This film is part of Free
Birmingham University Procession on Degree Day (1901)
Female graduates and gents sporting spectacular Edwardian whiskers take part in Birmingham’s first Degree Day ceremony.
Overview
The University of Birmingham was the first of the new redbrick universities established in the 1900s. The city’s Victoria Square, renamed 12 days before Queen Victoria’s death, played host to its first Degree Day ceremony in July 1901. Alongside male and female graduates, dignitaries include University Chancellor Joseph Chamberlain. Medical graduates can be seen waving bones at the camera.
The film was shot by Arthur Duncan Thomas, a larger-than life showman given to passing himself off as the American inventor Thomas Edison (for his cheek Thomas was described by British filmmaker Cecil Hepworth as a "loveable rogue"). Thomas used four whole rolls of film, to show in sequence at Birmingham's Curzon Hall. The negatives were retained by Mitchell and Kenyon, who would have been paid to process and print the film.
Related
Factory Chimney Fire Factory Chimney Fire
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent
A veritable Victorian Towering Inferno.
Arrival of Train-load of Visitors at Henley Station Arrival of Train-load of Visitors at Henley Station
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Henley-on-Thames
Jolly boating weather as the hordes descend on Henley for the Regatta.
Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races) Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races)
Non-Fiction 1900 0 mins Silent Location: Cambridge
University teams navigate a bend on the river Cam in no ordinary rowing race.
Blackburn Rovers V. West Bromwich 1898 Blackburn Rovers V. West Bromwich 1898
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent Location: Ewood Park, Blackburn
A little piece of football history from the people's game: possibly the earliest surviving game on film
Launch of H.M.S. Albion Launch of H.M.S. Albion
Non-Fiction 1898 2 mins Silent Location: Blackwall
The launch of H.M.S Albion, which was marred by the collapse of a gangway which resulted in many spectators drowning.
Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins
The magic of a real solar eclipse filmed by a famous magician
Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Access
Magazine and Review show 1981 7 mins Location: Selly Oak
From Selly Oak to Birmingham's Head Post Office in a wheelchair - how hard could it be?
New Fifty Pence Piece New Fifty Pence Piece
News 1969 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Don't become a victim of the new fifty penny piece!
Arthur Dooley Arthur Dooley
News 1971 8 mins Location: Birmingham
A middle class designed city with no style - Arthur Dooley pulls no punches in Birmingham.
Decent Place with Hot and Cold Decent Place with Hot and Cold
Documentary 1970 27 mins Location: Birmingham
An impressively stark documentary study of Birmingham slums - past and present.
Pakistani Bus Driver Pakistani Bus Driver
News 1974 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Bus timetables are sacrosanct to some but to others there are more important things in life - and faith is one of them.
Indian Businessman Indian Businessman
News 1975 4 mins Location: Leicester
He arrived in Britain with £3 and went on to become one of the richest business men in the Midlands. How did Amrat Parmar do it?
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.