MoMA’s Department of Film holds significant primary sources on film-related figures and topics. These may be accessed by appointment at the Film Study Center. Please note that access restrictions apply to certain collections. Appointments must be confirmed four weeks in advance. To request an appointment please fill out this online form. For more about the Film Study Center, see the FAQ.
Processed Records
Cecelia Ager, author
George K. Arthur, actor/producer
Artkino, Soviet film distributor
Raoul Barre, animator
Iris Barry, MoMA’s first film curator
Hester Baum, on Asta Nielsen
Biograph Co., production (partially available on microfilm at the Library)
Alice Guy Blache, filmmaker (partially processed)
Thomas Brandon, film distributor
Robert Brotherton, animator
Luis Bunuel
Joseph Burstyn, distributor
John Canemaker, animator
Fabiano Canosa, distributor
Norman Chaitin, filmmaker
Doris Chase, independent filmmaker
Charles Theatre, exhibition
Merritt Crawford, early history of the cinema (access on microfilm at the Library)
Crystal Film Co.
Deanna Durbin, actress
Carol Dempster, actress
Franc N. Dillon
Leo Dratfield, distributor
Carl T. Dreyer, filmmaker
Edison Manufacturing Co., scripts
Ed Emshwiller, filmmaker
Elgin Cinema, exhibition
Paul Falkenberg, author
Film and Photo League
Hollis Frampton, filmmaker
George L. George, filmmaker
George O. Nicholls Family Collection, scrapbooks
German film, press
Gone with the Wind (1939), scrapbook
D. W. Griffith, director (access on microfilm at the Library)
Jerome Hill, filmmaker
Katherine Hilliker/Harry Caldwell, Jr., editors, writers
Fanny Holtzmann, legal
Theodore Huff, author and collector
Ian Hugo, filmmaker
Josephine Hull, actress
Harry Hurwitz, filmmaker
Thomas Ince/J. Parker Reade, producer
George Justin, production manager
Kalem Film Co./Phil Lang, production
I (Isadore) Klein, animation
George Kleine, distribution
John Michael Korcz, fan (processed partially)
Fritz Lang/You Only Live Once (1937) material
Legion of Decency, censorship
L. A. LePrince, technology
Carl Lerner, film editor
Bernard Lewis, press
Lubin Co., production
Winsor McCay, animation
Norman McClaren, animation
Francis Marion, author
Andrew C. Meyer, filmmaker
Michael Mindlin/Little Carnegie Cinema, exhibition
OIAA, production
Charles Oxenham, exhibitor
David Platt, author
Publix, exhibition
The Quiet One (1948), scrapbooks
William F. Reilly, actor
The Residents, performers
Henwar Rodakiewicz, filmmaker
Stella Simon, filmmaker
Victor Sjostrom, filmmaker
Marc Sorkin, author
John Speaks, author
Philip Stapp, filmmaker
Cecile Starr, distribution/women filmmakers
Joel Swensen, executive, Fox
Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation
Paul Terry, animation
Theater 80 St. Marks, exhibition
Ugo Torricelli, independent filmmaker
Jim Tully, author
Charles L. Turner, filmmaker/collector
Helen Van Dongen, editor
Stan Vanderbeek, filmmaker
Helen Vinson, actress
Sonia Volochova, editor
Slavko Vorkapich/Kevles, filmmaker
Lois Weber, filmmaker
Wharton Studio
Jacob Wilk, producer
Unprocessed Records
Lou Bunin, filmmaker/animator
Christian Blackwood, filmmaker
Mary Ellen Bute/Ted Nemeth, filmmakers
Diana Serra Cary, actress
Shamus Culhane, animator
Tissa David, animator
Albert Deane
Dell Publishing, documentation files
Department of Film Archive records
Department of Film Circulating Film records
Department of Film Exhibition records 1991–present (for materials prior to 1991 contact the Museum Archives)
Eight-millimeter (8mm) Collection, technology
George Fenmore, merchandising
Film Import and Trading Co, distribution
Renee Furst, press
Hal Hamilton, postage stamps
Hal Hartley, filmmaker
John, Faith, and Emily Hubley, filmmakers
Leo Hurwitz, filmmaker
Stan Johnson, designer
Kino International, distributor
Arthur Knight, author
Jean Lenauer, author
Jay Ledya, author
Kenneth LiDonnici, technology
Harry McWilliams, press
Nine.five-millimeter (9.5mm) Collection, technology
Pathe Cinema, exhibition
Pathe Newsreel, production
Photoplay, documentation files c. 1912–1935
Leo Seltzer, filmmaker
Martin Sopocy, author
Francis Thompson, filmmaker
Trans-Lux, production
John Hay Whitney, producer
Herman G. Weinberg, author
Douglas Wood, producer
Additional Documentation
The following collections are arranged by film title, personality name, venue, or publication name; no single finding aid or inventory of these holdings exists. To access, you must submit a request form and provide a list of relevant films or subjects.
Posters are not available for general reference. If you are a serious poster scholar, please inquire.
Distribution catalogs
Equipment catalogs, 1900–1930
Fan Magazines
“Heralds,” press
Novelizations
Postcards, early cinema
Posters (partially processed)
Press books, c. 1917–1980s
Programs, Cinema, c. 1910s–1970
Recordings, silent film era
Sheet music, popular music related to the cinema (partially processed)
Studio Presentation Books, Fox/Paramount/RKO, etc.
Souvenir Programs