South Side Home Movie Project

We hope your weekends going forward look a little like this!

Enjoy this clip from the Dr. George Reed Jr. Collection, filmed at a YWCA camp in Forest Beach, Michigan in 1957.

Explore more clips like this on our website, link in bio!

It’s ! 🎥

This week, we’re spotlighting the Nash Family, donors of the Dr. Helen Nash Collection.

Shot between the 1950s–1970s on 16mm and Super 8 film, this incredible collection spans five continents—from Egypt and Brazil to safaris, road trips, and local neighborhood life. But family is just as central, capturing weddings, graduations, and quiet moments.

Outside of filmmaking, Dr. Helen Nash was a pioneering pediatrician whose work dramatically lowered infant mortality rates. We are so grateful to her family for preserving this legacy with us!

👉 Explore the Dr. Helen Nash Collection via the link in our bio.

Our donor families are the absolute heart of the South Side Home Movie Project. Today, we’re spotlighting the incredible Roberts and Branch family, donors of the Lora Branch Collection!

Spanning from the 1930s to the 1980s, this gorgeous collection is a vibrant slice of Chicago history. It captures everything from sweet family picnics in Dan Ryan Woods to rare, historic footage of Roberts Temple—a cornerstone of Bronzeville and the Great Migration story.

During our watch party, we loved seeing generations of laughter, kids playing, and hearing how family members like Sharon Roberts are still carrying this history forward in the very house her grandfather built!

We are so incredibly grateful to Lora Branch, Sharon Roberts, and their family for trusting us with these priceless memories.

🔗 Dive into the Lora Branch Collection via the link in our bio!

The annual Holland Tulip Festival kicked off this weekend!

It’s easy to think of it now as a big, 10-day event, but it started pretty simply in the late 1920s with an idea, a connection to the Netherlands, and a shipment of 100,000 tulip bulbs.

Over time, it grew into what it is today: flowers, parades, music, dancing, but at its core, it’s always been about people coming together to mark the season.

We have a glimpse of that in the archive. Here’s a clip from the Ramon Williams Collection, just decades earlier.

A Pocket Universe 🌌

Originally debuted in October 2024, “A Pocket Universe” is the first live edition of Spinning Home Movies. Scored and performed by Chicago’s own Mykele Deville, with support from interdisciplinary artist [jef]Frey Michael Austin, this performance explores resilience, dreaming, and the codes of everyday life.

Created during a residency with the South Side Home Movie Project, Mykele’s mix features a beautiful tapestry of footage from the Patton, Smith, McClelland, Pitts, Roberson, Roberts, O’Neal, and Williams collections.

Mykele recently released his 2025 album Rings Around The Tub, reflecting his growth as an artist and future father. He is joined by [jef]Frey Michael Austin, a versatile Chicago composer and fabricator whose work has been featured at the MCA Chicago and the Art Institute. Together, they transform archival film into a powerful, living experience.

🔗 Watch "A Pocket Universe" at the link in our bio!

While the big festival stages get all the hype, the real magic has always lived in our own neighborhoods. There is something so iconic and special about these intimate, local gatherings—where the music was loud, the style was effortless, and the community felt like one big family.

Our archives are full of these legendary moments that truly capture the soul of Chicago. Check out this incredible footage from the Ramon Williams Collection, featuring a New Year’s Eve celebration at the historic Pershing Ballroom. It’s a perfect reminder that the best parties aren't found on a desert stage, but right here in the heart of the South Side.

🔗 Explore more musical history at the link in our bio.

This week, Meet the Donor Monday we’re celebrating the Mednick Family and the incredible Len and Bev Mednick Collection, now stewarded by their granddaughters, Ellen, Molly, and Jenny.

Shot on 8mm film in Jeffrey Manor during the 1950s and 60s, these home movies show that the Mednicks were the ultimate hosts. From massive cakes and crowded living rooms to a legendary 1957 Hawaiian-themed bash, their films capture a community that truly knew how to celebrate. You’ll even spot the family dog, Taffy, weaving through the dancers and guests!

We are so grateful to the Mednick family for sharing these joyful memories and helping us preserve a more vibrant, nuanced history of the South Side.

Explore the collection at the link in our bio.

Clips from: SSHMP.2024.MEDNICK.00005 & SSHMP.2024.MEDNICK.00003