The Library of Congress holds within its vast archives a unique and invaluable collection that serves as a cornerstone for understanding the birth of American cinema: the Paper Print Collection. This remarkable assembly of early motion pictures, preserved in an unconventional format, offers unparalleled insights into the dawn of moving images and their profound impact on culture and storytelling. The story of how these paper prints came to be and their enduring significance is a fascinating chapter in film history.
From Bureaucratic Necessity to Archival Treasure: The Genesis of Paper Prints
In the nascent years of motion picture technology, the legal framework for copyrighting films was non-existent. Around 1893, as Thomas Edison’s laboratories pioneered motion picture photography, a resourceful employee, likely W.K.L. Dickson, sought to secure copyright for these groundbreaking moving images. With no provision for celluloid roll film registration, the ingenious solution was to print sequential frames from camera tests onto gelatin “printing out” paper. These paper prints, resembling photographic strips, were then submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office as Class J photographs.
This seemingly minor bureaucratic workaround had profound implications. A forward-thinking Copyright Office employee, whose name remains unknown, made a crucial decision: to accept the registration of these sequential images as a single work. This pivotal acceptance established a precedent, marking the unexpected birth of the Paper Print Collection. While the very first paper print submissions from August 1893 are unfortunately lost, the oldest surviving copyrighted film, Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze (1894), stands as a testament to this innovative approach.
Paper print of George Méliès in *The Untamable Whiskers* (1904)
Preserving the Bedrock of American Cinema: The Significance of Paper Prints
For nearly fifteen years, until motion pictures officially gained copyright protection in 1912, the Library of Congress amassed over 6,000 film titles through paper print submissions. These submissions ranged from complete rolls to fragments, representing a treasure trove of early cinematic works. Remarkably, these thousands of paper print records were not discarded, despite their unconventional format. Instead, they were carefully stored, awaiting a future rediscovery that would reveal their true historical value.
The Paper Print Collection is more than just an archival curiosity; it is the very foundation upon which the Library’s vast moving image collections were built and represents the bedrock of American cinema itself. Understanding the evolution of narrative filmmaking is impossible without acknowledging the crucial role of these paper prints. Furthermore, as a visual record of everyday life in America at the turn of the 20th century, the collection is unparalleled. Documentaries seeking authentic moving images from this period frequently draw upon the rich resources of the Paper Print Collection.
Cataloging, Preserving, and Accessing History: Ongoing Efforts at the Library of Congress
Recognizing its paramount importance, the Library of Congress has dedicated significant resources to cataloging, preserving, and providing access to the Paper Print Collection. This ongoing endeavor reflects the collection’s complexity and the commitment to accurately describe and enhance its records. A dedicated cataloging team is currently working to refine the descriptions and metadata associated with these paper prints, ensuring their discoverability for researchers and film enthusiasts alike.
The preservation history of the paper prints is itself a compelling narrative, highlighting the challenges and innovative solutions employed to safeguard these fragile artifacts of early cinema. The Library’s commitment extends to increasing accessibility. Currently, viewable copies exist for approximately 3,000 paper prints, mainly complete rolls and some fragments. While a portion is accessible at the Moving Image Research Center and online in low resolution via the American Memory website, the Library is actively working to expand online access to this invaluable collection, ensuring that these historical paper prints can be experienced by a wider audience.
The enduring legacy of the Paper Print Collection was highlighted in C-SPAN’s American Artifacts series, in an episode titled “Early Motion Pictures.” This episode serves as an excellent introduction to the captivating world of paper prints and their vital contribution to our understanding of film history. As the Library of Congress continues its work, the stories held within these paper prints promise to enrich our appreciation of early cinema for generations to come.
