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I am attempting to build a narrative of a man named Watson Kintner by analyzing and cross-references a variety of archival materials (including the films of which likely led you here–unless you happened to find this page through a reference given by or for me). It may read rather boring to you. That is to be expected. Keep reading. It’ll likely be different tomorrow. This is an ongoing building of a biography of a man who had yet to have one.

There is a lot of stuff below. Most of it is unrelated to the films of Watson Kintner (so far). Similarly, it is disjointed and lacks any real narrative flow. It will grow into a narrative soon (a narrative that will include the films), but if you find yourself here and all you really wanted was to watch some of Watson’s films, visit the collection at the Internet Archives.

Who was Watson Kintner?

Watson Kintner was born to Charles and Caroline Kintner in Benton Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania on April 22, 1890. Watson’s only sibling was his older sister Floy.

According to an Affidavit of Birth (required by RCA) completed by his mother on June 13, 1940, one of Watson’s great-great grandfathers faught in the Revolutionary War and two of his great grandfathers fought in the War of 1812. Caroline notes that his father is deceased at the time.

A similar form was completed by Floy, but is virtually unreadable and does not seem to add much to Watson’s biography.

Also noted on the form is that Caroline (unsure of maiden name) was born in Clifford Township in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania (unsure of year of birth) and Charles Kintner was born in Lennox County in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania (unsure of year).

According to a “Registration Certificate” dated April 27, 1942, Watson’s full name was Frank Watson Kintner. Although I have not yet found any other documentation stating that Watson’s first name was actually Frank (or Francis). He lived in East Orange, NJ at the time of this document.

In 1927, Watson was 36 years old, weighed 190 pounds, had brown hair and eyes, and was 6 feet tall.

In 1931, Watson was 41 years old, weighed 193 pounds, had brown hair and eyes, and was 6 feet tall.

According to a 1944 “Certificate of Registration information,” Kintner was a registered Republican in the 7th Ward, 6th Precinct of Lancaster, PA.

Education.

Watson graduated from School No. 40 (grammar school) of the Scranton Public Schools system, June 22, 1905.

Watson graduated from Scranton High School, with a Scientific course of study, June 18, 1909. He was a member of the high school track team.

An image exists Several images exist of a group of young men and women in a lab and classroom settings, including Watson. One image is labeled “I.C.S. Scranton 1913-1914; Return to Mr. Kintner; Sch. of Mathematics.”

Watson attended the University of Pennsylvania from approximately 1912 to 1916 (start date is currently speculative).

Watson earned a pin from the Alembic Chemical Society, 1915-1916.

Watson graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, June 21, 1916.

Career.

Watson worked for Westinghouse’s Lamp Division in Bloomfield, New Jersey in the early 1930s (possibly also in the late 1920s). He also apparently spend a couple years at a Westinghouse location in Hamilton, Ontario.

Watson worked for RCA/Victor in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from at least 1947 until 1955.

Watson’s 1949 passport lists his occupation as “Engineer.” His 1953 passport lists his career as “Manager.” His 1956 and 1960 passports list him as “Retired.”

Watson retired in April 1955.

Relationships.

Watson was never married and evidence shows no presence of a longtime girlfriend, companion, or lover. Likewise, outside of socialization via organizational membership, there is no evidence of close friends. His only lasting relationships seem to be family, specifically his mother and sister, Floy.

He did attend three football games with someone else. Assumptions lead me to believe it was Floy, since she is seemingly his only companion throughout his life (although we know he traveled and interacted with several others by way of his multiple memberships, extensive interaction with the Museum staff, and collaborative work with RCA/Victor and Westinghouse), but it is unknown whether she would have traveled from Scranton (if that is where she lived at the time) for football games. Also, it is worth noting that although he likely attended the games with someone else, he retained possession of his companion’s ticket stub. Could it be that his companion didn’t care for such keepsakes (Watson was obviously a collector), or because, as a gentleman of his day, he handed the stubs to the ticket-taker as the (romantic) couple entered and simply retained the tickets following the game? The games were Cornell vs. Penn at Franklin Field on Thanksgiving, November 28, 1929 (Sec. SM, Row 1, Seats 19 and 21); Michigan State vs. Army at Michie Stadium at West Point on October 10, 1931 (Sec. 10, Row A, Seats 13 and 14); and Mercer University [vs. Army] at Michie Stadium at West Point on September 30, 1933 (Sec. A, Seats 084 and 085). Note that the Cornell vs. Penn game is missing ticket for Seat 20.

Watson Kintner in the 1920s and 1930s.

Watson Kintner lived in Bloomfield, NJ in the late 1920s. In 1927, at the age of 36, Watson lived on Delaware Avenue before moving to Berkeley Avenue sometime in 1928. Sometime in December of 1936, Watson purchased a new 1937 Buick sedan and moved to Halsted Street in East Orange where he remained for about a year before relocating once again to Lincoln Avenue (also in East Orange, NJ) in late September of 1937.

Watson’s move back to Pennsylvania.

I am trying to piece together exactly when he moved to Lancaster, PA. I believe it was sometime in the early 1940s, but it may have not been until 1947.

As for his Lancaster, PA locations, I have it worked out that he lived on East King Street as of 1947 (he likely moved there earlier than that though), moved to Buchanan Street in 1948, possibly back to East King Street in 1949, and to Race Avenue by 1953. He also had a few more Buicks during that time. He seemed to remain at the Race Avenue, Lancaster address through the 1960s and possibly into the 1970s.

Memberships.

Watson was a member of a lot of clubs, associations, and organizations. Doesn’t seem as if he was a member of fraternal orders or social clubs per say (such as the Elks, Moose, etc.), but he was a member of several interest-based groups. Many of which are far outside his professional career. This is interesting because, although it appears that Watson did not have any longterm companions (wife, girlfriend, lover) aside from his sister Floy, he was without a doubt a social man.

I am including what may seem like far-too-details, yet far-too-trivial of information herein in hopes that some other lowly Internet traveler may search for a common term and fill me in on some information. Dates are taken directly the presence of membership cards and documents meticulously saved by Watson. In some cases, assumed dates have been filled in (when multiple, non-sequential cards or documents were present).

Watson was a member of the Montclair [New Jersey] Athletic Club between 1928 and 1931.

Watson was a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Automobile Clubs, while residing in either state, affiliated clubs of the American Automobile Association [AAA] from (at least) the 1930s through most of his life. He also had insurance coverage directly through AAA or “accident insurance covering only automobile accidents” issued by the Newark (NJ) offices of the Maryland Casualty Company, also seemingly through AAA.

Watson was a member of a New York-based club called the National Travel Club from approximately 1946 until 1969. It is unclear what services the club provided, but along with very little informations is Watson’s emergency contacts (at least on the later cards), notably one was his doctor (Dr. Charles Hoffman) and his sister Floy. There are several things called National Travel Club on the Internet, but none seem connected to Kintner’s club located at 115 West 45th Street in New York City. Do you know anything about it? Care to share it with me?

Watson was a member of the Amateur Cinema League, Inc. from 1948 through at least 1954, but possibly longer. The group membership is affiliated with The World Wide Association of Amateur Movie Makers (1948) and The Amateur Cinema Club of Lancaster (1954).

Watson was a member of the Standards Engineering Society in 1949. Only one membership card is present. This is one of, if not the only membership held by Kintner directly related to his career, but seemingly officially unassociated with RCA/Victor or Westinghouse.

Watson was a member of the Lancaster, PA branch of the American Association for the Advancement of Science from 1949- 1971. Addresses for this organization listed as Darmstaetter’s, 37 N. Queen Street (1948); 303 Pearl St (1949-54); 646 N. President Ave. (1955-1958); no address listed on cards 1959 and after. See the “Lancaster, PA branch” link above for a link to an abstract-less journal reference. Also this one, this one, and these.

Watson was a member of the Victor Activities Club from 1950 to 1954. The club was seemingly a social club for employees of Lancaster’s RCA/Victor plant and their families.

Watson was a member of The Lancaster County Bird Club from 1951 to 1970. This membership seemingly also made him a season ticket holder for the “Audubon Screen Tours” film searies from the 1956/57 season to the 1970/71 season. According to tickets, they were “issued by The Lancaster County Bird Club” and held at Hensel Hall at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.

Watson was a member of The General Alumni Society of the University of Pennsylvania from 1951 to 1964. It can be assumed that despite the absence of cards from other years, if such an organization did exist beyond these years, Watson was likely a member.

Watson was a member of Men’s Garden Club of Lancaster in 1952 and 1953. The membership, presumably the same basic organizations, was reworded a he being a member of Men’s Garden Club of America via “Men’s Garden Club of Lancaster [...] a regularly affiliated club of the Men’s Garden Club of America” from 1954-1964. Several years’ membership cards are not present, but membership is assumed constant.

Watson  was a member of the American Nature Association in at least 1954.

Watson was a member at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia between 1955 and 1958.

Watson was a member of the Muhlenberg Botanical Club in at least 1954.

Watson was a member of Conestoga Chapter No. 4 of The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology from 1957 until 1966. (Several years’ cards are missing from the previous assumed years.)

Watson was a member of the Lancaster County Historical Society from 1962 to 1971. Some membership cars are not present, but membership is assumed to have been consistent. The Historical Society has some Kintner-related materials in their collection.

Watson was a member of the “Friends of Central” from 1963 to 1966. Nothing is known about this organization. Very little information is present on the membership cards. Although a Google search for “Friends of Central” brings up a Lancaster-located market as its first result.

Watson held season tickets for the Rotary Club of Lititz’s “World Travel Series”  for the 1964-1965 season.

Watson’s membership cards for The American Museum of Natural History (1968-1969) list him as an “Associate Member.”

Membership cards for Watson for the The University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania (1968-1971) list him as a “Fellow.”

Watson’s Travels, 1930s.

Watson traveled throughout Mexico between 1933 and 1939. He took several trips. These were the first trips Watson took accompanied by a motion picture camera. It is currently unclear whether these first trips were taken with or through any affiliation with the University of Pennsylvania Museum. It is also currently unclear how many trips he took throughout this time period. He amassed 15 reels of film over the course of all his trips to Mexico. He was in his mid-to-late 40s during these trips.

Watson’s Travels, 1940s.

Watson traveled to Guatemala in 1947 where he collected  7 reels of film. Judging by the film collection, this was his first trip since traveling to Mexico in 1939. This may have also been around the same time he returned to Pennsylvania (although that may have occurred earlier). He was around 57 years old at the time of this trip.

In 1948, Watson traveled to British Guyana (the modern day sovereign state of Guyana in northern South America). There he collected 8 reels of film.

In 1949, Watson returned to South America to visit the nation of Ecuador. There he collected 10 reels of film.

Watson’s Travels, 1950s.

Watson traveled far more extensively in the 1950s. He would have been approximately 60 years old at the beginning of the decade. and was presumably retired from RCA/Victor at the time, He retired in April 1955, allowing him far more time to travel. With the exceptions of 1954, 1956, and 1958, Watson took trips every year including several extended journeys.

On June 11th, 1950, Watson returned to South America to visit Peru. He remained in Peru until July 16th, 1950 and collected 9 reels of film.

On June 23rd, 1951, Watson arrived in Casablanca, Morocco. He departed from Casablanca on July 15th, 1951. He connected through Paris on June 22nd and through Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport on July 15th. This Watson’s first trip to an African nation. While in, was was then French Morocco, he collected 10 reels of film.

In 1952, Watson returned to Africa. He visited Kenya and Zanzibar and connected through London, but it is unclear if he returned to London during an extended trip. On July 8th, 1952, Watson entered Kenya. On the 19th he was granted a “two day visit” to Zanzibar. Stamps on his passport exist for London on July 17th and August 11th and a “Visitor’s pass to the ‘Kenya Colony’ for the purpose of ‘Holiday’” is dated August 17th, 1951. This creates a peculiar zig-zagging if all dates are correct. The 10 reels of film Watson collected are labeled “East Africa.”

In 1953, Watson visited Pakistan and collected 10 reels of film. Though a stamp exists for Pakistan dated June 1st, 1953, this is likely a visa. A stamp stating “Permitted to Land; Pakistan” is dated July 15th, 1953 as is an additional stamp stating “Sortie, Surete Nationale Aeroport.” He left Parkistan on August 8th, 1953 and connected through Rome and London on August 9th.

Watson did not travel abroad during 1954.

On March 3rd or 9th, 1955, Watson was granted an “Ordinary Visa for Ceylon.” On April 18th, 1955, Watson procured a visa for travel to Instanbul which was subsequently cancelled (denoted by an undated “CANCELLED” stamp repeatedly stamped over the visa). The same day he got a visa for travel to Indonesia. On May 11th, 1955, Watson got a visa for travel to India.

An unclear stamp appears to be dated June 12th, 1955. Words appears to be “TEPPAKAI, DJAWATAN, KEMAJORAN.” (Unsure of this.)

Watson’s long journey of 1955 appears to have begun with a layover in Guam on June 15th, 1955 before entering Manila, Philippines the same day. On July 11th, he entered Singapore. On August 8th, 1955 he was “permitted to land” at the Ratmalana Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). On August 12th, he was granted a visa for travel to Nepal granting him 15 days to stay in Kathmandu from August 30th to September 13th, 1955. On August 30th, Watson entered Kathmandu, Nepal. A handwritten note states his “visa for stay in Kathmandu is extended [to September 15th, 1955]. Also good for visit to “Pokksa” and “Biatnaga” [these names are incorrect] within the period of the visa granted.” It is presumed that he entered India following leaving Nepal. Stamps are not present marking entrance into or departure from India. A stamped dated September 9th, 1955 seems to mark entrance into Kathmandu, Nepal, but this does not fit the above timeline. On September 20th, 1955 he connected through London, England. Reels pf film colelcted during this excursion are labeled ”Indonesia” (6 reels), “Ceylon” (5 reels), “India” (6 reels), and “Nepal” (5 reels).

Watson did not travel abroad in 1956. On September 4th, 1956, Watson had extra sheets attached to his passport to accommodate the following visas. Watson got a visa (September) for travel to Cambodia, a visa (October) for travel to Laos, a visa (December) for travel to Australia and transit en route to New Guinea, and a visa (December) for a “single journey to India.” On January 16th, 1957, Watson was granted a visa for travel to New Guinea granted by the Netherlands’ consulate in New York.

The extended voyage of 1957 seems to have lasted from February to July of 1957 and may have included travel by both air and sea. Once again, no stamps appear marking Watson’s entry into India, but the first stamp is for a visa to travel to Kathmandu, Nepal granted by at the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, India dated February 12th, 1957. A stamp dated February 13th, 1957 states “no objection to return to India ‘from Nepal’” and that he was permitted to stay in India unto April 10th, 1957. The following day (February 14th) is marked “departure” by the Patna [Bahir, India] Police Passport Control. Watson arrived in Nepal on February 21, 1957 and stayed until the 28th (this is denoted by a “departure” stamp in Nepal and a stamp once again by the Patna Police Passport Control).

On March 23rd, 1957, Watson was granted “permission to disembark and stay in the Kingdom [of Thailand] until not later than April 7th, 1957″ in Bangkok. On April 10th, 1957, Watson was granted a visa for travel to India granted by the Indian Embassy of Nepal. On April 12th, 1957, Watson entered Laos through the Wattay, Vientiana Airport. He departed from Laos by air on April 19th. It is unclear where Watson was during the end of April, 1957.

On May 1st (the exact day is unclear), 1957, Watson was “permitted to disembark and stay in the Kingdom [of Thailand] until not later than May 19th, 1957″ at the Bangkok Airport. On May 4th, 1957, Watson departed from Cambodia. On May 12th, 1957, Watson was granted a “landing pass, during ship’s stay in port” in Singapore. A stamp marked “New South Wales” is dated May 13th, 1957 and marks his entrance into Australia. It is assumed that at least a portion of past month’s journey was by sea. On May 21st, 1957, a stamp states that Watson was “seen by Customs, Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea.”

No apparent stamps exist Only one stamp exists between May 21st and the next stamp dates July 6th, 1957, a June 28th, 1957 stamp for Hawaii. The May 21st stamp is for Port of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It is unclear of his locations. This along with the other extended “absence” from customs officials supports the journeying by sea theory.

During this long journey, Kintner collected an additional 12 reels of film in Nepal, 10 reels of film from Thailand, a combined 5 reels of film from Laos and Cambodia, and a combined 16 reels of film from Australia and New Guinea.

Watson did not travel abroad in 1958. He did receive a number of visa throughout the year for his 1959 travels including some for trips he seeingly never took (e.g. Vietnam). On January 18th, 1958 (this date is either incorrect or suggests that Watson planned a trip that was never taken since it seems likely that the visa would not be valid a year later when he would embark on his next trip(s)) a visa was granted by the Vietnamese Embassy of Washington DC. On October 6th, 1958, was granted a visa for a three month visit to India by the Embassy’s New York office. On November 24th, 1958, Watson was granted a “visa for single journey to Ghana,” a “visa for journeys to Nigeria,” and a “visa for single journey to Aden Colony” (present day People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen) all from New York offices. On January 5th, 1959, Watson was granted visas from the French consulate in Philadelphia for travel to Accra, Ghana and Abidjan, Ivory Coast. It is unclear if he visited all of these locations during his next journey.

On January 12th, 1959, Watson arrived in London. It is unclear if he remained in London for the next two months. On March 15th, 1959, Watson passed through Rome, Italy on him way to Nigeria where he arrived on March 17th. He arrived in India sometime afterwards (the month and day are unclear on the passport stamp). A stamped marked Watson’s departure from Nigeria on April 10th, 1959. He once again passed through Rome, Italy on April 11, 1959. Watson collected 27 reels of film from India and 5 reels of film from Nigeria during this trip.

Watson’s Travels, 1960s.

Watson would have been in his early 70s at the beginning of the decade. This was Watson’s last decade of travel and presumably his most active decade with the University of Pennsylvania Museum. He took at least two extended journeys during the decade.

Watson did not travel abroad in 1960. On September 1st, 1960, Watson was granted a visa for travel to Uganda and Tanzania by the British Consulte-Gerneral in Philadelphia. On September 23rd, 1960, Watson was granted a visa for travel to Ruanda-Urundi (present day independent states of Rwanda and Burundi) by Le Consul Général de Belgique (Belgian Embassy) in New York. On October 4th, 1960, Watson was granted a visa for travel to Australia with a nearly three-year window (August 10, 1963) before expiration.

On January 1st, 1961, Watson’s passport was stamped “Kenya-Visitor’s Pass.” On February 5th, 1961, Watson entered Uganda. On March 12th, 1961, Watson entered Sydney, Australia. A March 16th, 1961 stamp from the Nairobi (Kenya) Airport states simply “IMMIGRATION OFFICER.” It is unclear if this is for entrance or departure. The 35 reels of film collected by Kintner in 1961 are once again labeled only “East Africa.” 19 additional reels are labeled “Barrier Reef.” It was once believed that these reels were from a trip to coastal southeast Africa (although no barrier reef is known by me in this area) and the safe assumption that the barrier reef in question is the Great Barrier Reef of Australia leads be to believe that these reels are from the Australian leg of this journey. The itinerary of this voyage is rather unclear. It is possible that they are two unrelated trips: one to Africa and one to Australia. A June 6th, 1961 stamp for Hawaii seems to signal his return to the States.

Watson did not travel abroad in 1962. On June 1st, 1962, a visa was granted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq in New York. On December 12th, 1962, a visa was granted by the Consulate General of Iran in New York. An additional visa was granted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq in New York on January 19th, 1963. (These are the final stamps of this passport.)

In 1963, Kintner visited Iran and collected 17 reels of film. It is unclear if Kintner traveled to Iraq.

Watson did not travel in 1964.

In 1965, Watson visited Japan (31 reels) and Afghanistan (9 reels) either on a single journey or on subsequent trips.

In 1967, Watson seemingly took a long trip visiting Niger (8 reels), Chad (3 reels), Tunisia (23 reels), and Turkey (18 reels). According to a letters in French and English addressed “To Whom it May Concern” from Froelich Rainey, Director of the University Museum, dated January 4th, 1967, Watson Kintner was “traveling for the purpose of making educational films for the University Museum.”

Watson did not travel in 1968.

1969 was Watson’s final year for traveling. During this year (again, either on a singe extended voyage or on subsequent trips), Watson visited Ethiopia (35 reels), Lebanon and Jordan (a combined 12 reels), and Cyprus and Istanbul (a combined 18 reels).

Thank yous.

I am indebted to the staff of the University of Pennsylvania Museum Archives, University of Pennsylvania Archives, and the Department of Communications at Elizabethtown College for their support. Thank you also to Alex Pezzati at the University of Pennsylvania Museum Archives.