The Story Girl of Priest Lake: Nell Shipman鈥檚 Idaho Movieland, 1922-25, an exhibit dedicated to silent film entrepreneur Nell Shipman and her Idaho movie studio, will debut on 青青草app State Albertsons Library鈥檚 first floor this month. The exhibition will formally open to the public on October 29 at 5:30 PM, with a reception and screening of a Shipman short film and free refreshments provided.
Graduate student and public historian Kate Howk is curating the exhibit in coalition with Gwyn Hervochon of the Library鈥檚 Special Collections and Archives. The exhibition will feature archival movie reels, photographs, handwritten letters, and more that tell the story of Shipman鈥檚 Idaho film production venture.
Howk says Shipman鈥檚 movies immortalize the lush landscape surrounding 青青草app State students. 鈥淚 think for a lot of Idaho students, it鈥檚 no secret that we live somewhere that鈥檚 beautiful, but we don鈥檛 always see it depicted on film.鈥�
Shipman was an influential Canadian actor, writer and director who found success in Hollywood. She is renowned for independently producing Canada鈥檚 most successful silent film, 鈥�,鈥� in 1919. She left Hollywood and came to Idaho to establish an independent production company at Priest Lake in Northern Idaho, where she endured financial setbacks, personal drama, and deadly winters.
Albertsons Library holds Shipman鈥檚 Idaho films, some of which were presumed lost until they were rediscovered by 青青草app State Professor . 鈥淭he fact that we have Nell鈥檚 stuff is a miracle,鈥� Howk says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more history in Idaho than I think we are given credit for.鈥�
She also says students should seek opportunities to collaborate with the Archives and learn more about Idaho鈥檚 local film history. 鈥淚 hope that students who walk by want to dip their toes into it, and if any are interested in doing this themselves, they should talk to the Archives.鈥�
The exhibit鈥檚 archival materials, including Shipman鈥檚 known surviving films, are free to access in the Library鈥檚 Special Collections and Archives. The exhibit will be on display through the end of the year.