The Baltimore Plan (1953, sound)

Description: Produced to promote the point of view of the Baltimore Redevelopment Commission, this film offers significant photography of Black communities in urban environments, particularly communities hard-hit by decades of racist housing discrimination. Its wraparound narrative promotes neighborhood improvement sponsored by local government and supported by a housing court that assigns some responsibility for living conditions back to residents.

For more information about the history of institutionalized racism in housing in Baltimore that contributed to the conditions shown in this film, see:
www.mdhistory.org/baltimores-pursuit-of-fair-housing-a-brief-history/ (accessed 6/25/2026)

An uncritical description published contemporaneously in Educational Film Guide (1954-1958) states: "Documents a plan in which municipal agencies and citizen groups cooperated in a program for housing improvement. Reveals the success of this plan in Baltimore in raising the quality of housing to meet acceptable standards of health and sanitation. Includes scenes of cases in the Baltimore Housing Court."

For more on producer John Barnes, visit www.afana.org/barnesbio.htm (accessed: 08-02-2024)



Reuse Statement: For information on reusing Prelinger Archives footage and obtaining written usage agreements, please visit www.prelinger.com.

Subjects: 1950s, Cities, Housing, Poverty, Black history and culture , People of African origin or descent

Tags: children playing in the street; gas lamps; gas streetlights; painted screens; clotheslines; urban redevelopment; urban renewal; rodents; slums; impoverished housing; poor living conditions; poverty; prejudice; social workers; row houses; newspapers; sanitation; court rooms; businessmen; lawyers; housing courts; landlords; pilot programs; home repairs; clean up efforts; fines; boys playing with toy guns; Fight Blight Fund; intersectionality; woman narrator; narration; row houses; Bevan Street housing development; barking dogs; newspapers; "blitz block"; "Baltimore Plan Pilot Program Fight Blight" paint can; children playing; the end title; music; men watching slideshow; lack of fundamental sanitation; rat bites

Film Sponsor:

Creator: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, John Barnes

Credits: Produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica FIlms
in collaboration with: Clark S. Hobbs, Chairman, Baltimore Redevelopment Commission
Associate Producer: John W. Barnes

Distributor: Encyclopaedia Britannica FIlms

Contributor: Prelinger Archives

Source Collection: Prelinger Archives

Digitizing Sponsor: Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web (FFDW) and Internet Archive

Production Date:

Release Date: 1953

Geographical Location: USA; Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland

Genre/Form: educational

Language: eng

Rights: notice on film states: "Copyright MCMLIII By Encyclopaedia Britannica Films Inc.
Copyright and All Rights of Reproduction, Including by Television, Reserved."

Film Format: 16mm film

Element: release print

Color: b&w

Color Process: Dupont

Sound or Silent: sound

Film Soundtrack Type: optical, variable density

Edge Code:

Frame Rate: 24 fps

Length (feet): 729