Redlich Family Collection
Inclusive Dates
circa 1938 – 1963
Preservation Sponsor
James Redlich and Myra Epping
Abstract
The Redlich Family Collection consists of home movies shot by two generations of Redlichs in the Chicago area. Rudolph "Red" Redlich Jr.'s films capture life on the North Side of Chicago in the 1930s and '40s, and include films of his bowling league, Eagle Sheet Metal Manufacturing Company's picnics, and extensive world travel. His son William's films focus on family life in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago, as well as vacations around the U.S. in the 1950s and '60s.
Collection Items
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
- 1: 1944-46 / Wedding / Susan As Baby
- 2: 1946-48 / Children as babies, zoo, lake
- 3: 1949-57 / Dunes / Cracker - Picnic
- 4: 1958-59 / Washington / Detroit
- 5: 1959 / Parade / Camping
- 6: 1960 / Colorado Vacation
- 1960 / Bal of Colorado / Boys Town / Family at Lake
- 1961 / Vacation / Camping / Minnesota
- 1962 Memorial Day Water Ski Snow Ski
- 1963 Summer / Knife Lake / Saulte Lox
- Africa
- Africa
- Bowling Team / Picnic at Redlich's July 7 46
- Brookfield Zoo / Fishing at Spooner
- Canada Glac Nat Park
- Dells; Repairing Canoe; Sail Boat; Hunting Canoe; top of car[?]
- Drama on Lake Marie
- East No. 1
- East No. 2
- East No. 3
- Fishing
- Guatemala
-
Guatemala
Smokey Mts - [Handmade 16mm film reels] (Realia)
- Hawaii No. 1
- Hawaii No. 2
- Mexico
-
Mexico
Lake Trip to Bufflo
Smoky Mt's - Rex to Rio No. 1
- Rex to Rio No. 2
- Rex to Rio No. 3
- Rex to Rio No. 4
- ROTC Day at Soldier Field
- Shop Picknic 38+39
- Shop Pictures No. 2 - 1940, 1941, 1946
-
South America No. 1
Panama City - South America No. 2
- South America No. 3
- Twin Lakes 1940 No. 1
- Twin Lakes 1940 No. 2
- Water Bike
- Water Bike No. 2
- West No. 1
- West No. 2
- West No. 3
Collection Identifier
C.2024-06
Extent of Collection
44 reels of 16mm film totaling approximately 15,430 feet.
Language Of Materials
English
Custodial History
The films were made by Rudolph Redlich, Jr. and his son William R. Redlich. The collection was given to William's son James W. Redlich in the 1970s; James donated the films to CFA in 2024.
Access Restrictions
Appointments must be made with Chicago Film Archives for on-site access. Due to the fragile nature of the films, only digital copies will be provided for on-site viewing.
Use Restrictions
Chicago Film Archives holds the copyright for the films in this collection.
Creators
Redlich, Rudolph Jr.
(was created by)
Rudolph Redlich, Jr. was born in Chicago in 1889 to Mathilda (Schaff) and Rudolph Redlich, Sr., members of the northside German-American community. He attended Armour Institute of Technology and was very mechanically talented from a young age. He went on to co-found the Eagle Sheet Metal Manufacturing Company, which fabricated products such as cabinets for teletype machines on Chicago's northside.
He married Mildred Dauber in 1919, and they had two children: son William (b. 1921) and daughter Marylyn (b. 1924). The earliest films that Rudolph shot were made when the family was living in a Chicago bungalow at 6045 N. Maplewood Avenue in West Ridge.
Rudolph and Mildred traveled extensively, including an extended round-the-world trip. He also enjoyed fishing, bowling, and other popular activities of his time. Rudolph died in 1972 at age 83.
Redlich, William R.
(was created by)
He married Mildred Dauber in 1919, and they had two children: son William (b. 1921) and daughter Marylyn (b. 1924). The earliest films that Rudolph shot were made when the family was living in a Chicago bungalow at 6045 N. Maplewood Avenue in West Ridge.
Rudolph and Mildred traveled extensively, including an extended round-the-world trip. He also enjoyed fishing, bowling, and other popular activities of his time. Rudolph died in 1972 at age 83.
William R. Redlich was born in 1921 in Rock Island, Illinois to Rudolph and Mildred Redlich. He grew up in West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago and attended Senn High School in the Edgewater neighborhood. He graduated from Purdue University with an engineering degree in 1944. Bill joined the Army Air Force in 1943 and, during WWII, was stationed on the island of Saipan in the South Pacific where he was the flight engineer on a B-29 Super Fortress bomber. Upon his return from the war, Bill joined Eagle Sheet Metal Mfg. Co. in Chicago, where he rose to president.
William married Anna Rose Julian in 1944. Their first home was on Ionia Avenue in the Edgebrook neighborhood of Chicago. They had three children while living there: Susan (b. 1946), Cathy (b. 1949), and Jim (b. 1952). In 1954, the family moved to Winnetka, Illinois, where Ann and Bill lived for over 40 years. He was active as a Boy Scout troop leader, President of the District 37 School Board, a volunteer with the American Field Service student exchange program, a member of Rotary International, and a member of Northfield Community Church where he volunteered in many capacities and was honored for his commitment to the Good News Community Kitchen in Chicago. William passed away in 2021 at the age of 100.
William married Anna Rose Julian in 1944. Their first home was on Ionia Avenue in the Edgebrook neighborhood of Chicago. They had three children while living there: Susan (b. 1946), Cathy (b. 1949), and Jim (b. 1952). In 1954, the family moved to Winnetka, Illinois, where Ann and Bill lived for over 40 years. He was active as a Boy Scout troop leader, President of the District 37 School Board, a volunteer with the American Field Service student exchange program, a member of Rotary International, and a member of Northfield Community Church where he volunteered in many capacities and was honored for his commitment to the Good News Community Kitchen in Chicago. William passed away in 2021 at the age of 100.