Bill Stamets Collection
Inclusive Dates
1947 – 2000
Bulk Dates
1976 – 1996
Preservation Sponsor
Abstract
The films in this collection were made and collected by Chicago photojournalist, critic and filmmaker Bill Stamets. The bulk of the collection consists of Super 8 films and footage shot by Stamets in the 1970s and 1980s. They depict political events primarily in the city of Chicago, including former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington's two election campaigns, inaugurations, and time in office; numerous street protests and marches; and cultural festivals around the city.
Description
The Bill Stamets Collection consists primarily of Super 8 footage shot by Stamets of life in Chicago in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Many of the films depict political figures of the time such as former Chicago mayors Richard J. Daley, Jane Byrne, and Harold Washington, including the latter's two election campaigns, inaugurations, and time in office. Also shown are numerous street protests, marches, and cultural festivals such as Bluesfest and Taste of Chicago.
Edited films in the collection include political and cultural documentaries (Chicago Politics: A Theater of Power, Iowa and Its Presidents, Harold is Gone, Washington for Jesus, Novo Dextro: Purity & Danger, Rock Sox Disco Sux, Our Bamboo Gingerbread House), experimental shorts (Dear Jodie, Love John; A Lecture on the Eyeball in Culture; Welcome to Earth), and personal portraits of Stamets' family (Dad and Mona, Boy with a Microphone).
Also in the collection are 8mm home movies shot by Stamets' father, William K. Stamets, between the late 1940s and mid-1960s. They feature family life with wife Patricia and children Lilly, John, Bill, North, and Paul in Columbiana, Ohio, as well as films related to his sawmill business.
Finally, there are nine 16mm prints of experimental films acquired by Stamets from filmmakers Tom Palazzolo and Stan Brakhage. The works by Palazzolo are Hey Girls, Jerry's, and Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think). The Brakhage films are Window Water Baby Moving, Deus Ex, and the four-part Scenes from Under Childhood.
Edited films in the collection include political and cultural documentaries (Chicago Politics: A Theater of Power, Iowa and Its Presidents, Harold is Gone, Washington for Jesus, Novo Dextro: Purity & Danger, Rock Sox Disco Sux, Our Bamboo Gingerbread House), experimental shorts (Dear Jodie, Love John; A Lecture on the Eyeball in Culture; Welcome to Earth), and personal portraits of Stamets' family (Dad and Mona, Boy with a Microphone).
Also in the collection are 8mm home movies shot by Stamets' father, William K. Stamets, between the late 1940s and mid-1960s. They feature family life with wife Patricia and children Lilly, John, Bill, North, and Paul in Columbiana, Ohio, as well as films related to his sawmill business.
Finally, there are nine 16mm prints of experimental films acquired by Stamets from filmmakers Tom Palazzolo and Stan Brakhage. The works by Palazzolo are Hey Girls, Jerry's, and Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think). The Brakhage films are Window Water Baby Moving, Deus Ex, and the four-part Scenes from Under Childhood.
Series In this Collection
Collection Items
![[New World Patriotism Day]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/25248_ca_object_representations_media_6155_large.jpg)
![[ChicagoFest 1982]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/13188_ca_object_representations_media_6159_large.jpg)
![[Palestine Liberation Organization]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/19468_ca_object_representations_media_6161_large.jpg)
![[Various Musical Performances]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/57864_ca_object_representations_media_6163_large.jpg)
![[City Workers]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/92064_ca_object_representations_media_6105_large.jpg)
![[Columbus Day Parade]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/0/50695_ca_object_representations_media_6070_large.jpg)
![[Columbus Drive Bascule] Bridge](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/75957_ca_object_representations_media_6199_large.jpg)
![[June Nights 1980]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/47938_ca_object_representations_media_6188_large.jpg)
![[Virginio Ferrari's 'Being Born' Installation]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/92688_ca_object_representations_media_6176_large.jpg)
![[Democratic State Central Committee]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/47402_ca_object_representations_media_6177_large.jpg)
![[1984 Campaign Projections on Marriott Hotel]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/11487_ca_object_representations_media_6181_large.jpg)
![[Rudy Lozano]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/5/3/94781_ca_object_representations_media_5395_large.jpg)
![[Sun Ra, Jazzfest, International Folk Fair]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/5/5/52638_ca_object_representations_media_5554_large.jpg)
![[Washington, Garcia, Oberman, Marquette Klan, Uptown Nazis]](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/5/0/29183_ca_object_representations_media_5024_large.jpg)
![[Rudy Lozano] (2024 Preservation Print)](https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/media/cfa/images/6/1/32420_ca_object_representations_media_6131_large.jpg)
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
-
SERIES I: Films by Bill Stamets
- Against McNamara
- Boy With a Microphone
- Campaign Appearances
- Campaign Appearances
- Campaign Appearances
- Chi-Nite Ithaca
- The Chicago Filmmakers 10th Birthday Home Movie
- Chicago in the Year 2000 - 4th of July Trailer
- Chicago in the Year 2000 - Trailer
- Chicago Politics: A Theater of Power Part I
- Chicago Politics: A Theater of Power Part II
- Chicago Politics: A Theater of Power Part III
- Chicago Politics: A Theatre of Power
- Chicago Politics: A Theatre of Power II
- Chicago Politics: A Theatre of Power - Part I
- Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade 1976
- Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade 1977
- Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade 1978-1979
- Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade 1981
- Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade 1985
- China President Visits Chicagoland
- Claes Chi Bat
- Dad and Mona
- Dear Jodie, Love John
- Disarm Northrop
- Each and Everyone's America Will Make Sense if Only Given Half a Chance
- Event Condensed + Welcome to Earth
- A Girl Chased the Shadow of a Wing of a 727
- Girl With a Microphone
- Harold is Gone
- Harold is Gone
- Harold is Gone (2024 Answer Print)
- Harold is Gone (2024 DI Film Out Color Negative)
- Harold is Gone (2024 Negative Optical Track)
- Harold is Gone (2024 Preservation Print)
- Impressions of Harold
- Iowa
- Iowa And Its Presidents
- John Mooney's "Light Space"
- Juan Miro's "Woman"
- A Lecture on the Eyeball in Culture
- Mayor Speaks to Group
- Novo Dextro: Purity & Danger
- Novo Dextro: Purity & Danger (2024 Answer Print)
- Novo Dextro: Purity & Danger (2024 DI Film Out Color Negative)
- Novo Dextro: Purity & Danger (2024 Negative Optical Track)
- Novo Dextro: Purity & Danger (2024 Preservation Print)
- Our Bamboo Gingerbread House
- Pope Visits Chicagoland
- Powerful Fun
- Presidential Appearances I and II
- Public Face and Private Sphere
- The Public Face & The Private Sphere
- Rock Sox Disco Sux
- Rock Sox Disco Sux (2024 Answer Print)
- Rock Sox Disco Sux (2024 DI Film Out Color Negative)
- Rock Sox Disco Sux (2024 Negative Optical Track)
- Rock Sox Disco Sux (2024 Preservation Print)
- T.S. Eliot's First Science Fiction Film
- This Happened in Geneva
- Washington for Jesus
- We Americans Don't Eat Our Pets
- 8 Bold Souls
- 8 Bold Souls/Willie Dixon
- 150th 1989
- 1977
- 1980
- 1983 Campaign
- 1983 Known Faces Campaign
- 1984 Bluesfest
- [1984 Campaign Projections on Marriott Hotel]
- 1987 Byrne (mostly)
- 1987 Campaign Haider, Grimshaw et al
- 1987 Campaign (Junk Splices)
- 1987 Campaign - Known Folks
- 1987 EVR
- 1987 Say No Picasso
- 1987 Vrdolyak (mostly)
- 1987 Washington
- 1988 Convention - Presidential Campaign Outtakes
- 1989 Mayoral
- 1992 - B&W Presidential
- 1992 New York City Democrats
- Accupirin
- Adlai Stevenson mural
- Adlai + Thompson
- Against Registration
- Against Registration (Fragments & Outtakes)
- Allan Outtakes
- Allerton
- Amateur dinosaur hunter film
- Amtrak: Chicago-Seattle, Outtakes
- [Amtrak - Viet Vet Welcome Home - LaRouche on Michigan Ave - Washington 1986]
- Andrew
- Andrew 1986
- Ann-Marie Russell Wedding
- Anti Playboy (1980?)
- Arbor Day
- Art Ahoy
- Art Ahoy 1981
- Art Events Chicago
- Art Jones + W.
- August 5: Rock in the Park
- b/w
- B/W Int'l Film Festival Spectacle
- B/w presidential 1996
- B&W Presidential Outtakes
- b/w secondary
-
Barbara Jo
Lucy Lippard - Bilandic
- Bill Harding + Art Expo
- Bill Ware/Olympic Torch
- Black
- Black
- Bluesfest
- Bluesfest
- Bohemia
-
Bohemia R.A.D.
Chicagofest - Botero Sculpture in Grant Park - Columbia College, South Michigan
- Boulder Student Films
- Brenda Kelly
- Bridge Dedication
- Buckingham Fountain
- Byrne
- Byrne
- Byrne, 1982 Navy Pier Sculpture
- Campaign Appearances (Pieces)
- Campaign - Will Lee Hartsell
- Can Art Be Seen? / Art For Sure
- Chicago Tribune (secondary)
- Chicagofest
- [ChicagoFest 1982]
- China
- ["China President Visits Chicagoland" Outtakes]
- Christmas
-
Christmas 1984
Christmas Parade - [City Workers]
- Clarence Darrow / Memorial Ceremony / Museum of Science and Industry
- [Columbus Day Parade]
- [Columbus Drive Bascule] Bridge
- Corboy
- "Dad + Mona" Outtakes
- Dahl / Loop Corvette / Miscellaneous
- Daley
- Daley
- Daley Plaza Flags Sound
- Daley (secondary)
- Damski
- Dance
- Dangerous Chemicals - Daley - Art Jones - Gwendolyn Brooks
- [Democratic State Central Committee]
- Denver Amusement Park Rides
- District of Columbia Inaugural Events
- Draft Registration at Federal Plaza
- Draft Rossen
- Dukakis 1988 - NYC Bridge - Lee Atwater
- El Salvador
- Epton 1983 Debates
- Ferry Seattle
- Ferry Wave-Machine
- Flag Pole Eagle
- Floyd Webb
- Foam Ejaculate Sculpture
- Forbes for President - Prime 'N Wine
- Fresco
- Goofy Family - Umbrella Commuters - Anti-Disco Anniversary - International Amphitheatre Dahl
- Gospel Choir March
- ["Harold is Gone" Outtakes]
- Harold Washington Campaign 1983
- Heizer
- Heizer (secondary)
- Huck Finn
-
If Our Government is Working, Why Aren't We?
Labor Day Signs 1984 - Illinois - Human Performance Lab
- Inaugural
- International Amphitheater Demonstration / Via Crucis 18th Street / Jesus is Buried
- Iowa
- Iowa
- IRA - Boston Babies
- Italian Greek 1976
- Ithaca - MOOG - Mother Mallard
- Jackson - Misc 2º
- [Janice MacVicar] B/W Wedding
-
January 1989
Stouffacher, L
63rd + Cottage Grove - JAX Fall 1988 Iowa
- Jazzfest I
- Jazzfest II
- Jesse White Christmas 1984
- Joh Hoffman - Kuchar Brothers
- John McKinven and Lynne Walker - Home Movies
- Juarez Bust
- July 12 News WLUP / Outtakes Comiskey Disco Demo
- [June Nights 1980]
- Khmer Lao
- Khmer Lao (Secondary)
- Known Folks / America for Jesus 1982
- Known Folks (Byrne, Washington, etc.)
- Known Folks - PLO / Chicago Objects / Martin Puryear
- Known Folks - Sculptor - Artist John David Mooney, etc.
- Krishna
- Lake
- Late Daley Fragments
- Lincoln Park Ku Klux Klan
- Live from Allerton
-
Loopfest
WLUP vs. Journey
Softball - Lundy
- M W. Speaks
- Marcel Duchamp
- Marcos
- Mayor Daley - King Neptune - 1980 Outtakes
- Mayor Harold Washington 1983-1985
- Mayor Harold Washington - NBC News - Navy Pier
- Mayor Harold Washington - St. Patrick's Day Parade Columbus Ave. - Mayor Daley President Bush
- Mayoral Campaign, 1983
- Mayoral Campaign, 1987 (secondary)
- Mayoral Election, 1983
- Mayoral Election, 1987
- McNamara
- Media Present / Washington Speaking
- Miro Craftsmen
- Miro Oldenburg
- Miscellaneous
- Miscellaneous
- Miscellaneous
- Miscellaneous Events
- Miscellaneous trims from Bill Stamets
- Miscellany of Symptoms
- MLK - Summer City Festivals
- Mom
- Museum of Special Events
- Music of America
- Musicians Parade
- National Portrait Gallery and Abe Lincoln, D.C. - Michigan Ave. - Fair City Folks
- Navy Pier Sculpture - Puerto Rican Parade at State Street - Daley Plaza - Huck Finn
- Nazi Outtakes
- Neighborhood Festivals
- New Orleans Color (secondary)
- [New World Patriotism Day]
- Newburyport
- Newburyport: Yankee Homecoming 1976
- Norman Maclean
- NYC TV Debate - Paul
- Oldenburg
- Out West 1985
- [Outtakes - B&W Silent]
- Outtakes Chicago - Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton
- [Palestine Liberation Organization]
- Parades
- Paul + North Stamets / Shooting a Family Portrait on Outdoor Deck
- Performance
- Performance Art
- Philadelphia Bicentennial Flag Day + '76 State St. Parades Italian + Christmas
- Pilsen Demo - El Salvador - 18th Street
- Police Union March - Logan Statue - Flag Burning Grant Park - Queremos Legalization
- Polish Constitution Day State St. 1976
- Political (secondary)
- Polski
- Polski
- Pope
- Pope
- Powerful Fun
- Preachers
- Presidential
- Presidential Campaign Outtakes - 1988 -1992 - 1996 - Republican New Orleans - Bush Chicago Inauguration
- Presidential Campaign Outtakes - Clinton Inauguration
- Presidential Campaigns
- Presidential Campaigns
- Presidential Plus - Bobby Rush City Hall - Daley Plaza - Clinton Gore Rally
- Pretty Lakefront
- Psycho
- Puerto Rican Parade - Christ in Pilsen 1987
-
Queen Contest
City Hall - Rabb Ross Katz
- Rally Class?
- Redondo Fireworks
- Redondo Scenery
- Resenting Fences
- Richard Hunt
- Richard J Daley 1985 St. Patrick's
- [Rudy Lozano]
- [Rudy Lozano] (2024 Answer Print)
- [Rudy Lozano] (2024 DI Film Out Color Negative)
- [Rudy Lozano] (2024 Negative Optical Track)
- [Rudy Lozano] (2024 Preservation Print)
- Rudy Lozano Outtakes
- Rugby
- SE + CIAE
-
Seattle
Waving Hand Sign - Secondary
- [Secondary] Iowa
- Sharing International Folk Flyers 1985
- [Shedd Aquarium]
- Sheila Jones
- Shriner 1984
- Signs
- Signs
- Simon Stepan Ferraro
- Soccer
- Solidarity
- Sox Cubs Sting Swim
- Special Events / Chinatown
- Spectacle (secondary)
- St. Patrick's Day Outtakes
- St. Patrick's Day Outtakes
- St. Rocco Patron Saint of Pain
- Stan Brakhage
- [Stan Brakhage - Allen Ross + Brenda Webb - Joh Hoffman, etc]
- Steve Dahl
- Stevie Wonder - MLK - DuBuffet Dedication
- Studs - Don Rose 1987 - "Democrats"
- Studs Terkel/Michael Moore Promotes Documentary Sicko - Unedited
- [Sun Ra, Jazzfest, International Folk Fair]
-
Sweaty Tools
Steve Poleskie - Swedish Monument: University of Chicago
-
Taste of Chicago
4th of July - Taste of Chicago 1985
- Teen Idol Fans
- Thompson TV Election Night
- Tillman Washington
- Tom Palazzolo, Lee Godie, Tom Weinberg
- Toronto
- Touch of Class
- Train
- Tribune 1983 - Heavy Manners 1983
- TV
- Unknown
- Unknown
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- Untitled
- [Various Musical Performances]
- Vashon
- Venetian Night
- Vet Armed Forces + Byrne Speaks
- VET Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Parade - Mayor Washington - General Westmoreland - Art Jones
- [Virginio Ferrari's 'Being Born' Installation]
- [Vrdolyak/Washington/'87 campaign]
- VVAW "Not Parades" Armed Forces
-
W. Mostly 1987
- W. Speaks
- Washington 1983 Campaign
- Washington 1987 Campaign
- Washington - CIAE 1984
- [Washington D.C. / 1988 presidential race]
- Washington Funeral (Secondary) / Chicago Politics
- [Washington, Garcia, Oberman, Marquette Klan, Uptown Nazis]
- Welcome 1991
- Where Music Comes From
- WWII re-enactment landing on beach northside
-
X-mas 1995
Daley H20 - X WfJ, AfJX
- 1947 August - 1950 September: Baby Lilly / Punxsutawney / Ithaca, Seattle
- 1950 August: Malibu, BC / Bellevue, WA / Vancouver
- 1951 June - 1953 August: Baby Billy / Dr. & Mrs. North / Mars, Redondo
- 1953 Fall: Sawmill Show Rhinelander, Wis Cottage / Conduit Saw – GE
- 1954 circa: Baseball Columbiana
- 1954: Mars, George
- 1955: 3 kids
- 1955 December - 1956 March: Twins at hospital / Xmas ’55 at farm / Lilly, John, Billy at play on porch / Twins 3/56
- 1956: Lake Erie / Boat House
- 1956 October: Lutcher-Moore Lumber Co. / Aluminum Sawmill, Carriage, etc.
- 1956 Summer: Cottage
- 1956 Winter: Lilly & Billy / Columbiana house in snow
- 1959: Lake Erie / Twins / Maude
- 1964 Fall: Mercersburg #1 - John
- 1964 Summer: Sawmill Test / Army / Coal Conveyor / Water Ski
- [1965 circa: Boston Mills Ski School]
- 1965 Fall: Mercersburg #2 - John
- 1965: North + Paul - Camp Fitch and Casperson Job
- 1966 April: Bermuda
- 1966 March: Bermuda - Patty + Bill
- Army Auto - Sawmill Test - Waterskiing at Lake
- Bar Mill / Cooling Beds / Milton PA
- Enterprise Co Shop 1956
- Fall 1953
- John's Mercersburg grad
- [Lilly in Boat, Sawmill]
- Metalizing Machine GE
- Sawmill Show Rhinelander, Wis.
- Sledding at Firestone
- Deus Ex
- Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)
- Jerry’s Deli
- Scenes From Under Childhood
- Scenes From Under Childhood Pt. 2
- Scenes From Under Childhood Pt. 3
- Scenes From Under Childhood Pt. 4
- Window Water Baby Moving
SERIES II: William K. Stamets Home Movies
SERIES III: Collected Films
Collection Identifier
C.2005-08
Extent of Collection
329 reels of Super 8mm film totaling approximately 81,896 feet; 29 reels of 8mm film totaling 2,560 feet; 9 reels of 16mm film totaling approximately 8,101 feet; 2 reels of 35mm film totaling 445 feet; 9 U-matic videocassettes; 3 VHS; 2 boxes of paper ephemera
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Custodial History
The nine 16mm films were collected by Bill Stamets from a variety of sources including from experimental film distributors. Stamets' own films were kept at his home until he donated them to CFA in 2014. Stamets donated his father's 8mm home movies in 2023.
Related Materials
Media Burn holds Stamets' video materials.
Chicago History Museum holds a collection of Stamets' papers.
Chicago History Museum holds a collection of Stamets' papers.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to on-site access. Appointments must be made with Chicago Film Archives.
Use Restrictions
CFA holds a one-half joint tenancy interest with the filmmaker in the copyright of the materials.
Creators
Stamets, Bill
(was created by)
Bill Stamets (b. 1953) is a Chicago-area freelance writer, photographer, and small gauge filmmaker. He has written (and continues to write) for the Chicago Reader and Chicago Sun-Times, and wrote the chapter on film in Art in Chicago: 1945-1995. He has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, University of Chicago, and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Films by Stamets include Novo Dextro: Purity and Danger, Chicago Politics: A Theater of Power, Harold is Gone, and Iowa and Its Presidents.