New Day Films archive, 1968-2021

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Access restricted. Some materials closed by donor request until 2027. Access note. Collection contains electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions....
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
New Day Films, Brandon, Liane, Klein, Jim, 1948-, Reichert, Julia, and Rothschild, Amalie R.
Abstract:
New Day Films is a filmmaker-run cooperative founded in 1971. Its film archive consists of analog and digital elements for many of the cooperative's films dating from 1971 to the present. Film topics range widely and include women's history and culture; multiculturalism and diversity; social and political history; gender and socialization; media, culture; the environment; mental health; parenting and family; and global concerns. Paper records maintained by feminist co-founders Liane Brandon, Jim Klein, Julia Reichert, and Amalie R. Rothschild and by the cooperative office comprise correspondence between co-op members, staff, vendors, venues, and supporters; records relating to film production and distribution; steering committee and meeting minutes; policies and procedures; reports on activities; fund-raising proposals; film sales and rental receipts; film reviews, articles, fliers, posters, and other publicity; and some photographs of events and members. Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
Extent:
51.5 Linear Feet (82 boxes; 74 film reels; 500 GB)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.10180

Background

Scope and content:

The New Day Films archive documents the activities of the feminist filmmaker-run cooperative founded in 1971, spanning the history of the organization to the present day. The film archive consists of analog and digital elements for many of the cooperative's films dating from 1971 to the present. Paper records maintained by the co-founders Liane Brandon, Jim Klein, Julia Reichert, and Amalie R. Rothschild and by the cooperative office comprise correspondence between co-op members, staff, vendors, venues, and supporters; records relating to film production and distribution; steering committee and meeting minutes; policies and procedures; reports on activities; fund-raising proposals; film sales and rental receipts; film reviews, articles, fliers, posters, and other publicity; and some photographs of events and members.

Analog elements, digital files, and film project records for the four co-founder's films form a significant part of the collection, and relate to these seminal feminist film titles: Woo Who? May Wilson (Rothschild, 1969);Sometimes I Wonder Who I Am (Brandon, 1970); Anything You Want to Be (Brandon, 1971); Growing up Female (Reichert/Klein, 1971); Betty Tells Her Story (Brandon, 1972); It Happens to Us (Rothschild, 1972); Nana, Mom, and Me (Rothschild, 1974); Not So Young Now As Then (Brandon, 1974), and Seeing Red (Reichert/Klein, 1983). The second and much larger component of the collection is the 255 digital film files representing 131 filmmakers who are members of the New Day Films cooperative.

Topics explored in New Day films and other materials in the collection range widely, and include but are not limited to: women's history and culture; multiculturalism and diversity; social and political histories, particularly labor and human rights-centered movements; gender identity and socialization; media culture; the environment; mental health; parenting and family; and global concerns such as immigration and political corruption.

Biographical / historical:

New Day Films is a United States filmmaker-run film distribution company representing over 150 filmmakers. The company was founded in 1971 by four independent filmmakers, Liane Brandon, Jim Klein, Julia Reichert, and Amalie Rothschild, in order to distribute their feminist films and to create a democratically run distribution cooperative. Their films about growing up female in the U.S. were among the earliest of the emerging women's movement. New Day's titles now reflect a wide range of topics, including multiculturalism and diversity; social and political history; gender and socialization; media, culture; the environment: mental health; parenting and family; and global concerns. The cooperative's titles have won an Academy Award, Emmy Awards, Academy Award nominations and hundreds of awards at film festivals. Their films have been broadcast on PBS, HBO and other national networks.

Acquisition information:
The New Day Films archive was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as gifts and purchases from 2013-2023. The material in this collection was donated by New Day co-founders Liane Brandon, Jim Klein, Julia Reichert, and Amalie R. Rothschild.
Processing information:

Original accessions processed and encoded by Megan E. Lewis, September, 2015; updated 2016.

Updated November 2019 by Jacqueline Ayala, Craig Breaden, Paula Jeannet, and Alanna Styer to include digital materials, new additions, and rearranged materials.

Updated December 2021 by Craig Breaden to include motion picture film and digital materials.

Updated June 2022 by Craig Breaden to include digital materials.

Addition 2023-0126 papers processed and described by Paula Jeannet, August 2023.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2013-0165, 2014-0017, 2014-0091, 2014-0208, 2016-0043, 2016-0291, 2018-0023, 2018-0132, 2019-0040, 2019-0041, 2019-0070, 2021-0115, 2022-0036, 2022-0118, 2022-0144, 2022-0195, 2023-0054, 2023-0070, 2023-0126, 2023-0203.

Arrangement:

The archive is arranged in the following series, which are further divided into subseries: Liane Brandon Co-Founder Files; Julia Reichert and Kim Klein Co-Founder Files; Amalie R. Rothschild Co-Founder Files; New Day Films Cooperative Files; New Day Films Printed Materials; Digital Films Collection; and Associated Digital Audiovisual Materials.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access restricted. Some materials closed by donor request until 2027.

Access note. Collection contains electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Access note. Collection contains fragile materials in the form of film negatives that may require extra assistance from staff. Contact Research Services for access.

Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual/photographic formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], New Day Films archive, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1rd20