Ferd Isserman Collection
Inclusive Dates
1932 – 1968
Bulk Dates
1932 – 1950
Abstract
The Ferd Isserman collection consists of 16mm home movies shot primarily in Chicago from the early 1930s through the late 1960s. Documenting leisure time, trips and holidays, highlights from the collection include family visits to the Chicago World’s Fair (A Century of Progress International Exposition) in 1933-34; a legion marching band and USO dedication in Chicago during WWII; the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1932; the 20th Miss America pageant held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ in 1946; a trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles in 1946-47; and Thanksgiving celebrations in the 1930s, 1940s and 1968.
Collection Items
Film
1939 (circa): The Two Juni’s
circa 1939
Film
1933-1935: World’s Fair Series
1933 – 1935
Film
1941-1948: General Family Reel #2
1941 – 1948
Film
1930s: Juny
1930s
Film
1932-1950: General Family Reel #1
1932 – 1950
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
- 1930s-1950s: Canoe Parade
- 1930s: Juny
- 1932-1950: General Family Reel #1
- 1933-1935: World’s Fair Series
- 1939 (circa): The Two Juni’s
- 1940s: Irma Betty’s Graduation - Before Mommy and Daddy were Married
- 1941-1948: General Family Reel #2
- 1950s: General Family Reel #3
- 1968: Family Scenes - Ceremony, Horseback Riding, Thanksgiving
Collection Identifier
C.2010-06
Extent of Collection
9 reels of 16mm film totaling 2,165 feet.
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Custodial History
Ferd Isserman sent a DVD to CFA for a Home Movie Day event. His films had been transferred to this DVD. Watrous kept in touch with him over several years to see if he would be interested in donating the original 16mm films to CFA. Soon after Ferd's wife died in 2010 he donated the 16mm original films to CFA.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to on-site access. Appointments must be made with Chicago Film Archives. Due to the fragile nature of the films, only video copies will be provided for on-site viewing.
Use Restrictions
Chicago Film Archives holds the rights for the films in this collection.
Creators
Isserman, Ferd
(was created by)
Born in Toronto, Canada, Ferd Isserman grew up in St. Louis, son of Rabbi Ferd and Ruth Isserman. He attended Washington University. In the 1980s, Isserman served as president of Chicago's Old Town Chamber of Commerce. Isserman and his wife Barbara later lived in River Forest and Oak Park, Illinois. Isserman passed away in 2017 at the age of 89.