Dalles and Susan Schneider Family Films

Conservation & Capture

Grant year(s): 2017 & 2021

Grant recipient & primary maker: Dalles Schneider

Original Format: Super8 film, silent, color

Digital format: Footage captured at standard definition resolution of 720 x 486 and high definition resolution of 1080 x 1920.

Length/feet: Approx. 9400 feet in 2017 & approx. 2400 feet in 2021

Circa: 1977-1983

Lab Sponsor: The MediaPreserve

Status: Conservation and digital capture complete. Transcription, cataloguing and Internet Archive upload to follow

Grantee/Filmmaker

Dalles E. Schneider was born in Dickinson, North Dakota.  He grew up on the family farm south of Hebron and in Bismarck.  He is the son of Edwin J. and Elizabeth (Luithle) Schneider.  Some of his favorite childhood memories were spending the summer months at his Grandpa and Grandma Luithle's farm and it was because of this he became interested in his family history.  Therefore, it was important for him to document his own family and preserve the memories that were made on film.  A majority of these films include his wife Susan B. Hammer-Schneider and his children, Austin, Kari and Kael.  Others that are included in the films are his parents and siblings, Susan's parents, Norman and Vivien Hammer and siblings, including Susan's family from Norway.

The Collection

As the family historian it was Dalles' undertaking to collect, to preserve his family history and family tree and to tell the stories of lives and events in a meaningful, visual and linear way.  A majority of the films cover family events, such as their wedding, celebrating the births of their children, baptisms, birthdays, holidays, family vacations, school programs, Sunday School programs, milestone events in their children's lives and daily living.  Along with parades, threshing bees, harvesting, farm life and community events were documented on these films in the 1970's and 1980's.  These films show the interaction between family members, the current fashion trends, how children played and entertained themselves and family traditions.  These films can transport the older generation back to the past as well as illuminating what life was like to the younger generation that did not experience it first hand.