Film, Motion Picture

Wayne State University Graduation, Ludington Trip. C.J. Selden, 9181 Manor, Detroit 4 Mich., 1953

Silent color 8mm film containing footage shot by and of Chester J. Selden of he, his wife Frances Selden, and friends visiting a park; his graduation from Wayne University; and from a vacation to Ludington.

The film begins with a man and Frances Selden walking down a driveway toward the camera. After a cut, Frances Selden and friends play croquet and pose for the camera in a park bordered by homes. One of the posed shots features Chester Selden clad in a baseball cap, and a Theta Tau t-shirt.

The film's next scene begins with a pan from the Wayne University College of Engineering's sign down the exterior of the building, where a man in a trench coat exits. The camera then pans across the exterior of the General Library building. In a separate shot, Frances Selden is filmed walking from the building's Kresge Library entrance. Then she is shown admiring G. Alden Smith's sculpture "Student" on the exterior wall of State Hall. Chester, clad in a graduation cap and gown, is then filmed with Frances, standing beside an "Engineering" sign. In the next couple shots he is filmed interacting with other graduates.

A Wayne State marching band is then shown proceeding along Farnsworth Street beside the Maccabees Building, and Mackenzie Hall. The students in their graduation gowns are also filmed lining up. Then the action moves to the plaza in front of the Horace H. Rackham Education Memorial Building where Chester, Frances and other graduates are shown interacting.

A handwritten title card reading "Ludington, June 1953," positioned beside two pieces of driftwood announces the next section of the film. This section features shots of their drive to and through the area, people fishing from a pier with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company passenger ferry BADGER passing in the background, the North Breakwater Light lighthouse, beaches, the Hamlin Dam, the couple hiking along a trail, and parade with a Fraternal Order of Eagles float and marching band.