"The Birth of a Nation" Film Souvenir Booklet

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: MSS-149

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection comprises of a souvenir booklet that commemorates the 1915 film, "The Birth of A Nation." The book contains critical essays, photography, and background details of the film. Includes a tribute by Rupert Hughes.

Dates

Created: 1915
Other: Date acquired: 10/26/1989

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions; Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

No restrictions; Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

The Birth of a Nation is a 1915 silent film directed by D. W. Griffith that depicts Reconstruction-era America through an overtly racist lens, portraying Black Americans through harmful stereotypes and presenting the Ku Klux Klan as heroic. Although widely condemned for its racism and its role in helping inspire the resurgence of the Klan in the early twentieth century, the film is also regarded as a major milestone in cinematic history for its innovations in editing, narrative structure, and large-scale filmmaking.