Carl L. Godman Collection
Inclusive Dates
1951 – 1978
Bulk Dates
1959 – 1978
Abstract
A collection of home movies documenting the Godman family of Chicago and Evanston, Illinois. The patriarch of the family, Carl Lawrence Godman, shot the majority of the collection. The films primarily feature his wife, Fay F. Godman, and their three sons, David, Andrew, and James. Collection highlights include a 1968 Chicago River boat tour, a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo as well as home movies Carl shot while serving in the Korean War.
Collection Items
Film
Part 2, Carl's Navy Travels 1952, Aug. Sept. Oct. and Nov., Yokasuka-Fukia & sunset Otaru-onloading for mock landing near Wonsan Korea pohang-off loading Nov. Fujia area-Hotel koje Do prisoncamp Budha Shrine Kamakura, coming back
1952
To request more information about the items in this collection, please contact the archive at
info@chicagofilmarchives.org.
Items with Viewable Media
- Part 2, Carl's Navy Travels 1952, Aug. Sept. Oct. and Nov., Yokasuka-Fukia & sunset Otaru-onloading for mock landing near Wonsan Korea pohang-off loading Nov. Fujia area-Hotel koje Do prisoncamp Budha Shrine Kamakura, coming back
- 1967 Fall: Expo 67 Montreal
- 1967: Godmans at Home and in Canada
- 1968 Fall: Uncle Dave - H. Melody Farm - Ball State
- 1968 Fall: Yard & Ball State
- 1968 Spring: Yard & Zoo
- 1968 Summer: Chicago River Cruise with Godmans & Howensteins
- 1968 Summer: Flora-Dale - Santa's Village
- 1968 Summer: Zoo & Tree-cutting
- 1968 Winter: Expo 1967, D&A Sled
- 1969: Astronauts Parade Downtown Chicago
- 1969 Summer: Flora-Dale (Part 1)
- 1969 Summer: Flora-Dale (Part 2)
- 1969 Summer: Flora-Dale Part 3 - Blue Angels & Clipper
- 1970 June-July: Kathy's Wedding - Hoot, Toot & Whistle
- 1970 Summer: Flora-Dale - Hansen's Visit
- 1970 Summer: Indiana State Fair with Hansens & Block Party
- 1970 Summer: Swanson's Cottage, Train at N. Freedom
- 1970 Winter: Boys in L. Room
- 1970 Winter: D-I-Skating & Hansens at Pokagon
- 1971 August: Flora-Dale - Boating, Beach, Tennis & Pool
- 1971 August: Flora-Dale - Dunes, Dune Buggy, Picnic & Sunset
- 1971: Labor Day Block Party (Part 1)
- 1971: Labor Day Block Party (Part 2)
- 1971 May-June: Backyard Ball & Karen's Graduation
- 1971 Spring: Basketball Weatherman
- 1971 Summer: 4th of July Big & Little Parade
- 1972 August: 1st Basketball Goal Simon & D's 1st Diving Flora-Dale
- 1972 October: Indian Guides Campout - Ravenswood (Part 1)
- 1972 October: Indian Guides Campout - Ravenswood (Part 2)
- 1973 August: Flora-Dale - Trail, Paddleboats & Mom on Raft
- 1973: Flora-Dale - D,A Diving & J. Playing Sand
- 1973: January Skiing with Hern. & July Flora-Dale
- 1973 March: Danville Precious with Boys, Chip & Family
- 1973 March: Verna, Peter, Karl & Us in Danville
- 1974: Flora-Dale - Beach, Mom & Sailboat
- 1974: Flora-Dale - Games, Glider, Tennis, Sign, Back Home
- 1974: Flora-Dale - Nature Center, Dunes & Picnic
- 1974 July: Indian Guides Campout - Indian Olympics with David & Andy at Camp Duncan (Part 1)
- 1974 July: Indian Guides Campout - Indian Olympics with David & Andy at Camp Duncan (Part 2)
- 1974 July: Swanson's Cottage
- 1974 Summer: Boys on Bicycles
- 1974: Vacation #1 - Home, Osbergers, Toronto, Algon Park
- 1974: Vacation #2 - Deep River, Verna & Family
- 1974: Vacation #3 - Verna & Family, Seedbury, S.S. Marie & Algoma Train Trip
- 1974: Vacation #4 - Agawa Canyon & Lock Tours
- 1974: Vacation #5 - Locks & Mackinac Island
- 1975-1976: Frosty & Flora-Dale From Air
- 1975 August: Flora-Dale - Jim's Swim
- 1975 August: Morrow & Jim on Bike & Blue Angels
- 1975: Godman Family Vacation - California (Part 1)
- 1975: Godman Family Vacation - California (Part 2)
- 1975 or 1976: Flora-Dale - Verna, Peter, Karl, Carolyn & Swimming Pool
- 1976: Flora-Dale - Swimming & Sailing
- 1976 July: 4th of July Parade
- 1976 July: Ontario Place Canada
- 1976 July: Ontario Place V&P
- 1976 Summer: Baseball, Osbergers
- 1976 Summer: Flora-Dale - Duck & Dune Buggy
- 1976 Summer: Flora-Dale - Trolley & Airplane
- 1976 Summer: Osbergers High Jump
- 1977-1978: Ford Retractable & Saucer Slide
- 1978: 114 Judy 500
- 1978: 115 Judy 500
- 1978 March: Florida with Janzens
- 1978 Spring: Uncle Dave & Janzens-Florida
- Christmas '71 (2nd reel), Train pix, Boys & mom dancing to music, David at Piano
- David Age 11, Turtle & Baseball, Little/Pony League
Collection Identifier
C.2013-09
Extent of Collection
95 reels of 8mm film totaling 9,050 feet
Language Of Materials
English
Subject
Custodial History
The films traveled in boxes with Carl L. Godman, from residence to residence. For the years before 1962, he lived on the south side of Chicago (South Shore), after which he moved to Evanston, Illinois with his wife Fay. The films were donated to CFA in 2013 and 2014 by Fay F. Godman and her sons, David, Andrew, and James Godman.
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
Godman, Carl Lawrence
(was created by)
Carl Lawrence Godman was born in Chicago on April 28, 1930. After graduating from South Shore High School in 1948, he was awarded a scholarship to Northwestern University where he entered the School of Business and the Naval ROTC program. He graduated with a B.S. Degree, and a commission in the U.S. Navy. His three year tour of duty began shortly before the Korean Armistice was signed. His longest assignment was aboard an LST (Landing Ship, Tank). He left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant.
Carl began working at age nine, using his wagon or bicycle to deliver jugs of filtered water (from a nearby experimental water filtration plant) to his neighbors. Once he returned home to Chicago from the Navy, Carl worked four years at the large commercial printing company, RR Donnelly & Sons. He began learning about investing by putting a portion of his earnings into the stock market. He soon went to work for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith. Carl retired from Merrill Lynch in November, 1999, after thirty-nine years.
Carl L. Godman shot all of the footage in the Carl L Godman Home Movie Collection, except for those instances where he is in the footage, and then it was either his wife, Fay F. Godman, or other family or friends holding the camera. In addition to developing an interest in photography, Carl created in his sons (David, Andrew, and James) an interest in building things and learning how things work. Setting up the slide and/or movie projector and putting up the screen always signaled a night of family fun. Carl's wife Fay was the designated person to turn out the lights once the film started to roll or the slides were ready to go.
Godman, David
(is participant)
David Godman is the son of Carl L. Godman.
Godman, Andy
(is participant)
Andy Godman is the son of Carl L. Godman.