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Francis Ford photographs

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSS 9151

Scope and Contents

Contains 168 photographs originally owned by Francis Ford. The photographs chronicle Francis Ford's career as an actor, director, and writer in the Hollywood silent movie industry. The photos date from 1901 through the 1940s with the greater number dating in the 1920s. during the active period of the Francis Ford Studios. Also contains a set of stills from various John Ford (Francis' younger brother) movies.

Dates

  • approximately 1900-1949

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Francis Ford photographs must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.

Biographical / Historical

Francis Ford (1881-1953) was an American motion picture actor, director and writer. He was the elder brother and mentor of film director John Ford.

Born Francis Feeney on August 14, 1881, Francis grew up in Portland, Maine. After leaving home at an early age, Ford worked in vaudeville before working as an actor in motion pictures. Ford landed in San Antonio, TX to begin filming with Thomas H. Ince at Ince's Bison Studio, acting and by 1912 directing alongside Ince in westerns. Ford moved to Universal in early 1913. His 1913 film "Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery" was Universal's first serial, and the first of a string of popular serials starring Ford's collaborator Grace Cunard. This success catapulted him to the head of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company's shorts and serials department. In 1917, Ford founded a short-lived independent company, Fordart Films and briefly opened his own studio. After 1929 his career only continued as an actor, often playing bit parts and uncredited roles. Ford died on September 5, 1953.

Extent

1 box (0.5 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

These photographs were originally created and gathered by Francis J. Ford, Sr. Upon Francis, Sr.'s death in 1953 they were passed on to his son, Francis J. Ford, Jr; upon whose death in 2012 the photographs were given to Michael Francis Ford; who donated them to BYU Special Collections in 2018.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Michael Francis Ford; 2018.

Appraisal

Cinema, television, broadcast and print media production exemplifying the development of visual culture and mass media as a whole (Media Arts History Collection Development Policy, V. b. v. 2, August 9, 2018).

Title
Register of Francis Ford photographs
Status
Completed
Author
Ben Harry
Date
2018 July 11
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States