Dinsmore, Clara F. / Hodges, Chantal Collection

SummaryThe Clara F. Dinsmore/ Chantal Hodges Collection contains 31 home movies shot on Martha's Vineyard, primarily in Edgartown, during the summer of 1925 by Clara Dinsmore and her brother William Dismore Jr. The films document Clara, Bill, and their friends and family during summer activities on Martha's Vineyard including sailing, picnics at the beach, driving around town, and ferry activity. These are the earliest known images of Edgartown filmed as the area was just beginning to establish itself as a summer resort. Of particular interest are reels documenting early images of local sights including the Chappaquiddick ferry when it was still just a rowboat, Edgartown waterfront and downtown, the bathing beach, and early fishing methods. There are also two commercial reels.

Biographical/Historical NotesClara F. Dinsmore was born in 1908 in New York City and died in 1972 in Martha's Vineyard. She had a sister, Marion, and a brother, William. Her family spent summers in Edgartown on the island of Martha's Vineyard, and both Clara and her brother William moved to the island full-time in their later years. Even though the family were not full-time residents they were active in the community. Clara's father, William B. Dinsmore, founded the Edgartown Golf Club. During the summer of 1925, when Clara shot the films in this collection, she was 17 years old. Clara was a professional photographer who published several books of her photographs, including a book of photographs of Martha's Vineyard after the 1944 hurricane. She was also a national champion sailboat racer and won the National Women’s Championship Prosser Cup for Edgartown 6 times from 1931 to 1933 and from 1937 to 1939. Clara's brother Bill taught harmony and counterpoint at the Juilliard School in New York and was a composer and concert pianist. While Clara was the primary photographer, Bill may have shot a few of the films. Chantal Hodges, the donor of the collection, was Bill's stepdaughter.

RepositoryNortheast Historic Film

AvailabilityThe Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and UseAuthorization to reuse and/or reproduce must be obtained from Northeast Historic Film. See http://oldfilm.org/content/stock-footage-licensing for more information.