Monica Ross Collection

Inclusive Dates
1934 – 1996
Abstract
The Monica Ross Collection contains home movies and commercially produced films made between 1936 and 1996. These films were purchased at estate sales in Chicago between around 1999 and 2019. They are from and mostly represent the North Side and northern suburbs of Chicago.
Description
The Monica Ross Collection mostly contains home movies that were purchased at estate sales on the North Side and in the northern suburbs of Chicago. These films were shot between 1936 and 1996, with footage from every decade in between.

The films in the collection largely represent the North Side and northern suburbs of Chicago, but there are also films from across the US and Canada.

Monica Ross collected these films from around 1999 - 2019. She started buying home movies while working on her MFA thesis at Northwestern University. She completed her degree in 2003 but continued to collect films and use them in her artistic practice.

The collection also includes some commercially produced films, including John Ott's "Plant Oddities."
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Collection Items

Browse All Objects
Plant Oddities
Film
Plant Oddities
1953
Deer Dog Snow People
Film
Deer Dog Snow People
circa 1969
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To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
Collection Identifier
C.2019-07
Extent of Collection
556 reels of 8mm, 230 reels of Super 8mm, 127 reels of 16mm, and 1 reel of 35mm.
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Chicago (Ill.)
Travel
Canada
Family recreation
Custodial History
Previously stored at Monica Ross' home in Wilmette, IL, before being brought to CFA in two batches, in February 2019 and May 2019.
Use Restrictions
Because these films were purchased by Ross at estate sales, copyright is unknown.