Hackett, Talbot and Barbara Collection

SummaryCollection contains a factual work on Western Maine Sanatorium in Hebron, Maine. Tuberculosis patients are shown primarily outdoors, playing games, roughhousing, acting out skits, and enjoying winter sports. The Fourth of July parade on the grounds includes a blackface minstrel band. Bedridden patients appear in scenes filmed on the screen porch of the sanatorium. This material, filmed at one of four sanatoriums in Maine, records the philosophy of isolating TB patients and providing a healthy environment to encourage recovery.

Biographical/Historical NotesThe films were found among the possessions of Dr. Lester Adams, longtime director of the sanatorium, who kept many of the records when the facility closed in 1959. Personal papers of Lester Adams may be found at the Georgetown University Library (identifier GTM-920101). Lester Adams (November 10, 1884 - December 14, 1971)  was born in Bangor, Maine. According to Georgetown University, "Dr. Adams went on to become a noted leader in the fight to control tuberculosis and respiratory ailments." (https://findingaids.library.georgetown.edu/repositories/15/resources/10663)

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.