William F. Paulin Collection

William F. Paulin Collection
Inclusive Dates
1940 – 1989
Bulk Dates
1947 – 1979
Preservation Sponsor
Jim Paulin

Abstract
The William F. Paulin Collection contains home movies and amateur films primarily shot and edited by William F. Paulin between the late 1940s and late 1970s. They were largely shot around Stickney, Illinois, where Paulin lived for most of his life, and document the lives of multiple generations of his family. The films are notable for Paulin’s thoughtful compositions, creative title cards, and goofy sense of humor.
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Collection Items

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The Little Theatre Presents: 4 Big Attractions
Film
The Little Theatre Presents: 4 Big Attractions
circa 1955
Laff-In
Film
Laff-In
circa 1969
Little Red Riding Hood
Film
Little Red Riding Hood
circa 1966
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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.2023-10
Extent of Collection
51 reels of 8mm film totaling approximately 9,790 feet; 27 reels of Super 8mm film totaling approximately 7,195 feet.
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Amateur Film Clubs
Christmas
Suburban life
Weddings
Custodial History
These films were held by the Paulin family until they were donated to CFA in 2023 by Jim Paulin.
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
Paulin, William F. (was created by)
William F. Paulin (1909 - 1980) was born in Morden, Manitoba, Canada. He had many adventures in his youth, traveling the world as a merchant marine, working on the Hoover Dam, and once riding his bike from New York to Chicago. He met Mary Gasper in the 1930s; the two married and settled in Stickney, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, where they operated a dry-cleaning store through the 1970s. The couple had four children and fifteen grandchildren, along with many great-grandchildren. Paulin's main hobby was making films. He was a member of the Suburban Cinema Club, an amateur filmmaking club which met in nearby Cicero, and won many awards for his films. For the most part he documented the lives of his family over several generations, but he also dabbled in comedic sketches, stop-motion animation, and scenario films. In all of his work, Paulin was technically ambitious and joyfully creative, spending a great deal of time perfecting scripts, working on shots, editing, and making detailed title cards.