Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive : About Us
Care for people. Care for films. In that order.
The Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive (IULMIA) prioritizes human connection while preserving media of purpose and practice – moving images created with specific social, educational, or cultural objectives as well as works that explore the craft of media making itself. Our collection encompasses educational films, amateur productions, TV commercials, industrial videos, home movies, student projects, and experimental shorts.
This categorization acknowledges the varied roles of moving images in informing, documenting, persuading, commemorating, and developing skills across contexts. Through hands-on engagement with these educational, cultural, and everyday materials, we amplify underrepresented voices and create accessible experiences, using the IULMIA Screening Room for community learning and horizontal skill-sharing.
A Century of Media at Indiana University
Indiana University has a deep and unique history in film production and distribution. The Indiana University Audio-Visual Center (IUAVC), founded in 1913 with a few lantern slides, grew into one of the nation’s leading educational media distribution centers.
By WWII, IUAVC was lending 16mm film and other visual aids to schools, colleges, universities, public libraries, clubs, and other organizations across the United States. Through the 1950s-1970s, IUAVC expanded its reach through collaborations with instructional media groups, most notably as the exclusive distributor of National Educational Television (NET), the predecessor to PBS. At its peak in 1969, IUAVC circulated nearly 400,000 reels of film and employed over 300 people.
As technology evolved in the 1970s, IUAVC embraced the shift to videotapes and began producing and distributing educational materials on ¾” U-matic and VHS tape. However, the 16mm film collection continued to circulate, and most were retained rather than discarded.
From IUAVC to IULMIA
In 2006, IUAVC was officially closed, and the collection of nearly 50,000 reels of 16mm film and 7,000 videotapes was entrusted to IU Libraries. Four years later, in 2010, the Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive and Screening Room were formally established under the leadership of Founding Director Rachael Stoeltje, with the support and vision of IU Libraries administration. Notably, the collection was moved from a former bowling alley into secure, climate-controlled storage at the Ruth Lilly Auxiliary Library Facility (ALF).
Since its founding, IULMIA has been fortunate to work with an extraordinary team of staff, faculty, students, and interns who have shaped the Archive’s growth. We extend gratitude to:
Charlie Allen, Caleb Allison, Corrinne Anderson Voster, Robert Anen, Carla Arton, Jesse Balzer, Amber Bertin, Marissa Batt, Anita Brown, Jaycee Chapman, Lydia Creech, Lydia Curliss, Carmel Curtis, Shannon Devlin, Rachael Erpelding, Jason Evans Groth, Jessica Fodor, Noni Ford, James Gilmore, Jacob Goergen, Faith Gorrell, Melanie Goulish, Jessie Grubb, Asia Harman, Dan Hassoun, Alicia Hickman, Courtney Holschuh, Diana Hotka, Gia Jackson, Kathryn Jankowski, Jennifer Jones, Emma Kearney, Joshua Koepke, Jack Kovaleski, Saul Kutniciki, Sara Lawrence, Katie Lichtle, Katie Lind, Selena McCracken, Sean Massura, Josephine McRobbie, Seth Mitter, Katie Morrison, Kristen Muenz, Hayley Pangle, Ben Parnin, Emerson Richards, Courtney Rookard, Kai Sandstrom, Vicki Shively, Emily Stanley, Rachael Stoeltje, Jack Sutton, David Tharp, Jamie Thomas, Andy Uhrich, Tim Wager, Madeline Webb-Mitchell, Abby Welch, Jesse Whitton, and Zenyep Yasar.
(please contact iulmia@iu.edu if your name has changed, if you would not like your name listed, or if we accidentally left you off of this list!)
Today and Tomorrow
Since 2010, IULMIA’s collections have more than doubled in size, encompassing over 130,000 media objects spanning nearly a century of audiovisual history. Our small but dedicated team of faculty, staff, and students work to ensure the long-term preservation of this vital cultural history while expanding access through inspection, digitization, conservation, restoration, screenings, exhibitions, and online streaming.
Whether you’re a scholar researching media history, a student interested in film projection, a filmmaker searching for authentic archival footage, or simply someone who loves watching old (and not so old) movies, IULMIA is excited to support your explorations of motion pictures! There is always something fascinating, and often unexpected, within the archive!