UVa Preserves Civil Rights-era News Films: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.— The University of Virginia Library is continuing to preserve Civil Rights-era television news footage that includes clips of civil rights leaders discussing plans for demonstrations and then-Gov. Lindsay Almond vowing to fight racial integration.
The WSLS-TV News Film Collection 1951-1971 is rare, original 16-millimeter film from Virginia's Civil Rights era. It contains nearly 12,500 news clips and about 20,000 pages of scripts read by the Roanoke station's anchors during broadcasts.
U.Va. said that the National Endowment for the Humanities has contributed $254,600 toward the preservation project.
The project is part of the endowment's “We the People” initiative, which aims to enhance the study and understanding of American history, culture and democratic principles.
