Purdue University. Motion Picture Production Unit
Dates
- Usage: March, 1955 - September, 1966
- Usage: September, 1966 - October 1, 1968
- Usage: October 1, 1968 - ?
Biography
When the Audio-Visual Center was established in 1950, motion picture production became one of the services they offered to Purdue departments. On March 5, 1955, President Hovde officially established this service as the Motion Picture Production Unit. The Motion Picture Production Unit was placed under the control of the Audio-Visual Center. The Motion Picture Production Unit was established to produce educational motion pictures for the Purdue community. The unit was tasked with innovating and collaborating with departments and faculty to produce films for classroom and instructional television use. Individual departments would sponsor and cover the cost of production. The Motion Picture Production Unit was expected to recover any cost of production. John W. Ditamore was appointed as the first head of the unit. In 1957, Ditamore resigned, and Jesse Senn was appointed the new head of the unit.
In September 1966, the Motion Picture Production Unit was renamed as the Instructional and Research Film Unit. On October 21, 1968, the Instructional and Research Film Unit merged with the Agricultural Visual Aids Section to form the new Audio-Visual Production Department. This new department was separated from Purdue Libraries and the Audio-Visual Center and placed under the supervision of the Office of the Business Manager and Assistant Treasurer. Ed Ferringer was named as the new department head.