Honors US History students had a very special visitor from an award-winning documentary filmmaker this winter. Richard Wormser, Class of 1951, joined the class via Zoom to talk about his experiences, career, and time as a student at Storm King.

Known for his historical and social justice documentary films, including the PBS series The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow, Mr. Wormser’s stories and feedback enhanced the class’s ongoing discussions about race relations and the history of the American civil rights movement.

To begin the session, History & Social Sciences Department Chair Mr. Gillett gave a short introduction about Mr. Wormser’s work covering the civil rights movement in the early and mid-1960s. During the discussion, Mr. Wormser stressed that this period was an important shift in the tide of our country’s history and was the precursor to the women’s rights, LBGTQ rights, and Black Lives Matter (BLM) movements. Answering a question raised by sophomore Edward I. from Marlboro, NY, “the greatest part of my work is the people I meet,” commented Mr. Wormser. “Talking with extraordinary, everyday people and hearing their stories within the context of history have been my favorite activities as a filmmaker.”

As the session continued, the students asked more pointed questions to Mr. Wormser. Sophomore Luke C. of Newburgh, NY, wondered what it was like to interview a member of the Klu Klux Klan, and freshman Vincent I. of Marlboro, NY, asked about the accuracy of his sources. “I am always adamant about the integrity of my work, but, keep in mind that documentaries are often about people and persuasion to a particular point of view,” explained Mr. Wormser. Sophomore Joy L. from South Korea wanted to know what motivated Mr. Wormser to focus on social justice in his works and sophomore Cedric Z. of China inquired whether his time at SKS contributed to his career as a filmmaker. “I had a wonderful history teacher at SKS, Mr. Van Dyck. He sparked my interest in history and kept it going, and I still rely on it today,” continued Mr. Wormser. To conclude the session, his best advice for the students: “If you have something you really want to do, DO it.”

About Richard Wormser ‘51

Richard Wormser is a photographer, filmmaker of historical and social justice documentary films, and an author. He has written, produced, and directed over 100 programs for television, educational institutions, and government spanning six decades. His documentaries have received more than 25 awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award, three national Emmy nominations, the International Documentary Association Best Series award, Cine Gold Eagle, the Chris Award, and the Carter G. Woodson Honor book award.

Most notably, Richard Wormser is the creator of the PBS Peabody Award-winning series The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow. The landmark four-part series explores segregation from the end of the civil war to the dawn of the modern civil rights movement. His companion book of the same name contains more than 100 illustrations and images documenting the history of segregation from the end of the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement, drawing on the oral histories of people who experienced Klan violence, lynching, and other brutalities.