Old Gold: Inventory of film archives turns up football classic

Old Gold takes stock in things from time to time—literally. At the archives, this means conducting inventories of collections that arrive from donors, or of collections that are so large and extensive that they require additional support from staff or volunteers to be properly cataloged. When we take stock in these materials, we sometimes make some amazing discoveries, and our researchers benefit from them.

Take motion picture film, for example. In 2008, UI undergraduate student Kara Molitor stopped by the University Archives, introduced herself, and offered to assist us with inventorying our film collections. Her goal was to be admitted into the film archives program at UCLA after completing her Bachelor of Arts at Iowa; such a project would help open the door. Kara’s ambition paid off. A comprehensive inventory of nearly 2,000 films in the archives eventually resulted, and Kara is now on staff at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. A win-win all around.

The film inventory has opened doors for our researchers and staff as well. A significant (re)discovery was motion picture footage of the historic Nov. 11, 1939, Iowa­–Notre Dame football showdown. This game all but assured Nile Kinnick’s selection for the Heisman Trophy at the end of the season, and the film is now online to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the game.

The rare silent color film footage, about 18 minutes in length, was produced by the university and features highlights of many of the plays in Iowa’s possession. The footage also includes views of Iowa Stadium (renamed Kinnick Stadium in 1972), the Hawkeye Marching Band, the Scottish Highlanders, and many of the thousands in the stands who witnessed the game that day.

Iowa–Notre Dame game program cover, Nov. 11, 1939. Image from the Department of Athletics Guides, Programs and Tickets Collection (RG 28.0003.003), Football programs series, University Archives, UI Libraries.

Heavily favored and ranked No. 3 by the Associated Press at the time, the Fighting Irish lost to the Hawkeyes in the upset of the day, 7–6. Iowa finished the season at 6–1–1, a remarkable turnaround from a combined 2–13–1 record the previous two seasons. It was the first season for coach Dr. Eddie Anderson, a Mason City native who, ironically, had played and coached under Knute Rockne at Notre Dame during the 1920s.

Nile Kinnick, wearing No. 24, kicked 16 punts for 731 yards in the game, both Iowa school records that still stand today. The team’s nickname was the Ironmen, owing to the versatility of the players on both offense and defense.

The film, part of the University Archives’ collection, was recently digitally reformatted and added to the Iowa Digital Library and the university’s YouTube channel.

The Papers of Nile Kinnick, incidentally, are housed in the University Libraries’ Department of Special Collections and University Archives, and are featured as part of the Iowa Digital Library. The collection includes family photographs, correspondence, diaries, and scrapbooks.

You never know what you’ll find in the archives. Thanks to Kara and all—volunteers and staff alike—who have helped Old Gold uncover these treasures.