Here, There and Everywhere: The Preservation of Our Photographic Heritage

Transcription

1 Here, There and Everywhere: The Preservation of Our Photographic Heritage Hosted by ALCTS, the Association for Library & Technical Services, April 23, 2013

2 Here, There and Everywhere: The Preservation of Our Photographic Heritage Heather Brown, Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation Fellow Debra Hess Norris, Chair and Director of Art Conservation, University of Delaware

3 Or.. Don t Leave Grandma in the Attic!

4 Understand the value and vulnerability of these treasures Anonymous ca salted paper print, hand colored Private Owner

5 Understand the value and vulnerability of these treasures Anonymous c Chromogenic Color Photograph Private Owner

6 Photographic Collections are Endangered Tintype Private Owner Albumen photograph Private Owner

7 Photographic Collections are Endangered Gelatin silver developed-out print Private owner

8 Photographic Collections are Endangered Image courtesy of Nora W. Kennedy

9 Photographic Collections are Endangered Image courtesy of Nora W. Kennedy

10 Easy-to-Access Resources Long, J. S., and R. W. Long Caring for Your Family Treasures. Harry N. Abrams. Landrey, G The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection. Winterthur. Lavedrine, B A Guide to the Preventive Conservation of Photograph Collections. Getty Conservation Institute.

11 GENERIC STRUCTURE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS Albumen Photograph Binder Final Image Paper Support

12 Photography: Component Parts Support (paper, glass, iron, silver plated copper, plastic, textile, leather, wood and more)

13 Photography: Component Parts Binder (albumen, collodion, gelatin) Support (paper, glass, iron, silver plated copper, plastic, textile, leather, wood and more)

14 Photography: Component Parts Final Image Material (silver organic dyes, pigments, platinum, gold, iron salts) Binder (albumen, collodion, gelatin) Support (paper, glass, iron, silver plated copper, plastic, textile, leather, wood and more)

15 Photographic Collections are Varied Early direct positive processes Quarter plate daguerreotype

16 Daguerreotype Silver-plated copper support Gold-mercury-silver amalgam image material Evans, Charles Girl with doll, holding mother's hand Daguerreotype George Eastman House, 77:0240:0024

17 Daguerreotype Silver-plated copper support Gold-mercury-silver amalgam image material Anonymous Daguerreotype with glass degradation Private owner

18 Photographic Collections are Varied Early direct positive processes Tintype Private owner

19 Tintype Japanned iron support Silver image in collodion binder Typically varnished. Hand coloring in cheeks common Anonymous Hand-colored Tintype Private Owner

20 Tintype Japanned iron support Silver image in collodion binder Typically varnished. Hand coloring in cheeks common Anonymous Hand-colored Tintype Private Owner

21 Tintype Japanned iron support Silver image in collodion binder Typically varnished. Hand coloring in cheeks common Heather Brown Self-portrait, 2012 Tintype on coated aluminum, varnished with synthetic resin Wet collodion workshop at the Center for Alternative Photography, NY

22 George Eastman House Photographic Process videos: m/playlist?list=pl4f C147182A Easy-to-Access Resources

23 Photographic Collections are Varied Early direct positive processes Print Materials Tone gelatin silver developed-out photograph Private owner

24 Photographic Collections are Varied Early direct positive processes Print Materials Ca. 1920s-30s Hand-colored Silver Gelatin Photograph Postcard Image Permanence Institute

25 Common 19 th Century Photographic Print Materials Salted Paper Albumen Silver Gelatin Collodion Chloride Printing Out Platinum Cyanotype Mathew B. Brady Madame Medori ca Salted paper print from glass negative Gilman Collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

26 Common 19 th Century Photographic Print Materials Salted Paper Albumen Silver Gelatin Collodion Chloride Printing Out Platinum Cyanotype Anna Atkins Equisetum Sylvaticum Cyanotype J Paul Getty Museum

27 Print Processes PHOTOGRAPHIC PRESERVATION: RISK ASSESSMENT & IMPLEMENTATION salted paper albumen gelatin & collodion printed-out papers black & white developed-out papers chromogenic color paper 1960-present PRESENT

28 Image Permanence Institute s Graphics Atlas

29 Albumen Photograph Anonymous Albumen Photographs Private Owner

30 Albumen ALBUMENIZED LIGHT- SENSIVE PAPER

31 Albumen ALBUMENIZED LIGHT- SENSIVE PAPER

32 Albumen ALBUMENIZED LIGHT- SENSIVE PAPER CONTACT PRINT WITH NEGATIVE EXPOSE TO SUNLIGHT

33 Reproduced from the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television collection, by courtesy of the Science and Society Picture Library.

34 Albumen ALBUMENIZED LIGHT- SENSIVE PAPER CONTACT PRINT WITH NEGATIVE EXPOSE TO SUNLIGHT

35 Portrait Formats: Carte-de-Visites approx. 2 ½ x 4 to 4 ¼ in.

36 Portrait Formats: Cabinet Cards approx. 4 ¼ x 6 ½ in.

37 Albumen Albumen Binder Photolytic Silver / Gold Toned 100% Rag Paper Support

38 Albumen Thin paper support Silver image Egg white binder Image fading Binder will crack Portrait of Jaswant Singh II of Jodhpur ( ) Photographer unknown, overpainted by Shivalal ca Hand-colored Albumen Photograph The Metropolitan Museum of Art

39 Albumen Thin paper support Silver image Egg white binder Image fading Binder will crack Albumen Photograph, Cabinet Card from Graphics Atlas

40 Albumen Binder will crack Albumen Photograph, Cabinet Card from Graphics Atlas

41 Silver Gelatin Paper support coated with baryta Silver image Gelatin binder Image fading Silver mirroring Gelatin silver developed-out photograph Private owner

42 Silver Gelatin Paper support coated with baryta Silver image Gelatin binder Image fading Silver mirroring Gelatin silver developed-out photograph Private owner

43 Silver Gelatin Paper support coated with baryta Silver image Gelatin binder Image fading Silver mirroring Silver gelatin developed-out photograph Private owner

44 Chromogenic Color Dye-based image Gelatin binder Dye fading Chromogenic photograph Private owner

45 Chromogenic Color Dye-based image Gelatin binder Dye fading Chromogenic photograph awkwardschoolpictures.com

46 Photographic Collections are Varied Early direct positive processes Print Materials Negative Materials

47 Photographic Collections are Varied Early direct positive processes Print Materials Negative Materials

48 Photographic Collections are Varied Early direct positive processes Print Materials Negative Materials Photographic Albums

49 Photographic Collections are Varied Silver Gelatin Photograph Album Private Owner

50 Basic Preservation Advice House collections in good-quality plastic or paper enclosures and box for protection The Metropolitan Museum of Art, credit Taina Meller

51 Basic Preservation Advice House collections in good-quality plastic or paper enclosures and box for protection

52 Some Recommended Suppliers Archival Products: Gaylord: University Products: Talas: Hollinger Metal Edge: Archivart:

53 Basic Preservation Advice Store family photographs in interior closets where environment is best protected. Control temperature and RH as possible.

54 Basic Preservation Advice Secure collections against emergencies. Be prepared. Handle carefully. HBCU Photograph Preservation Institute, Image from Evan Krape, University of Delaware

55 Basic Preservation Advice Limit light levels for display. Exhibit digital or other copies. Environmental study for digital print materials, Image Permanence Institute Richard Stenman, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

56 Easy-to-Access Resources Library of Congress Collections Care Preservation: CCAHA Preservation Resources: Northeast Document Conservation Center Resources: National Park Service Conserve O Grams: /cons_toc.html

57 Basic Preservation Advice Seek advice from experts. Local museums or The American Institute for Conservation.

58 Silver Gelatin Photograph from the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia (CCAHA) Before Treatment Private Owner, c. 1920s

59 Silver Gelatin Photograph from CCAHA Before Treatment After Treatment Private Owner, c. 1920s

60 Art Conservation Department Undergraduate Master s-level Doctoral Program in Preservation Studies

61 Group of people at the pyramids Selim Abu Izzeddin Guizeh, Egypt, 1902 Arab Image Foundation Global Partnerships

62 Photograph Preservation in the Middle East Anonymous Silver Gelatin Photograph Kamran Collection, Iran Anonymous photographer Aicha (center) and Hajja Habiba Amor. Morocco, Copyright Arab Image Foundation

63 Photograph Preservation in the Middle East Instructors and participants in the November 2012 MEPPI, Abu Dhabi, NYU AD

64 Many Thanks!