Michael J. Leahy films
odd: label: Local Number
content: HSFA 1977.4.1
name: label: Creator
content: Leahy, Michael J., 1901-1979
place: label: Place
content: Oceania
label: Place
content: Papua New Guinea
topic: label: Topic
content: Gold mines and mining
label: Topic
content: Courtship
label: Topic
content: Enga (Papua New Guinean people)
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Received from Michael J. Leahy in 1977.
creator: label: Creator
content: Leahy, Michael J., 1901-1979
physdesc: label: Extent
content: Film reels (black-and-white color silent positive; 4600 feet)
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1930-1952
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Previously titled "Leahy Footage of Papua New Guinea ca. 1930-1952."
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
identifier: label: Identifier
content: HSFA.1977.04
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Film reels
label: Type
content: Silent films
bibliography: label: Bibliography
content: Anderson, Rob and Bob Connolly, directors. First Contact. Arundel Productions, 1983.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: silent films
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Footage shot in the Papua New Guinea highlands around Mt. Hagen, Goroka Valley, Kundiawa, and Wahgi Valley. Documentation includes: mining for gold using ground sluicing and sluice boxes at the Kuta site near Mt. Hagen; aerial shots over the Wahgi, Hagen, and Goroka valleys; the Leahy expedition to Wahgi Valley; construction and operation of airstrips at Mt. Hagen, Bena Bena, and Garaina; the Chimbu, Wabag, Bena Bena, Chuake, Waria, and Luluai peoples; local celebrations at Mt. Hagen including sing-sings and a "Carry'im leg" ceremony; Wabag gardens and wigmen with flowers in their wigs; Mt. Giluwe and Kainantu areas; villages of Lompri and Kompri in the Kainantu area; and a village in the Arona Valley. Footage also contains various shots of the Leahy brothers and other Australians.  Depicted are Robert, Allen ; Kingsbury, ; Leahy, Dan ; Leahy, Michael ; Taylor, Jim ; Griffith, Tom ; Davey, Margaret ; Best, M. ; Best, Jeanette ; Tutley, Richard ; Fisher, Brian ; Huret, Tim ; Huret, Richard ; Huret, Peter ; Fraser, Dorthy ; Best, M. Stan ; Wickham, Christopher Burt ; Ross Father ; Troper Father.

Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.