Caring for Photographs

The Caring for Photographs was intended to strengthen general photograph preventive conservation knowledge and preservation capacity. The course began with an introduction to the technical history of photography, image formation and deterioration, and degradation mechanisms and causes, to prepare librarians, archivists, and collection care specialists with the basic knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to safeguard their collections.

Topics addressed included:

In addition to webinar recording links below, you will also see transcripts of those recordings, resources that were compiled by the course instructors, and PowerPoint presentations. This course is a part of the Caring for Yesterday’s Treasures—Today series.

Webinar 1: Physical and Chemical Properties of Photographs
Tuesday, May 7, 2013

1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Instructor: Debra Hess Norris

This session will provide a basic familiarity with the fundamental physical and chemical properties of photographic print and negative collections, including albums and scrapbooks, and the causes and mechanisms of their deterioration.

• Balwin, Gordon, and Martin C. Jürgens. Looking at Photographs: A Guide to Technical Terms. Rev. ed. Los Angeles, CA: J. Paul Getty Museum. 2009. Discount available, see below.
• Coe, Brian, and Mark Haworth-Booth. A Guide to Early Photographic Processes. London: Victoria and Albert Museum in association with Hurtwood Press. 1983.
• Fischer, Monique and Albright, Gary, “Types of Photographs“, Andover, MA: Northeast Document Conservation Center, 2010.
• Gernsheim, Helmut and Alison. The History of Photography from the Camera Obscura to the Beginning of the Modern Era. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. 1969.
• George Eastman House, Notes on Photographs – Processes
• Graphic Atlas, Image Permanence Institute.
• Image Permanence Institute
• Lavédrine, Bertrand, Jean-Paul Gandolfo, John McElhone, and Sibylle Monod. Photographs of the Past: Process and Preservation. Los Angeles, CA: The Getty Conservation Institute, 2009. Discount available, see below.
• Lavédrine, Bertrand. A Guide to the Preventive Conservation of Photograph Collections. Los Angeles, CA: Getty Publications. 2003. Discount available, see below.
• Making of a Modern Tintype, New York Times.
• Newhall, Beaumont. The History of Photography from 1839 to the Present. New York, NY: Museum of Modern Art. 1988 (5th ed.).
• Penichon, Sylvie, Twentieth-Century Color Photographs: History, Identification, and Care. Los Angeles, CA: Getty Publications (forthcoming 2013). Discount available, see below.
• Regional Alliance for Preservation
• Reilly, James and Constance McCabe. Care and Identification of 19th-Century Photographic Prints. Rochester, NY: Eastman Kodak Company. 1986.

These sessions will focus on supplying a basic knowledge of the technological
developments of photography in the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries with special focus on albumen, silver gelatin, and chromogenic, print materials, and glass plate and film base negatives.

Background reading and links referenced in Webinars 2 and 3:
Technological Development of Photography (Prints)

• Adelstein, Peter Z. “From metal to polyester: History of picture-taking supports.” In Pioneers of Photography: Their Achievements in Science and Technology. ed. Eugene Ostroff. Springfield, Va.: SPSE–The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. 1987. p 30-36.
• Coote, J. The illustrated history of colour photography. Surbiton, England, Fountain Press.1993.
• Eaton, George T. Photographic Chemistry, in Black-and-White and Color Photography. New York, NY: Morgan & Morgan, Inc., 3rd ed. 1980.http://www.amazon.com/Photographic-Chemistry-Black-And-White-Color-Photography/dp/0871000660Gernsheim, Helmut. The History of Photography from the camera obscura to the beginning of the modern era. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Book Company.1969.
• Graphic Atlas, Image Permanence Institute.
• Hunter, John. “Chronology of Photographic Processes.” National Park Service Conserve O Grams, Section 14/3. 1993.
• Library of Congress, Preservation Directorate Resources.
• Nadeau, Luis. Encyclopedia of Printing, Photographic, and Photomechanical Processes: containing invaluable information on over 1500 processes. Fredericton, N.B., Canada: Atelier L. Nadeau. 1994.
• Reilly, James M. The Albumen & Salted Paper Book: The history and practice of photographic printing, 1840-1895. Rochester, NY: Light Impressions Corporation. 2007 (1986). Appendix C: Guidelines for the Identification of Albumen and Salted Paper Prints
• Robb, Andrew (ed.) “Care, Handling, and Storage of Photographs.” UNESCO. 1992.
• Rochester Institute of Technology. Image Permanence Institute. A Consumer Guide to Traditional and Digital Print Stability. Rochester, NY: Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology. 2003.
• Weaver, Gawain. A Guide to Fiber-Base Gelatin Silver Print Condition and Deterioration. Rochester, NY: George Eastman House and Image Permanence Institute. 2008.
• Wilhelm, Henry. The Permanence and Care of Color Photographs: Traditional and Digital Color Prints, Color Negatives, Slides, and Motion Pictures. Knoxville, TN: Preservation Pub Co. 1993. (PDF edition available from Wilhelm Imaging Research website).

Technological Development of Photography (Negatives)

• Adelstein, Peter Z. IPI Media Storage Quick Reference: Negatives, Prints, Tapes, CDs & DVDs. Rochester, NY: Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology. 2004.
• Adelstein, Peter Z. “From metal to polyester: History of picture-taking supports.” In Pioneers of Photography: Their Achievements in Science and Technology. ed. Eugene Ostroff. Springfield, VA: SPSE–The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. 1987. p 30-36.
• American Institute for Conservation-Photographic Materials Group (1986- ) Topics in photographic preservation. Published semi-annually since 1986.
• American National Standards Institute. (1988). American National Standard for Imaging Media-Photographic Processed Films, Plates, and Papers-Filing Enclosures and Storage Containers. No. ANSI IT9.2-1988.
• Bennett, Karen and Jessica S. Johnson. “Identification of Film-Base Photographic Materials.” National Park Service Conserve O Grams, Section 14/9, Photographs. 1999.
• Fischer, Monique, “A Short Guide to Film Base Photographic Materials: Identification, Care, and Duplication“, Andover, MA: Northeast Document Conservation Center, 2010.
• Robb, Andrew and Fischer, Monique. Guidelines for Care & Identification of Film-Base Photographic Materials. 1993.
• National Park Service, Cold Storage.
• Valverde Valdés, María Fernanda, and George Eastman House. “Guide for Identification and Preservation of Negative Collections,“ Photographic Negatives: Nature and Evolution of Processes. Rochester, NY: Advanced Residency Program in Photograph Conservation; Image Permanence Institute. 2003.

Webinar 4: Preventive Care of Photographs
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Instructor: Debra Hess Norris

This session will look to give a basic understanding of and appreciation for issues relating to preventive care of photographic collections, including risk management; appropriate environmental conditions; handling and maintenance procedures for storage; exhibition and display parameters and monitoring techniques; and emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response.

Background reading and links referenced in presentation:

• Albright, Gary. “Emergency salvage of wet photographs.” Preservation Leaflets 3.7. Andover, MA: Northeast Document Conservation Center. 2007.
• AMIGOS, “Audio & Video Tape: Preservation Basics“, AMIGOS Preservation Services. 2010.
• Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI). CCI Notes, Section 16, “Care of Photographic Materials” (units 16/1 – 16/6). Toronto, Canada: Communications Canada, 1986, 1988.
• Clark, Susie (editor). Care of Photographic, Moving Image and Sound Collections. Conference Papers, York, England, 20^th – 24^th July 1998. Leigh lodge, Worcester: Institute of Paper Conservation, 1999.
• Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), Preservation Planning Bulletin
• Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Photograph Preservation Project
• Conservation Suppliers, Nebraska State Historical Society, Gerald Ford Conservation Center(PDF, 210 KB, link to parent page)
• Federal Agencies Digitization Initiative Still Image Working Group; Rebecca Osborne and Catherine Scott, IBM; Karen Griggs; Erin Rhodes and Steven Puglia, US National Archives and Records Administration, Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Cultural Heritage Materials: Creation of Raster Image Master Files For the Following Originals – Manuscripts, Books, Graphic Illustrations, Artwork, Maps, Plans, Photographs, Aerial Photographs, and Objects and Artifacts. August 2010
• Fischer, Monique, “A Short Guide to Film Base Photographic Materials: Identification, Care, and Duplication“, Andover, MA: Northeast Document Conservation Center, 2010.
• Heritage Preservation, and Heritage Emergency National Task Force. Field Guide to Emergency Response. Washington, DC: Heritage Preservation. 2011 (2006).
• Image Permanence Institute. A Consumer Guide for the Recovery of Water-Damaged Traditional and Digital Prints. Rochester, NY: Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology. 2007.
• Lemmen, Barbara. Housing Materials for Photographs: Criteria for Selection. Philadelphia, PA: Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. 2011.
• Library of Congress, Emergency Preparedness
• Library of Congress, Lighting of Library Materials
• National Archives of Australia (NAA), Handling and Care
• National Park Service, Cold Storage.
• Norris, Debra Hess. Disaster Recovery: Salvaging Photograph Collections. Philadelphia, PA: Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. 1998.
• Norris, Debra Hess and Jennifer Jae Gutierrez (eds.), Issues in the Conservation of Photographs. Los Angeles, CA, Getty Conservation Institute, 2010. Discount available, see below.
• Norris, Debra Hess. “Preservation planning for diverse photographic holdings.” In Issues in the Conservation of Photographs. ed. Debra Hess Norris and Jennifer Jae Gutierrez. 577-585. Readings in Conservation. Los Angeles, CA: Getty Conservation Institute. 2010. Discount available, see below.
• Porro, Jennifer, editor. Bernard F. Reilly, Jr., James M. Reilly, Debbie Hess Norris, Steven T. Puglia, Paula De Stefano, Julia Van Haaften, Patricia McClung; authors. Photograph Preservation and the Research Library. Mountain View, CA: The Research Libraries Group, Inc., 1991.
• Reilly, James. Storage Guide for Color Photographic Materials. New York: Image Permanence Institute, University of the State of New York.1998.
• Reilly, James. IPI Storage Guide for Acetate Film. Rochester, NY: Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology.1993.
• Ritzenthaler, Mary Lynn. Archives & Manuscripts: Conservation; A Manual on Physical Care and Management. Chicago, IL: Society of American Archivists (SAA Basic Manual Series), 1993.
• Ritzenthaler, M. L., D. Vogt-O’Connor, et al. Photographs: archival care and management. Chicago, Society of American Archivists. 2006.
• Roosa, Mark. Care, Handling, and Storage of Photographs. Rev. and updated ed. International Preservation Issues No. 5. The Hague, Netherlands: IFLA-PAC. 2004.
• Wagner, Sarah, Constance McCabe, and Barbara Lemmen. “Guidelines for exhibition light levels for photographic materials.” In Issues in the Conservation of Photographs. ed. Debra Hess Norris and Jennifer Jae Gutierrez. 684-90. Readings in Conservation. Los Angeles, CA: Getty Conservation Institute. 2010. Discount available, see below.

Webinar 5: Advocating for the Care of Photographs
Thursday, May 23, 2013
1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Instructor: Debra Hess Norris
This session will provide a basic knowledge of best practices in photograph preservation and building a case statement for effective fund raising. Advocacy for collections will be stressed as a first step in raising awareness of the richness and importance of photographic heritage.

• The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Grants and Scholarships
• World Wide Photographic Preservation Projects Google Map
• Gonzalez, Maria E. “Collaboration and Fundraising for Preservation of Photographic Materials.” University of Delaware. 2012.
• Heritage Preservation. Capitalize on Collections Care To Increase Support, Generate Contributions and Donations, Increase Membership and Support, and Stimulate Earned Income. Washington DC: Heritage Preservation, Inc. 2003 (1998).
• Heritage Preservation. A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections. Washington D.C.: Heritage Preservation, Inc. 2005.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Connecting to Collections Initiative
• National Commission for Culture and The Arts
• Rehousing of Glass Plate Negatives, Legion of Honor, deYoung, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Getty Publication is generously offering a 30% discount to course participants for the following publications:Looking at Photographs: A Guide to Technical Terms by Gordon Balwin and Martin C. Jürgens
Photographs of the Past: Process and Preservation by Bertrand Lavédrine, Jean-Paul Gandolfo, John McElhone, and Sibylle Monod
A Guide to the Preventive Conservation of Photograph Collections by Bertrand Lavédrine
Issues in the Conservation of Photographs edited by Debra Hess Norris and Jennifer Jae Gutierrez
Twentieth-Century Color Photographs: History, Identification, and Care by Sylvie Penichon (forthcoming in 2013)To place an order for one of these books, contact the Getty distribution center at the University of Chicago Press by phone at 1-800-621-2736 or email via custserv@press.uchicago.edu and use discount code GETTYCFP. Phone orders are recommended.

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Debra Hess Norris is Chair of the Art Conservation Department at the University of Delaware, and Professor of Photograph Conservation. She graduated magna cum laude with an interdisciplinary BA degree in chemistry, art history, and studio art (1977) and MS in conservation (1980) from the University of Delaware. Since 1985, Norris has authored more than 30 articles and book chapters on care and treatment of photographic materials, emergency response, ethics, and conservation education; and taught more than 100 workshops and seminars for conservators and allied professionals. Norris has lectured and consulted on the preservation of photographic collections worldwide, including in Russia, India, Lebanon, Colombia, Denmark, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Mexico, Israel, Peru, Australia, and New Zealand. She co-edited a compilation of fundamental writings in the field of photograph conservation with Jennifer Jae Gutierrez–Issues in the Conservation of Photograph– published by the Getty Conservation Institute in 2010. She greatly enjoys fund raising and has secured nearly $13 million in external grants for the Art Conservation Department at the University of Delaware. Norris was president of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (1993-97) the chair of Heritage Preservation (2003- 2008) and she current serves on its board. Recently, she has spoken at many of the IMLS Connecting to Collections national conferences on topics ranging from the preservation of photographic materials to fund raising for collections care. In 2002, Norris was inducted into the University of Delaware’s Alumni Wall of Fame. In January 2004, she was appointed as the Henry Francis du Pont Chair in Fine Arts. Norris has received the Rutherford John Gettens Merit Award for outstanding service to the American Institute for Conservation (1998), the Sheldon and Caroline Keck Award for excellence in the education and training of conservation professionals (2004), and the American Institute for Conservation University Products Award for distinguished achievement in the conservation of cultural property (2008).