Lieb-Hootnick Family Collection

Inclusive Dates
1935 – 1985
Bulk Dates
1935 – 1985
Preservation Sponsor
Dr. David Lieb

Abstract
A collection of home movies shot by three generations of the Lieb and Hootnick families between 1936 and 1985. They are largely shot around Chicago, where both families lived, capturing family events and holidays as well as public events and locations such as the Chicago Railroad Fair in the late 1940s and the Great America amusement park in the early 1980s. Highlights include a rare sound home movie circa 1951 and several films shot by David's son Daniel.
Description
The 16mm films in the collection were entirely shot by Dr. Harry Hootnick. They document his family from the mid 1930's through the 1950s. Included among these films is a sound home movie of his daughter Shirley singing patriotic songs on her birthday, July 4th, circa 1951.

The 8mm films were almost entirely shot by Dr. Bernard Lieb from the early 1950s to late 1970s. They depict his family at home and traveling to various U.S. cities as well as abroad to Europe, Israel, and East Asia.

The Super 8mm films were mostly shot by Dr. David Lieb from the early 1970s to early 1980s. They similarly capture family life and travel. Lieb's son Daniel also shot several of the films which include many staged scenes with toys and other children.
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Series In this Collection

SERIES I: Dr. Harry Hootnick Films
1936 – 1958
SERIES II: Dr. Bernard Lieb Films
1952 – 1979
SERIES III: Dr. David Lieb Films

Collection Items

Browse All Objects
Shirley Sound
Film
Shirley Sound
circa 1951
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.2021-14
Extent of Collection
17 reels of 16mm totaling 9,301 feet; 26 reels of 8mm totaling 6,158 feet; and 79 reels of Super 8mm totaling 4,919 feet.
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Travel
Amusement parks
Brookfield Zoo (Ill.)
Holidays
Children
Custodial History
These films were held by the Lieb and Hootnick families until they were donated to CFA in 2021 by Dr. David B. Lieb.
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 holds the copyright for the films in this collection.
Creators
Hootnick, Harry (was created by)
Dr. Harry L. Hootnick (1911-1995) emigrated to the United States from modern-day Poland with his family in 1914 to flee from antisemitic persecution. While working his way through college and medical school he developed an interest in photography and then later motion pictures. He used both mediums avidly to document his only daughter, Shirley, as she grew up as well as the lives of his wife, Ellen, his parents, Abraham and Fanny, and his siblings, Evelyn and Jacque. He served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II and worked as a physician on Chicago's Northwest Side for 45 years.
Lieb, Bernard (was created by)
Dr. Bernard Lieb (1918-2000) was a family doctor and devoted husband and father. He used an 8mm Kodak camera to document the daily lives and travels of his family.
Lieb, David (was created by)
Lieb, Daniel (was created by)
At a young age Daniel Lieb starting using the Super 8mm camera of his father, Dr. David Lieb, to shoot staged scenes with his friends. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degrees in Communications and Arts with the intention to go into a career in film making, but instead ending up working as a travel agent and later a real estate agent. However, Lieb continued to be a home movie filmmaker, documenting the lives of his family and their travels on video.
Lieb, Shirley (is participant)