Scope and arrangement
The All-American News moving image collection consists of 39 video recordings of All-American News productions that are arranged in chronological order. The newsreel titles are transcribed from original collection documentation. The segment titles, outlined in each item's content notes, are transcribed from each reel. Segment subjects, names, and dates have been verified with historical newspapers when possible. Note that the newsreels' reel or episode numbers may differ from their chronological order.
Released from 1943 to 1945, the newsreels feature footage originally shot on film by the All-American team, as well as provided by the U.S. Signal Corps. Each newsreel runs for about seven minutes, often covering between five and ten topics. The progress and achievements of Black service members receive regular coverage, particularly the U.S. Army's 92nd Infantry Divisions, Women's Army Corps (WACs), and Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES), as well as the British Army's 81st West African Division. The off-duty activities of American soldiers, commonly referred to as "GIs," and United Service Organization (USO) events are also frequently covered, particularly in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Among other regular subjects are Black office-holders nationally and across the African diaspora, as well as human-interest stories regarding notable community members such as artists, educators, and other professionals.