Unedited film clips from the Ralph I. Gifford Motion Pictures, ca. 1925-1935

This unedited assemblage of film clips was generated in about 1925-1935, and resulted in seven reels (3200 feet total length) of original 35 mm nitrate motion picture film negatives. All seven reels are presented here as a single digital file. 

The clips depict a variety of subjects. Many pertain to alpine search and rescue and may have been shot to produce a training film. These clips include footage of mountaineers on Mount Hood; a staged rescue of an injured climber; use of a portable radio to call for assistance; and evacuation of the injured man by car and airplane. One of the rescuers is wearing a "Crag Rats Hood River" patch. The Crag Rats were founded in 1926 and are the oldest mountain search and rescue organization in the United States. The "mountain rescue" film has been edited for display by SCARC staffmembers and released online.

This unedited footage also includes scenes of Benjamin A. Gifford at his home at Salmon Creek, Washington; two young women with a motorized toy boat in a stream; a home, pond, and natural spring or water feature; a family at the beach; two boys (with their mother?) going to school; an airplane taking off and landing at the beach and in a field; footage of Mt. Hood shot during an airplane flight; and a radio operator. There is also footage of a traffic survey station and motor truck scale, perhaps in Portland, that includes weighing, measurement, and inspection of a Carstens truck.

Digitized from seven 35 mm nitrate motion picture film negatives held in the Ralph I. Gifford Motion Pictures (P 218-SG 3), Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries.