Students in the documentary filmmaking class presented their documentary Wednesday night. Courtesy | Hannah Cote

 

Hillsdale students premiered their documentary about Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a codebreaker whose achievements helped win World War II, but who died anonymously.

The college’s documentary filmmaking class debuted the film, titled “Hillsdale Student, American Hero: How Elizebeth Smith Friedman Beat the Mob and Won the War,” in Plaster Auditorium to an audience of more than 120 people on Wednesday.

The film follows the life and legacy of Friedman, a 1915 Hillsdale College alumna. 

Lauren Scott, a student in the class, said the film sheds light on Friedman’s achievements, which were classified until 2008, as well as provides insight into her character and time at Hillsdale. 

“When she played a significant role in ending World War II, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover erased her name from the over 4,000 decrypts she and her team worked on and replaced it with FBI identification numbers,” Scott said. “The Navy made her swear an oath of secrecy, so everyone thought she was an ordinary suburban mother with a routine Navy job.” 

Buddy Moorehouse, adjunct instructor of documentary filmmaking, said the documentary focuses on Friedman’s career and Hillsdale’s role in forming her as a person.  

“This documentary is so important for Hillsdale College students to see because it’s going to tell them the story of a woman they’ve probably never heard of before,” Moorehouse said. “Elizebeth Smith Friedman is one of the most remarkable women in American history — she’s a true American hero — and just like all of you, she went to Hillsdale College.” 

Maggie Wackenhut, another student in the class, said Moorehouse taught the class in an open, student-led manner.

“It’s almost entirely discussion-based and feels more like a creative, collective brainstorm than a class,” Wackenhut said.

Wackenhut said aside from providing topics, showing students how to research and interview effectively, and helping with travel plans, Moorehouse gave the students free reign to make the film their own. 

Moorehouse said the project is the product of the hard work of students in the documentary filmmaking class: sophomores Jack Cote and Lindsey Larkin, juniors Lauren Scott, Maggie Wackenhut, and Maddy Welsh, and senior Christian Peck-Dimit, who began work on the project in September. 

Students traveled to Arizona and Virginia to conduct interviews and gather information for their film.

“In late October, two of them flew to Arizona to interview Elizebeth’s grandson and four of them flew to Virginia to do research at the Elizebeth Smith Friedman Archives,” Moorehouse said.

Wackenhut traveled to Tucson, Arizona, with Larkin. The two spoke with Chris Atchison, grandson of Elizebeth Friedman, in order to better understand her character and personal life.

“Normally for the films made in the documentary filmmaking class, students work with what they can while on campus,” Wackenhut said. “Our class was lucky enough to receive a grant to produce the film that allowed all of us to take trips across the country, gathering interviews and information on Elizebeth.”

Scott said this documentary is different from the only other documentary about Friedman, produced by PBS because it provides a more holistic view of her life. 

“Our documentary focuses on the life of Elizebeth Smith Friedman as a mother, wife, Hillsdale student, and spy,” Scott said. “There was a documentary made about her in 2021, but they barely talked about her experience at Hillsdale College or her role as a mother.”

Scott said the opportunity to interview Friedman’s grandson separates their documentary from the one released in 2021. 

“Her grandson gave us many details about who she was as a mother and grandmother, allowing us to better understand her as a person,” Scott said.

Wackenhut said Friedman emulated the college’s ideals through her sense of duty, honor, determination, humility, and love. 

“It’s important to acknowledge her accomplishments, but there’s a lot to be said for her character and spirit as well,” Wackenhut said. 

Scott said the students filmed many of the shots in the documentary on an iPhone. 

“Mr. Moorehouse emphasized that we have the ability to tell a great story with the resources we already have,” Scott said.  

The documentary aims to dispel the secrecy around Friedman’s achievements. According to Scott, Friedman is “finally getting her story told.”

“The world needs to know about her, and the people at Hillsdale College are a great place to start,” Scott said. 

Sophomore Abigail Pionk and junior Emma Montague both came to the premiere to support friends in the class.

Montague said she enjoyed learning about one of Hillsdale’s most notable alumna. 

“As a history major, the documentary was right up my alley,” Montague said.

Pionk said she was excited to see the final product of many months of work. 

“I had no idea what to expect and was so impressed by the amount of information that fit into just 40 minutes,” Pionk said. “The student’s short films were so interesting and really represented the individuality of the students in the class.”