National Archives and Records Service film-vault fire at Suitland, Md. : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 19 and 21, 1979 (1979)

85 the value of the fihn. But if the film is valuable and we are rendering a service to the people who want their records preserved, I think it is entirely reasonable for the Government to insist that the cost of the transfer be borne b}' the donor. This is only my opinion. Dr. RiiOADS. I think that is not an unreasonable opinion. I think one has to balance that off against the value of the film and also against the fact that at least the general practice of newsreel companies has been not to spend any of their money for conversion. They use the film, make whatever profit they can ifrom furnishing copies of it to persons who want it for as long as the film lasts Mr. Butler. They also ]:)robably take some tax advantages from the donation ; would you not think ? Dr. Rhoads. I think that is entirely conceivable. Mr. Butler. AVell, I do not like to^ Dr. Rhoads. No. That is something we should try in the future very hard to see happen. I certainly do not want to take over again a major, long-range, expensive commitment for conversion if there is any possible way around that. Mr. Butler. All right. I thank you. I am sure my time has expired, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Preyer. I see we have a vote, and I think this might be a good time to break for it. Along the lines Mr. Butler was questioning you — about the tax benefit to the donors — is there any use benefit to the donors also ? What has been the use of these Universal newsreels? Has I^niversal used them in any way, or have educational institutions, or any groups asked to use them ? Do you charge anything if they do use them ? Dr. Rhoads. In 1974, when Universal deeded over all of their rights to these materials to us, the films were placed in the public domain. We do not charge people for using the film. We do not charge them any kind of a licensing fee, as commercial firms do. They are available for use by anyone. We do, of course, charge them the cost of making copies, if they wish to have copies. Mr. Preyer. Has any of the Univei'sal newsreel footage been used by educational institutions, or has it not been in shape to be used. Dr. Rhoads. Oh, I think they have been used. My colleagues on my left would be better able to answer that. Mr. Murphy. Since the Universal newsreel library was placed in the public domain in 1974, virtually every major film and television organization in the United States has used it at one time or another, including a number of universities — ^the University of Texas, for example; the California State University at Long Beach; Boston, and soon. Mr. Ingram. Are these the outtakes you are talking about? Mr. Murray. Outtakes plus the releases. In fact, that has been one of the things, I think, that has somewhat interfered with the preservation program. There has been such a great public demand for the use of Universal material. This sometimes stands in the way of the program. Mr. Ingram. Generally, the requesters of this material will be paying for the conversion from nitrate to safety film. One would expect, with this heavy use that you point to, that all of that stuff that burned up out there would have been on safety film by now.