You may be surprised to learn that William J. Dumes started filming the family in the 1930s, and every branch of the family is represented in his collection. His films make the basis of what is presented here.
Early reels were 8mm black & white, with occasional splurges on color stock. In the 1950s he moved to 16mm, and some of those clips are remarkably sharp. These movies are a vivid record of the Sadie Silk Dumes family in America.
For me, this completes an assignment my father gave me over 50 years ago: to find a way to share these films with the whole family.
Millie Lerman, Ben Shapiro, Florence Arenstein, Freda Dumes, Sy Arenstein, These folks are family of Freda Fialco Dumes. Dave and Mildred Dansker are there too.
This clip is 5m 30s long.
Freda Fialco Dumes visits family in Cincinnati. We see Millie Shapiro Lerman, Florence Shapiro Arenstein, their dad Ben Shapiro -- sometime during WW2.
This clip is 3m 21s long.
Millie and Al Lerman in Chattanooga, also seen is Millie's dad Ben Shapiro and William J. Dumes. The Lerman and Shapiro families were related through Freda Fialco Dumes.
This clip is 1m 27s long.
Bill Dumes from Tucson visiting the home of William J. Dumes along with his mother Jennie.
This clip is 2m 26s long.
A small family get-together as newlyweds Stan and Phyllis Dumes fly off to new adventures.
This clip is 3m 5s long.