Human Studies Film Archive
Encyclopedia
The Human Studies Film Archives (HSFA), part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History
in Washington, DC, is devoted to preserving, documenting and providing access to anthropological
moving image materials. The Archives officially began its mission in 1975 when, as the National Anthropological Film Center, it initiated a program that both created and collected films of anthropological research interest. Today, HSFA collections and resources support research on specific cultures, the development of ethnographic film, and the broad study of visual culture. The Archives also promotes the importance of moving images as an integral part of the anthropological record.
HSFA collections comprise more than 7 million feet of film
and almost one thousand hours of video
recordings. These visual research resources, along with related documentary material encompass a broad range of documentary
, travelogue
, ethnographic and amateur genres dating from 1908 to the present. Associated collections include more than 250,000 photograph
s, fieldnotes and shot logs and field audio recordings
.
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
in Washington, DC, is devoted to preserving, documenting and providing access to anthropological
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
moving image materials. The Archives officially began its mission in 1975 when, as the National Anthropological Film Center, it initiated a program that both created and collected films of anthropological research interest. Today, HSFA collections and resources support research on specific cultures, the development of ethnographic film, and the broad study of visual culture. The Archives also promotes the importance of moving images as an integral part of the anthropological record.
HSFA collections comprise more than 7 million feet of film
Photographic film
Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...
and almost one thousand hours of video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
recordings. These visual research resources, along with related documentary material encompass a broad range of documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
, travelogue
Travel documentary
A travel documentary is a documentary film or television program that describes travel in general or tourist attractions in a non-commercial way....
, ethnographic and amateur genres dating from 1908 to the present. Associated collections include more than 250,000 photograph
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
s, fieldnotes and shot logs and field audio recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
.