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Re: ARCHIVES Digest - 7 Nov 2000 to 8 Nov 2000 (#2000-313)



Hi Bill,

I agree with Terry Abraham that 100 years is a pretty good deal, and
if kept in "archival" conditions it is really likely that the modern
copy negatives you make from the nitrate will last even longer than
100 years -- after all, Kodak's 100 - 150 year guarantee is just that
-- what they feel comfortable promising you it will last (in these
litigious days, despite the fact that they know full well that you
very likely will not be around to sue them in 100 - 150 years!)
Making contact prints at the same time also seems like a good idea,
and once you have better negs, you also have all sorts of digitizing
possibilities, if you want to go that route.

You do have to decide if you want to dispose of the nitrate or not,
after copying. I agree with Terry that it is unliklely that the
nitrate negs will combust if stored in typical, somewhat ventilated,
negative storge, not sealed metal cans like movie films. My
recollection from working in other photo archivesis that the nitrate
was generally kept, stored as far away as possible, somewhere where
it was thought that it might only burn down a portion of the building
if it went..... <grin>

debra.


Date:    Wed, 8 Nov 2000 09:39:18 -0600
From:    "William J. Maher" <w-maher@UX1.CSO.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Nitrate duplication
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Colleagues:

BACKGROUND:

The University of Illinois Archives has a large collection of photographs
on University history, campus buildings, faculty, students, etc. Most
archivists would be comfortable regarding these records as something more
akin to documentary than art photography--that is the value in retention
is not so much for the quality of the image composition, focus, and
exposure than for the record they provide through the visual image.

In this main body of photographs, we have approximately 1,300 known
nitrate sheet film negatives (mostly 8 x 10, 5 x 7, or 4 x 5).  On last
inspection, the negatives were in relatively good condition, not showing
signs of serious deterioration.  Based on the 9 stage categorization of
deterioration identified by Larry and Jane Booth (PictureScope, Spring
1982, p. 15), I believe that the bulk of the negatives have not even
reached the first stage (emitting an odor of nitric acid).

Although the deterioration has not advanced very far, we know that the
negatives will only get worse, that they can become dangerous (flammable
at ever lower temperatures), and that once they do deteriorate more the
it will be impossible to use them to create a replacement print or
negative.

THE QUESTION: Our immediate problem is trying to obtain an estimate for
replacement so we can request campus funds for the project.  On the basis
of the Booth recommendations in the above cited Picturescope article, we
believe the most viable method of reproducing the negatives is by Direct
Duplicating Negatives.  In Booth's article, they cite a Kodak film
SO -015.  I believe that that film was later replaced by SO-339.
Recently our University's Photolab checked with Kodak and found that
SO-339 has been further replaced with SO-132.

The issue on which I would appreciate your advice is the potential
longevity of SO-132 versus any other commercially or commonly used
negative film.  Our Photolab said that Kodak's representative stated the
life of SO-132 as guaranteed for 100 years or 150 years if selenium toning
were used.  My general reaction is that while I am doubtful that I will
still be working at the UI (although I have considered the Jermey Bentham
option), committing money to 100 year longevity does not sound like a
sound budgetary decision.

Keeping in mind that shots such as those of stage sets for student
theatrical productions from the 1930s are not the sort of image that one
would want to save in the same way as if we had images made by Ansel
Adams, what do my archivist colleagues think about the viability of SO-132
for such duplication?

Thanks.

William J. Maher                        University Archivist
UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, Room 19 Library
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-0798 FAX (217) 333-2868       E-mail:  W-MAHER@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu

--HUFTLTdSRJTTaQFOSLWOdYJSYPLYGF
Date:    Wed, 8 Nov 2000 08:15:31 -0800
From:    Terry Abraham <tabraham@UIDAHO.EDU>
Subject: Re: Nitrate duplication
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Bill,

Two points here. While the nitrate may continue to decompose, it is
unlikely to spontaneously combust. Most all instances of that were cases
of nitrate motion picture film sealed in cans. Sheet negatives in
envelopes in porous boxes deteriorate at a much slower rate because the
off gassing can disperse.

Second, given the nature of the photos (student theatricals) why not just
contact print the negatives (fiber-based paper) and have copy negatives
made as requested. The contacts will last more than 100 years (so we are
told) and the image loss is slight, particularly considering the
content. Plus you will have prints to show the potential customers.

   ---Terry

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Terry Abraham   Special Collections, University of Idaho
<http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/>

dshapiro@slis.wisc.edu
Debra Shapiro
Continuing Education Services
UW-Madison SLIS
4282 Helen C. White Hall
Madison WI 53706
608 262 9195
FAX 608 263 4849

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