In 2005, Dr. Jacqueline Stewart founded the South Side Home Movie Project (SSHMP), a research and archival initiative to collect, preserve, digitize, exhibit and research small-gauge home movies made by residents of Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods. The project brings materials that are typically kept in private collections into public light and discussion. Unique in its focus on home movies from this region, SSHMP aims to build an alternative, accessible visual record, filling gaps in existing written and visual histories, and ensuring that the diverse experiences and perspectives of South Siders will be available to larger audiences and to future generations. The project’s film vault currently houses over 1000 film reels (8mm, Super 8, 16mm) from 40 South Side families, and our digital archive has expanded to over 30 terabytes of data.

‘Summerfest 1979,’ SSHMP.2017.ALSUPSMITH.00015, Alsup Smith Family Collection