The John Dame Collection consists of 16mm and 8mm home movies shot by multiple generations of an Illinois family. Most of the home movies document life in the western Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, Illinois, including community parades, graduations, weddings and high school football games. The collection also contains extensive footage of global travel, sailing, and kayaking.

Series III includes home movies shot by Charles Stevens. They include films documenting his travels and family life, the majority of which were filmed in the 1950s and 1960s. The series also includes two films documenting Kathryn Schmidt competing in the javelin at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.