Scope and Content Note: The collection consists of home movies of the Finley and Miller families (especially "Duddy" Finley, Elizabeth "Lady Bug" Peirce Miller, Harry Miller, and Lady's Bug's parents) from the late 1920s taken in Chicago, Ill., Canaan, Conn., Wisconsin, and Niagara Falls, N.Y. Reel 1 is from 1926 and features Duddy Finley on a tricycle in a park with her mother and Harry Miller; there are also scenes around Chicago Navy Pier and Lincoln Park. Reel 2 (1926) contains scenes of Lady Bug's family playing in the snow, a shot of a downtown street in Canaan with "Ives & Peirce Coal & Grain" store. Reel 3 (1927) shows the family swimming at Twin Lakes, a playground, children dancing, a girl doing the Charleston dance, and other family scenes. Reel 4 (1928) contains swimming scenes, adults dressed in Victorian clothing, girls dancing, and a cat. The last reel (no. 5, 1929) features wire-haired terriers and puppies in a backyard, little girls paying with dolls and a dollhouse, a large country house in winter, a sign reading "Barry Kennels: Equally Well Known Both Sides of Atlantic, Owned by Roger Phillips," dogs in kennels in the snow, the family in snow, a lakeside community, and Niagara Falls.
Biographical Note: Elizabeth "Lady Bug" Peirce Miller was born and lived in Canaan, Connecticut for many years. She was a singer, dancer and actress who performed in Chicago, Illinois. Though she has the opportunity to move to Hollywood, she declined in order to raise her daughter, Duddy, in what she felt was a better environment.
Provenance: Deposited at the Walter J. Brown Media Archives by Mark Roberts, 2007.
Cite Collection As: Betty J. VanHees & Doan Finlay films, 1926-1929. Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries.
