Dear Janette:
We
would be happy to assist and advise. We are manufacturers of archival
storage and presentation products (www.archivalmethods.com) and have
a few suggestions. If you end up wanting us to quote enclosures for you
we would waive any special order pricing as we would for any member of the
list.
First, you need to decide if these glass plates are going to be
pretty much in long term storage or if they will be frequently
accessed? One of the simplest ways is to house them in "drop mats" which
would consist of the following "sandwich": 1. A bottom "plate" of heavy
archival quality board or corrugated to a nominal outside dimension of 15 x
18" (2" larger all around than the negative), 2) a center "mat" with a
cutout of slightly larger than the negative and a cut-out or relief on one
of the 11" sides to facilitate lifting and removing the negative to avoid
"prying" (a more elegant but more costly solution would be a tape hinged end
on one of the short sides) 3) a top plate the same as the bottom. The
assembly can be tape hinged together along one of the long dimensions. Sling
each negative in either archival paper or (best) polyester to protect the
emulsion.
It
would not be difficult to manufacture these drop mats at your facility and
any local framer and cut the inside mat which must be slightly thicker than
the negative.
We
have an expert on photo storage on staff, Dennis Inch (co-author: "The Life
of a Photograph" ). Feel free to contact him. His number and email are
at archivalmethods.com
With reference to storage, these negatives are easily breakable, of
course, and pressure or weight are killers. Safest would be vertical storage
in appropriate SLOTTED cabinets so that the plates cannot lean against each
other. It goes without saying that such cabinets must have an appropriate
(safe) finish. Nothing is simple :)
As
a further source, the world authorities at the George Eastman House a few
miles down the road from us here in Rochester are usually happy to chat.
Dennis can get you some contacts there as well.
Steve Hess
archivalmethods.com
Dear
Listmembers,
We recently
accessioned about 80 of these negatives and are having trouble locating
pre-made four-flap enclosures for this large size. Hollinger and Metal
Edge are willing to make them, but I am hoping that we can obtain
them elsewhere to avoid special order
pricing.
I have also
seen two schools of thought on whether this large size should be stored
vertically as are the smaller sizes or horizontally (of course,
with very few per box).
Any leads
and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Janette Gomes
Assistant Regional
Archivist
Puget Sound Regional
Archives
3000 Landerholm Circle SE,
MS-N100
Bellevue, WA
98007-6484
jgomes@bcc.ctc.edu
(425)
564-3946