PROCEDURES, WARNINGS, AND TIPS FOR END PROCESSOR

...

MAGNETIC TAPES : audio reels and audio and video (VHS) cassette tapes
Audiotapes, etc. are subject to condensation when moved to store offsite. Weissman has guidelines for audiovisual materials of all kinds. They recommend always making a preservation copy before sending off to HD. But currently we keep this material onsite. This is because all magnetic tapes are in a constant state of "decomposition". Protocols will be established, but for now deal with the tapes on a case by case basis. (When a single audiocassettte reel occurs among a collection, it can sometimes be housed in a simple 3-flap sleeve adhered to a stiff board and stored upright among papers, using standard acid-free materials.) They too should be housed so they don't move around in the box. Various kinds of magnetic tapes include DAT (Digital audiotape); micro cassette--from hand-held recording devices; reel-to-reel tape; standard audiocassettes.

Consult current preservation specialists at Weissman, Elizabeth Walters or Melanie Meents, as needed. They recommend that magnetic tapes should be stored on either the short end or the long end of their spines (upright), but never flat, unless they are wound on "cores". If on cores they should be stored flat. Melanie and Elizabeth also recommend (zoom June 14, 2024) keeping the tapes in their original enclosure whenever possible, even if the enclosure is paper. If a tape does not have an external case or enclosure, use plastic VHS containers.

They also say that storing at HD is a good idea. And, that it’s also good to provide an extra layer of protection by packing individually housed media into Paige boxes. Open spaces can be filled with a crushed paper, or other archival cushion to ensure that the media remain vertically oriented in storage. Small-format cassettes (anything the size of an audiocassette or smaller), can be placed in a few smaller boxes before loading them into a Paige box if possible Consult the end processor about current supplies such as lantern slide boxes. Open-reel tape should ideally have a loose tape end anchored to the reel flange to help keep the tape pack from loosening during transport/in storage. If there is time for us to do this, ask the end processor about getting hold-down tape (from Splicit)---the ¼” version can be used for just about any width of tape.

MAGNETIC TAPES : audiocassettes
in general, especially if there are many, can be housed upright in a box so the exposed tape edge faces upward. Replace jewel-box type plastic covers with archival ones only if chipped, or if more protection is needed. Loose chips or fragments can fall into the tape and damage it.
See HOUSING SOLUTIONS : Vidal audiocassette presentation. We no longer send magnetic tapes to HD. They are stored onsite.  For an end processing example, see MS Am 3362 (Gore Vidal audiotapes).

...

DIGITAL IMAGING
"DRS" (digital repository service) is marked in pencil on folder labels by Mary Haegert and her staff when items are digitized.


return to top 

Anchor
Photographic Photographic

PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPES OF MANUSCRIPTS

Many early photographic techniques require special handling. Consult Conservation, who may suggest alerting the Photo Conservator at Weissman Preservation Center for assistance and advice. These are marked below, that will always need assistance, but also ask Conservation if there is any uncertainty about any particular photograph or technique.

PHOTOGRAPHS  *Consult Houghton Conservation with any questions. Weissman Center photo conservator can assist or advise.

...

PHOTOGRAPHS : upright storage
We put photographs into photosleeves only if the processing level is 2 or above, or if there is some special concern. They can be stored upright if in good condition, or flat according to the needs of the rest of the collection. If they are moderately curled, putting them in many folders in a flat box may help keep them from curling more. If badly curled and in need of flattening, consult Preservation staff. If badly curled, single or in a block, storing flat with no weight is best.  If a photograph is a bit taller than the front of portion of an upright folder and doesn't fit in a photosleeve, we make an inner folder out of mylar, just slightly smaller than the outer folder. The inner folder can be the same height as the folder it is in. We try to make such folders uniform in size within a box, rather than have a lot of custom-sized inner folders of all different heights, even if it means that the photograph will sometimes be shorter than the inner folder.

return to top

PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPES OF MANUSCRIPTS

AMBROTYPES  *see: daguerreotypes

DAGUERREOTYPES *Consult Houghton Conservation (Weissman Center wants to examine all new material or problems)
Daguerreotypes can be stored upright only if: (a) the original box is in good condition, i.e. hinges in good working order, cover not loose and (b) it is in an enclosure that has been custom padded-out for protection. Otherwise, they can be stored flat, also in a padded-out box, and it does not matter whether they are stored with the image facing up or down, even though salts or degradation products from the glass from falling on top of the image can cause damage if they are facing up. In most cases, however, it is preferable to have the image face up, so the reader can see it without having to open it and then close, flip over, and open again.

...

CLIPPINGS
For levels 2 and 3 processing clippings might need to be unfolded and interleaved, especially if they are already turning brown and offsetting onto adjacent material.  Use the slightly trimmed (shorter) larger sheets of permalife  (8.5x14") that the end processor can provide. Or if an inner folder is required, use the next size larger permalife (11x17"), folded in half, to separate clippings from other material. Note that Permadur paper is an older equivalent to permalife, and is ok to use/use up. Both these papers have a watermark, however, which is suspected of possibly offsetting onto early manuscripts. So for those the end processor may use a paper with no watermark, selected by the Weissman Center.

return to top

Anchor
Realia Realia

REALIA

DEATH/LIFE MASKS : originals or casts of face and other parts of body
Whether plaster or metal, these are all to be stored in the VAULT together, usually in a "hat" box, padded with volara or acid-free tissue, and with tissue as a "base" for the hollow area. Consult Conservation for difficult pieces. Metal should be stored in unbuffered boxes if possible. If not possible, surrounded with tissue.   See also:  plaster.

FLAG 
(Housing Solution for a flag).

...