Digging Up History with a Smartphone: Student Documentaries Meet the Library of Congress
Archival film isn’t just for seasoned historians or big-budget filmmakers—high school students are turning to the Library of Congress to bring the past to life in their own documentaries. With a few clicks, they can access public domain footage that once played in newsreels or industrial films, layering these visuals with personal interviews and modern-day scenes.
This approach does more than fill in background visuals; it teaches students to think critically about who made the footage and why, while also navigating copyright and fair use. Using B-roll from decades past, students can set the scene for stories about family, labor, or activism, all while learning the ropes of filmmaking.
By remixing archival clips with their own footage, young filmmakers discover that history isn’t locked away—it’s ready to be reimagined, frame by frame, in the language of today’s media.
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