Russell V. Zahn Collection
Inclusive Dates
1933 – 1946
Bulk Dates
1933 – 1946
Abstract
The Russell V. Zahn Collection contains 38 reels of 8mm film chronicling the many birthdays, Christmases, and family outings between the years of 1933 and 1946 -- primarily in and around the family's Racine, Wisconsin home. Highlights of this collection include the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, a trip to Sturgeon Bay, and some very entertaining backyard dance performances. The collection also includes one commercially produced Felix the Cat animation.
Collection Items
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
- 1933 Chicago World's Fair
- 1933 Chicago World's Fair
- 1933 Chicago World's Fair
- 1933 Chicago World's Fair
- 1933 Chicago World's Fair pt. 2
- 1935 Bulgrin visit
- 1935 Christmas, Baby, snow plow
- 1935 Lake
- 1936 1st Birthday
- 1936 Christmas
- 1936 Learning to Walk
- 1936 Nov. Baby
- 1937 2nd Birthday
- 1937 Backyard in Summer
- 1937 Christmas
- 1937 Sue's 2nd birthday
- 1938 3rd Birthday/Bike
- 1938 Christmas
- 1938 May, in the park
- 1938 Racine Zoo
- 1939 Christmas pt. 2
- 1939 Christmas/Skating
- 1939 Judie's 4th Birthday
- 1940 Backyard Baby
- 1940 Birthday/Skates/Baby
- 1940 Christmas
- 1940 Family Gathering
- 1940 Summer/Baby Judie
- 1941 August
- 1941 Christmas
- 1941 Christmas
- 1941 Judie's 1st Birthday
- 1942 Sue's 7th Birthday
- 1943 Christmas
- 1944 Summer/Christmas
- 1945 Judie's 5th Birthday
- 1946 Sturgeon Bay
Collection Identifier
C.2013-04
Extent of Collection
38 reels of 8mm film
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Custodial History
These films were given to Russell's daughter around 1960 where they remained in shoeboxes on the shelves of the family room in Racine, Wiconsin until they were donated to the Chicago Film Archives in 2013.
Related Materials
The Matthew V. & Sue Z. Sisak Collection contains home movies shot by Russell V. Zahn's daughter and son-in-law.
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 owns the rights to the home movies in this collection.
Creators
Zahn, Russell Victor
(was created by)
Russell Victor Zahn was born May 14, 1901 in Racine, Wisconsin. He came from a family of settlers that were amongst the first flour millers in the area, and he himself was a merchant by trade. His father had started a business, Zahn Dry Goods Company in 1898 in downtown Racine, and by the mid 1910's it had become a full-fledged department store. Upon his fathers death, Russell became the president of the business and remained as so from 1932 to 1950. In 1923 he was married to Leona Bulgrin of Burlington, Wisconsin – where she was born and raised. They had met at the Zahn department store where she had worked as a secretary to Russell’s father. The couple had two children together. Russell Zahn passed away on September 28, 1993 – thirteen years after his wife. Much of the footage was shot by Russell in and around their North Racine home.