South Side Home Movie Project

South Side Home Movie Project Dive into the rich tradition of home movies that illuminate Chicago’s South Side histories. 📽️🎞️

The South Side Home Movie project collects 16-mm, 8-mm, and Super-8 films, converts them to digital files, and compiles oral histories from donors. Supported by the University of Chicago's Center for the Study of Race, Politics, & Culture and the Film Studies Center, the South Side Home Movie Project is both a film preservation project and a visual history of Chicago's South Side neighborhoods. Th

e South Side Home Movie Project was launched in 2005 by Jacqueline Stewart, professor, Cinema and Media Studies, University of Chicago.

Huge news! We are beyond thrilled and absolutely honored to announce that our incredible founder Jacqueline Stewart has ...
05/22/2026

Huge news! We are beyond thrilled and absolutely honored to announce that our incredible founder Jacqueline Stewart has been named a Getty Scholar!

Jacqueline’s groundbreaking work with the South Side Home Movie Project has always been about preserving the rich history of Chicago’s South Side and we love seeing her dedication recognized on such a prestigious global platform. As a Getty Scholar in residence Jacqueline will bring her brilliant insights on film history and amateur film cultures to a dynamic international community of researchers.

The entire SSHMP team is so incredibly proud and we cannot wait to see how this amazing opportunity expands the audience for the vital histories we work together to preserve. Join us in sending her the biggest congratulations!

05/21/2026

We hope your weekends going forward look a little like this!

Enjoy this clip from the Dr. George Reed Jr. Collection, filmed at a YWCA camp in Forest Beach, Michigan in 1957.

Explore more clips like this on our website, link in bio!

05/18/2026

It’s ! 🎥

This week, we’re spotlighting the Nash Family, donors of the Dr. Helen Nash Collection.

Shot between the 1950s–1970s on 16mm and Super 8 film, this incredible collection spans five continents—from Egypt and Brazil to safaris, road trips, and local neighborhood life. But family is just as central, capturing weddings, graduations, and quiet moments.

Outside of filmmaking, Dr. Helen Nash was a pioneering pediatrician whose work dramatically lowered infant mortality rates. We are so grateful to her family for preserving this legacy with us!

👉 Explore the Dr. Helen Nash Collection via the link in our bio.

We are delighted to receive a grant from Getty Museum through the Black Visual Art Archives initiative. This multi-year ...
05/14/2026

We are delighted to receive a grant from Getty Museum through the Black Visual Art Archives initiative. This multi-year program increases access to archival collections across the country that hold important historical records related to works created by Black artists.

This opportunity will support the recovery and digitization of rare, mid-century documentation detailing Black visual arts across Chicago’s South Side. It will also facilitate the creation of a comprehensive website resource guide, integrating curated footage with scholarly essays and research tools creating a new tool for educators, researchers, South Side community members, and art lovers alike. Additionally, this funding will support the production of new editions of our Spinning Home Movies series.

Congrats to all of the other award winners!

Images are from the Ramon Williams Collection, Nash Family Collection, Alsup Smith Family Collection, and the Lynette Frazier Collection

05/11/2026

Our donor families are the absolute heart of the South Side Home Movie Project. Today, we’re spotlighting the incredible Roberts and Branch family, donors of the Lora Branch Collection!

Spanning from the 1930s to the 1980s, this gorgeous collection is a vibrant slice of Chicago history. It captures everything from sweet family picnics in Dan Ryan Woods to rare, historic footage of Roberts Temple—a cornerstone of Bronzeville and the Great Migration story.

During our watch party, we loved seeing generations of laughter, kids playing, and hearing how family members like Sharon Roberts are still carrying this history forward in the very house her grandfather built!

We are so incredibly grateful to Lora Branch, Sharon Roberts, and their family for trusting us with these priceless memories.

🔗 Dive into the Lora Branch Collection via the link in our bio!

05/05/2026

The annual Holland Tulip Festival kicked off this weekend!

It’s easy to think of it now as a big, 10-day event, but it started pretty simply in the late 1920s with an idea, a connection to the Netherlands, and a shipment of 100,000 tulip bulbs.

Over time, it grew into what it is today: flowers, parades, music, dancing, but at its core, it’s always been about people coming together to mark the season.

We have a glimpse of that in the archive. Here’s a clip from the Ramon Williams Collection, just decades earlier.

04/30/2026

A Pocket Universe 🌌

Originally debuted in October 2024, “A Pocket Universe” is the first live edition of Spinning Home Movies. Scored and performed by Chicago’s own Mykele Deville, with support from interdisciplinary artist [jef]Frey Michael Austin, this performance explores resilience, dreaming, and the codes of everyday life.

Created during a residency with the South Side Home Movie Project, Mykele’s mix features a beautiful tapestry of footage from the Patton, Smith, McClelland, Pitts, Roberson, Roberts, O’Neal, and Williams collections.

Mykele recently released his 2025 album Rings Around The Tub, reflecting his growth as an artist and future father. He is joined by [jef]Frey Michael Austin, a versatile Chicago composer and fabricator whose work has been featured at the MCA Chicago and the Art Institute. Together, they transform archival film into a powerful, living experience.

🔗 Watch "A Pocket Universe" at the link in our bio!

04/28/2026

While the big festival stages get all the hype, the real magic has always lived in our own neighborhoods. There is something so iconic and special about these intimate, local gatherings—where the music was loud, the style was effortless, and the community felt like one big family.

Our archives are full of these legendary moments that truly capture the soul of Chicago. Check out this incredible footage from the Ramon Williams Collection, featuring a New Year’s Eve celebration at the historic Pershing Ballroom. It’s a perfect reminder that the best parties aren't found on a desert stage, but right here in the heart of the South Side.

🔗 Explore more musical history at the link in our bio.

04/27/2026

This week, Meet the Donor Monday we’re celebrating the Mednick Family and the incredible Len and Bev Mednick Collection, now stewarded by their granddaughters, Ellen, Molly, and Jenny.

Shot on 8mm film in Jeffrey Manor during the 1950s and 60s, these home movies show that the Mednicks were the ultimate hosts. From massive cakes and crowded living rooms to a legendary 1957 Hawaiian-themed bash, their films capture a community that truly knew how to celebrate. You’ll even spot the family dog, Taffy, weaving through the dancers and guests!

We are so grateful to the Mednick family for sharing these joyful memories and helping us preserve a more vibrant, nuanced history of the South Side.

Explore the collection at the link in our bio.

Clips from: SSHMP.2024.MEDNICK.00005 & SSHMP.2024.MEDNICK.00003

Address

Arts Incubator, 301 E Garfield Boulevard
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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