meeting announcements and minutes, memos, and reports.

Correspondence contains communications relating to the foundation’s advisory board, film forums, legal representation, press, and member opinion surveys.

The Events series contains voting records and promotional materials for the Annual Creative Film Awards and programs for a series of film forums.

Financial materials consists of contracts, member contribution records, fundraising materials, tax exemption records, and a ledger.

The Grant management series includes forms and procedures for applicants, grant inquiries, approved and rejected applications, and correspondence with the grantees.

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Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Deren, Maya.
Vogel, Amos.

Corporate Bodies

Cinema 16 (Society : New York, N.Y.)
Creative Film Foundation.

Subjects

Experimental films -- Exhibitions.
Experimental films -- Production and direction.
Experimental films -- United States.
Independent filmmakers -- United States.

Genres and Forms

Correspondence.
Financial records.
Memorandums.
Minutes (administrative records)
Programs (documents)
Reports.

Occupations

Motion picture producers and directors -- United States.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Creative Film Foundation Records,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Grove Press.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: MRC
Date: 27 Mar 2013
Revision history: 06 March 2024 - collection fully processed (SAB)

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Inventory

Administrative materials
Box 1 Brochure and addenda 1958 (2 folders)
Box 1 Founding documents 1954-1955
Box 1 Letterhead and directory undated
Box 1 Mailing book 1956-1959 (4 folders)
Box 1 Meeting announcements and minutes 1955-1959 (2 folders)
Box 1 Memorandums 1955-1956
Box 1 Press releases 1954-1956
Box 1 Purposes and procedures 1956
Box 1 Reports 1955-1958
Correspondence
Box 2 Advisory board 1954-1956
Box 2 Film forums 1956
Grants
See Grant management, grantee correspondence
Box 2 Legal 1954-1956
Box 2 Press 1955-1956
Box 2 Surveys and questionaires 1956
Box 2 Miscellaneous A-Z 1955-1961 (2 folders)
Events
Box 2 Annual Creative Film Awards 1956-1958, 1960 (4 folders)
Box 2 Film forum series 1956
Financial materials
Box 2 Contributions 1956
Box 2 Fundraising efforts 1956
Box 2 Ledger book 1955-1959 (2 folders)
Box 2 Sales contracts 1945-1959
Box 2 Taxes and exemption 1957-1958, 1961
Grant management
Box 3 Forms and procedures 1954-1956
Box 3 Grantee correspondence 1954-1957
Box 3 Grants approved 1956
Box 3 Grants rejected 1955-1956
Box 3 Grants satisfied 1955
Box 3 Inquiries 1955-1957

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