Photographic material

Photographic material: discuss with processing committee/supervisor.

• Mixed in files:  Re-house to Mylar sleeves.  Try to separate photographic material to a separate folder.  Use the same folder title followed by “(photographic material)”.  If it is only one photograph in a folder of papers, just add “(includes photograph)” to the folder title.
• In albums:  Consult with supervisor.
• Loose:  Re-house to Mylar sleeves.
• Photos on board: house in buffered paper folders or with buffered interleaving sheets.

Primary photographic materials

• Negatives
• Photographic prints

Secondary photographic materials

• Line negatives
• Photostats

General considerations:

• if only one copy, treat at highest level
• anticipate level of use
• house in box as close to the size of the print as possible

Sizes

•  8x10 and under – folder together, can store mixed sizes in manuscript box, sleeve and folder when possible
•  Oversized: larger than 8x10 – folder with interleaving sheets, house in flat files or flat boxes (includes photos on board)  

Housing materials:

• Paper Enclosures - Negatives
• Mylar Sleeves - Prints

Special cases

Polaroids:

• Above all else – Separate from other photos by placing in separate folder
• Can be housed in same box if isolated in own folder
• Do not sleeve

Rolled Photographs:

• Do not attempt to unroll
• Photo must be humidified before unrolled to prevent cracking