We get mail, in this case from David Sobel:
I wanted to share my website The Moving Past which has been in operation for a few months now.
Canada was the first country in the world to have a government-sponsored motion picture bureau. In 1917, Ontario formed its own motion picture bureau. The following year the Government of Canada created the Exhibits and Publicity Bureau, renaming it the Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau in 1923. The reasons for their formation are discussed on the website. These two bureaus left behind a remarkable legacy of an estimated one thousand films, most of which are unknown and difficult to access.
My website hopes to change that. Seeking to capture the attention of academic historians and educators, the goal of the site is to make some of these productions available through streaming. Fifteen films are available right now, with plans to add six more by the Fall. More than 2,000 historians, from over 40 countries have watched the films so far. The site relies on small donations to function.
I invite you to take a look. There's a brief description of each of the films, which vary in length from three to 14 minutes. Some historiographical research has also been added. These productions are a mix of what I call "industrial documentaries" and "narratives of instruction". They have been edited slightly for more contemporary pacing and each film features either period or commissioned music to cater to classroom use. Silent film is somewhat of a misnomer anyway. Films were usually accompanied with live music.
