PROCEDURES, WARNINGS, AND TIPS FOR END PROCESSOR
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MAGNETIC TAPES : videocassettes
Betacam or Video Home System (VHS); consult the Preservation Librarian. These should be stored upright and labelled along the edge for easy viewing. Videocassettes, in general, can be stored upright with the exposed tape edge facing up. Note whether there is a tab on that edge that needs to be removed to prevent taping over, and ask Preservation Librarian how to remove it. See also 69207266 - Consult Preservation about SOUND-ON film (i.e. "Super 8" movie film), as it is sometimes magnetic and should NOT go to HD .
MAGNETIC TAPES: reel-to-reel
Weissman Preservation Center recommends:
reels of magnetic tape should indeed be stored vertically in an individual enclosure. The only exception to this rule is that tape wound on cores should always be stored flat (horizontally), as there is no reel to support the tape pack. Also, the loose end of the tape really should be anchored to the edge of one reel flange. The best tape for this is hold-down tape, but in a pinch you could use a small piece of painter’s tape or other paper tape (making sure that the adhesive side does not come in contact with the side of the tape pack---just the very end of that outer loose end of tape that you are anchoring. I like this hold-down tape from Splicit in the ¼” size.
Regarding individual enclosures for tape reels, they like this one for ¼” open-reel tape: https://stilcasing.com/products/audio-tape-box/ in part because it latches securely closed.
If you are using a convention clamshell cardboard box, try to make sure that the opening is not facing down---it’s easier for the box to fall open when removing it from the shelf or a Paige box, etc. If you are using a loose-lid box (even less ideal), consider tying the box closed with cloth book tape. If you do this, make sure that the knot is on the top or side spine of the box so that it doesn’t put pressure on the flat side of the box (and the reel inside) if multiple boxes are packed or shelved side by side.
Magnetic tape on reels can definitely be sent to HD. However, if you are planning on long-term storage there, it’s especially important that each reel be housed in its own enclosure, and also that you anchor those loose tape ends to make sure that the tape pack doesn’t loosen and sag over time. Also, I’d recommend that you pack the reels into a Paige box, etc., making sure to use crunched-up paper or other spacers to ensure that the individual reel boxes remain vertical in storage.
PHONOGRAPH RECORDS
Phonograph records are stored upright and not sent to HD because of their fragility. They should be packed firmly with interleaving sheets of coroplast or archival board so that they stay upright and won't warp. There are boxes made especially for phonograph records. Each record should have an acid-free protective sleeve if there is no other sleeve protecting it. The catalogers will determine whether the original sleeves will be kept, and the Preservation Librarian can assist in determining whether the original sleeves can be housed next to the records. Consult Preservation Librarian about other specific storage methods for metal, vinyl, or wax records, and about new ways to house phonograph records in future.
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PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPES OF MANUSCRIPTS
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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REALIA
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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).
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