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Photonegatives Processing Guidelines Website: http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/
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Goals
of photographs negatives
storage
Objectives
of photonegatives storage scheme
Guidelines
for photonegatives storage scheme
Procedures
for photonegatives storage scheme
A. To
preserve historic photo images.
B. To
promote efficiency in reproducing images.
A. We will
have a stable copy negative (standard 4x5) for every image.
B. Copynegatives produced will be the same size as the original or 4x5 master negative,
whichever of the two is larger.
C. Prints
and negatives will be cross-referenced numerically for easy
access.
D. We will
produce copy negatives that are stable and free of residual
chemicals.
E. We will
minimize our handling of the master original negatives.
F. We will
store both the master negatives and copy negatives in a proper film storage
environment for their long-term preservation.
G. We will
store the master negatives off-site as a disaster
precaution.
H. We will identify nitrate negatives and segregate them from the rest of
the collection.
A. Simple
to use.
B. Comprehensive for
all of the Center's photonegatives holdings.
C. Respectful of
archival principles of "do no harm," provenance, and original
order.
D. Funded
primarily by user fees.
A. One
negative per envelope.
B. Housed
on edge in unbuffered acid-free lignin-free envelopes or (as appropriate)
polypropylene or Mylar Type D or polyethylene sleeves or four-flap
enclosures.
C. File in
alkaline-buffered acid-free lignin-free document boxes of the appropriate size
for the envelope/sleeve/enclosure.
D. The
product of in-house copy work will be 4x5 negatives.
E. Archival processing
of negatives includes the following specifications:
1. Proper
fixing of the image
2. Use of a
commercial hypo-eliminator
3. Wash time
of at least thirty minutes
4. Maintenance
of a constant water temperature during processing
5. Testing of
sample negatives for residual hypo and undeveloped silver
6. The Center
will make just one contact print directly from a glass plate negative (to
produce a copy negative from the contact print); all subsequent photoprints will
be produced from the copy negative (per Center of Southwest Studies staff
meeting decision Jan. 6, 2000).
F.Identify type of negative (e.g., acetate,
nitrate).
G. Straight numerical
accessioning starting with 1.
H. Before
negative is placed in envelope, its number is written in pencil in the upper
right hand corner with the envelope's open flap to the right; this same unique
locating number is written in the upper right corner on the back of the
print.
I. We do
not write directly on the negative or on the emulsion (front) side of the
print.
J. Secondary numbering
sequence for larger negatives, using unbuffered letter size folders marked O
(for oversize) followed by numbers starting with 1.
K. Store
negatives on edge (never stacked flat) according to size in customized
inert housings.
L. Store
archivally enclosed negatives off-site in cool, secure preservation-friendly
environment.
M. Store
nitrate negatives in an altogether separate location or copy them and discard
appropriately.
N. Maintain negatives
inventory log in MS Access "Images" database, using these
fields:
1. Neg. #
(incl. capital letter O prefix if negative is larger than
4x5).
2. One-phrase
description of image.
3. Type of
negative.
4. Cross
reference numbers of photoprint(s).
5. Former call number(s) of this negative.
6. Accession
number if negative came to SW Center with collection.
7. Date
negative was produced.
8. Preservation notes
(e.g., nitrate; need to reformat).
9. Other
notes.
Form SW-38
Special
collections holdings maintenance
Information
for doing research at the Center of Southwest Studies
Tools for archival work
Center of Southwest Studies
Page last modified: October 19, 2005