Film, Video President McKinley taking the oath

Title

• President McKinley taking the oath

Summary

• "This film records President McKinley taking the oath of office. The first camera position shows the seating arrangements prepared for the spectators and witnesses on the steps of the Capitol. At the time the film was taken, there were many empty seats. The second camera position shows the inaugural party during the swearing-in ceremonies. All that can be seen is the black draped balcony and, in the distance, two people standing facing one another, as if they were part of the administration of the oath. The film ends as the newly inaugurated president begins his speech"--Early motion pictures.
• "PRESIDENT McKINLEY TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE. This picture opens by showing the Diplomatic Corps, accompanied by Admiral Dewey and General Nelson A. Miles, coming down the carpeted stone steps of the Capitol and going to their seats in front of the stand where the President speaks. Next come the members of the President's Cabinet, and they are followed closely by President McKinley, preceded by Sergeant-at-Arms Ransdell of the Senate, bare headed and one armed, and also accompanied by the joint committee of Congress, composed of Senator Mark Hanna, of Ohio; Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin; Senator James K. Jones, of Arkansas; Representatives Cannon, of Illinois; Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, and McRae, of Arkansas. The President then steps promptly to the front of the stand amid the cheers of the immense crowd who stand with heads reverently uncovered, filling the entire foreground of our picture. As the tumult ceases, Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller, in the black silk robes of his high office, steps forward and holding in his outstretched hand a small Bible, administers the oath of office. The oath taken, the President presses his lips to the Bible and with manuscript in hand, immediately begins his speech. Length 50 feet. [$]7.50. Note. Again the valuable and exclusive privileges granted us by the United States Government allowed us to place our camera within fifteen feet of the President when he took the oath of office. We regret that we were unable to secure a longer film than listed above, but the rain began falling in torrents with almost the first words of the President's speech, which of course prohibited our taking a greater length of film, but notwithstanding the fact that it began sprinkling before the President took the oath of office, the fifty feet of film which we did secure is good"--Edison films catalog, July, 1901, p. 8.

Names

• Thomas A. Edison, Inc
• Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
• Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

• United States : Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1901.

Headings

• -  McKinley, William,--1843-1901--Inaugurations
• -  Presidents--United States--Inauguration
• -  Dewey, George,--1837-1917
• -  Miles, Nelson Appleton,--1839-1925
• -  Hanna, Marcus Alonzo,--1837-1904
• -  Spooner, John C.--(John Coit),--1843-1919
• -  Jones, James K.--(James Kimbrough),--1839-1908
• -  Cannon, Joseph Gurney,--1836-1926
• -  Dalzell, John,--1845-1927
• -  McRae, Thomas C.--(Thomas Chipman),--1851-1929
• -  Fuller, Melville Weston,--1833-1910
• -  Ransdell, Daniel M.--(Daniel Moore),--1842-1912

Genre

• Actualities (Motion pictures)
• Short films
• Silent films
• Nonfiction films

Notes

• -  H1794 U.S. Copyright Office
• -  Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 8Mar1901; H1794.
• -  Duration: 0:44 at 15 fps.
• -  Photographed March, 1901. Location: Washington, D.C.
• -  The Library of Congress copy of this film may not include all of the scenes described in the Edison Company summary.
• -  Paper print shelf number (LC 0112) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
• -  Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
• -  Early motion pictures : the paper print collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.
• -  This film was selected for the National Film Registry (under the title, President McKinley Inauguration footage, along with a second film entitled, President McKinley and escort going to the Capitol).
• -  Sources used: Niver's Early motion pictures, p. 256; Eagan's America's film legacy, p. 7-8; Edison films, complete catalogue, Form 105, July 1901, p. 8-9.
• -  35 mm dupe neg pic renumbered: FPE 5218 to FZA 2372.

Medium

• viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (19 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
• viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 60 ft.) : si., b&2 ; 35 mm.
• dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (19 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
• dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 60 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
• master pos pic 1 film reel of 1 (19 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
• master pos pic 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 60 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
• paper pos 1 roll (63 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.
• paper pos (copy 2) 1 roll (63 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.

Call Number/Physical Location

• FLA 3126 (viewing print)
• FEB 9727 (viewing print)
• FRA 0460 (dupe neg pic)
• FZA 2372 (dupe neg pic)
• FRB 1182 (master pos pic)
• FPE 5219 (master pos pic)
• Box 0649E (paper pos)
• Box 5510D (paper pos, copy 2)

Repository

• Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu

Digital Id

• http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsmi/lcmp001.m1a04770

Library of Congress Control Number

• 00694336

Online Format

• video
• image

LCCN Permalink

• https://lccn.loc.gov/00694336

Additional Metadata Formats

• MARCXML Record
• MODS Record
• Dublin Core Record