John and Donna Adams Collection
Inclusive Dates
1950 – 1989
Abstract
53 reels of 8mm and Super 8 home movies of the John and Donna Adams family in the 1950s–'80s. They chronicle the post-war life of a WW2 veteran and a pharmacist as they raised their kids in Texas and Ohio. The films capture holidays, birthdays, new babies, and childhood dance and sports events, as well as trips to see family in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, and trips to see sights in the US and Europe.
Collection Items
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
- 26 - Prom 1979 - Suzy is 12 - Janice and Bruce - Summer 1979
- 27 Hawaii - Honolulu Punch Bowl - Arrival - Arizona Memorial
- 28 Hawaii - Fern Grotts - Kona Show - Volcanoes
- 35 Europe 1989
- 1958 - 1959: Aluminum Paint
- 1963: Xmas - Dance Recital - Snow Feb.
- 1964: Leaving the Hospital with Janice
- 1965
- 1966: Janice in Snow - Easter 66 - Janice and Howard - Janice's Visit in June
- 1967-68 - Xmas 67 Greenville - Suzi 5 and 6 months - Janice 4th Birthday
- 1970-71 - Bill's Family - Mardi Gras
- 1973
- [1973 - Untitled Home Movie]
- 1974: Florida Vacation
- 1974 - Janice's Birthday - Summer Workshop Theatre
- 1975-1976 - Christmas - Puerto Rico
- 1976-77 - Suzy's Bday - Xmas - Belly Dance - Eastern Vacation
- 1977 - Wisconsin - Christmas
- 1978-1979 - Xmas
- 1980
- 1980 - New York City
- 1981 - Matt and Janice Baseball
- [1982-1984 - Untitled Home Movie]
- 1982 - Janice and Matt - Fourth of July Parade
- 1982 - Xmas - Baseball 1982
- 1985 - Suzy's Prom and Graduation - Europe Summer - Madrid
- Aug - Dec 1956 - July 1957
- Bought Wash. D.C
- Europe 1989
- Fall 1981: Band at Carroll Contest
- Fall 1981: Viking Guard
- Iowa Vacation 1961
- Janice 5th Birthday - Summer 69 - Bikes - September 69 Christy and Suzy - Xmas 1969
- Janice Adams Project #3
- Kentucky Horse
- May - June 1976 - Dance Recital
- November 1960 - Train to Mexico
- Rowing 1987
- Rowing 1989
- Sept. 1978: Christy and Jan - Wedding Reception - Janice Cheering Oct. Viking Guard - Nashville Parthenon
- September 1959: John and Barbara
- September - December 1974
- Summer 1958: Oldsmobile - Easter Portrait
- Summer - Fall 1981: Mandy Reunion - Water Skiing - Junior Olympics - Indiana U. - Homecoming 1981
- Test Film
- [Untitled Fragments]
- [Untitled Home Movie]
- [Untitled Home Movie]
- [Untitled Home Movie]
- Vacation 1962 - Disneyland - Mt. Frankel - Arizona Desert
- Viking Guard 1978 at Carroll
- Xmas 1959 - 1960
- Xmas 1961 - May 1962 - Spring Easter 1963
Collection Identifier
C.2021-03
Extent of Collection
53 reels of 8mm and Super 8 film.
Subject
Custodial History
Donated by Janice Adams in 2021.
Use Restrictions
Chicago Film Archives holds the copyright for the films in this collection.
Creators
Adams, Donna
(was created by)
Donna was born in Wapello, IA on October 14, 1928 to Rolla and Nevada (Fisher) Cover. She married John Quincy Adams in 1945 after a 17 day whirlwind wartime courtship. She attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Pharmacy. John and Donna had four children: Rebecca, Christine, Janice, and Suzanne. She had enjoyed photography since receiving a camera when she was 12, and she expanded to movies when she had small children to film (and when she could afford to buy a movie camera). She primarily filmed her children, family, and trips. John also wanted photos and film of the family and trips, but perhaps because he had been wounded in his right hand during WWII he had trouble holding a camera, so Donna took most of the film/photos. Donna supported her family as a pharmacist after her husband lost his job as a lawyer in 1958. After living in Texas for several years, the family moved to Fairborn, Ohio in the mid-1960s. She passed away in 2022.