Dr. Jean-Jacques Jura (RGRLL) Launches his Archival Web Site "Balboa Research Archives"

Dr. Jean-Jacques Jura (RGRLL) launched his archival Web site Balboa Research Archives, which is dedicated to the memory of the Horkheimer Brothers, Herbert Morris Horkheimer and Elwood David Horkheimer, both having worked at Balboa Studios. As Dr. Jura states on the homepage of the Balboa Research Archives, “These talented pioneers of silent movies gave Long Beach and the world an unforgettable legacy.”

The mission of the online Balboa Research Archives is “to preserve Balboa Studio’s contributions to world-class cinema, 1910-1923, and to promote research among scholars, students and the public” by making the silent era’s pioneering film heritage accessible across continents. The Balboa Web site has the following two goals: 1. The Web site connects with film institutions and scholars from across the world, allowing access and exchange to the expanse of early movie history.  The advisory board serves as a clearing house, reviewing and cross-referencing information before posting it on the Balboa Web site. 2. The Web site promotes Balboa’s heritage in silent film symposia and festivals, providing opportunities for continuing education and enrichment among scholars, students, and the public.

Dr. Jura is an Associate Professor of French as well as a Single Subject Credential Advisor and Coordinator for Languages Other Than English (LOTE) at CSULB. Dr. Jura’s research, presentations, and most recent publications concern the following areas of study: medieval French literature, theatricality in Julien Green’s novels, the silent movie history of Long Beach, and foreign language credentialing. In addition to receiving numerous awards and grants, Dr. Jura is the author of Aucassin & Nicolette, A Chantefable from the Twelfth-Century Minstrels: A Facing-Page Translation (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2007) and Balboa Films: A History and Filmography of the Silent Film Studio (McFarland & Company, Inc., 1999). After receiving his M.A. in French Literature from CSULB in 1983, Dr. Jura went on to receive his Ph.D. in French Literature from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) in 1988.

Complied and edited by Cortney Smethurst