Filmmaker, Casper J. Renner, and his wife, Caroline Renner (image courtesy of Carol Renner)

Conservation & Capture

Original format: 8mm film, silent, color

Digital format: Footage captured at standard definition resolution of 720x480

Length/feet or running time: Approx. 2500ft

Circa: 1950-1980s

Status: Conservation and digital capture completed by The Media Preserve. Archive.org posting, coming soon

Public Screenings: Fall of 2016, Bismarck, Valley City, West Fargo, ND. More info here; Summer of 2017, Bismarck, Valley City, Fargo, ND. More info here.

Grantee

As a communications and marketing professional and most of all—her father’s daughter—Carol Renner wanted to honor the legacy of her dad, who documented 40 years of family and community history through film.

Films/Filmmaker

Where the cowboys and buffalo roam: The Casper J. Renner Home Movies & Community History Collection embodies the spirit of southwestern North Dakota. As the first generation of his family born in America, Casper “Cap” Renner was fiercely proud of his German Russian heritage and was a walking encyclopedia of the history of southwestern North Dakota. Serving as mayor of Richardton, North Dakota for more than 30 years, he documented many community events and rodeos on film. The collection represents 40 years of life in southwestern North Dakota, where he was a businessman, rancher, mayor, volunteer fireman, along with his wife, Caroline, a dedicated teacher. His daughter Carol wanted to preserve this film legacy of community involvement and community history for future generations.