Most people cringe when they hear the phrase “home movies”, imagining hours of boring vacation footage taken by relatives who think they had the most unique and interesting adventures ever experienced. But sometimes these films can offer insight to family stories and provide great research opportunities when they depict events, locations, or family members that are no longer with us.

Such is the case with a collection of home movies from the Frank C. Ball family. Consisting of approximately 100 reels taken by several different members of that family branch, the movies depict a variety of locations and events in Europe, Canada, and many locations in the United States. Throughout, these films document aspects of the lives of the Owsley, Bracken, Petty, and E. Arthur Ball families, Frank Elliott Ball, and Frank C. and Elizabeth (Bessie) Brady Ball from the late 1920’s to the mid-1950’s.

The following is a mere sampling of what the films document. We hope to make these films available in the future for both research and viewing enjoyment.

Florida 1933
5th Annual All American Air Races, January 5-7, 1933, Miami, Florida

Frank Elliott Ball, Edmund F. Ball, and several other aviators from Muncie flew to Miami to watch the races and air show.

Sikorsky S-38 Flying Boat (right) coming in to land.1933-1934 Several activities were filmed on this reel to include a parade in downtown Muncie featuring floats from local businesses.  The footage was taken across the street from Kirk’s which at that time was located at 117 East Main Street. — **Sikorsky S-38 Flying Boat (right) coming in to land.**
**1933-1934**
Several activities were filmed on this reel to include a parade in downtown Muncie featuring floats from local businesses. The footage was taken across the street from Kirk’s which at that time was located at 117 East Main Street.

Europe 1934

Several reels depict the Frank C. Ball and Alvin Owsley family touring Italy in 1934. They visited Rome, Florence, Pisa, Lake Maggiore, Venice, and Naples.

**Borromeo Palace, Garden of Love, Lake Maggiore**

**Grand Canal with the Rialto Bridge on the left, Venice, Italy**

**Fountains at Villa d’Este, Tivoili, Italy**

**Fountain of Aeolus, Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy**

**Waterfall to the Fountain of Diana and Actaeon, Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy**

England and Ireland 1935

In 1935 Alexander and Rosemary Ball Bracken joined Frank C. and Elizabeth Brady Ball on a trip to visit Alvin and Lucy Ball Owsley while Alvin was the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Ireland. The family visited sites in both Ireland and Rosemary documented the trip in detail in her diary.

**U.S. Ambassador’s residence, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland**

**The Old Curiosity Shop, Portsmouth Street, London, England**

**Frank Bracken playing on the ship deck during the return trip to the U.S.**

Coronation 1937

In May 1937, Frank C. and Elizabeth Brady Ball travelled to England and met the Alvin Owsley family to attend the coronation festivities for King George VI.

**Temporary viewing stands set up for the coronation**

**London, decorated for the coronation**

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