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indepth studies since I became Archivist in 1968 to keep on top of our preservcation needs and to set priorities.
One major study in 1960 led to increased funds for the preservation of nontextual i-ecords, reflectino^ our judgment that these recordsmotion picture films, still pictures, sound recordings, maps, and aerial photographs — require relatively rapid duplication or restoration before their short lifespans end.
Another study in 1976 brought the nontextual records preservation picture — substantially changed through increased accessions — up to date. Last year, deviations in temperature and humidity in the National Archives Building were studied. Now that a major overhaul of our heating and cooling system is in its final phase, we expect improved environmental conditions.
Another extensive study completed last year assessed our total preservation needs against present and anticipated technologies for longrange planning and budget request purposes.
Spending on direct preservcation efforts was increased from about $200,000 a year to about $1 million a year in 1971 and to $1.8 million in fiscal year 1978. It will rise to approximately $2 million in the current fiscal year, about 18 i^ercent of the portion of the NARS budget earmarked for the National Archives.
With preservation funds available from 1969 through last year, NARS has copied 8.7 million feet of motion pictures, and 1.3 million aerial images. During the last 5 years, we have reproduced 17,000 sound recordings, and 300,000 still pictures as part of our nontextual preservation program. Several million units of textual preservation have also been completed.
Our motion picture work included conversion of 2.3 million feet of nitrate motion picture film. Another 3 million feet of motion picture film will be converted in the current fiscal year. This will leave us with 4.7 million feet of nitrate movie film and 32,000 nitrate still pictures to be converted.
Some 2.3 million aerial images require convereion. If we receive the supplemental funds requested we hope to have all the nitrate motion picture footage on safety film by August 1980. The aerials can be completed shortly thereafter but will depend upon when the additional laboratory space becomes available.
Two fires in less than 2 years at our nitrate vaults in Suitland have made it clear that we would have been wiser to spend more of our scarce preservation funds on nitrate conversion in recent years even at the cost of deferring other needed preservation work on badly deteriorating records.
On the other hand, we have stored film in these specially constructed vaults since 1949 and until August 1977 Avithout incident. Based on nearly 30 years of nitrate storage experience, we felt the risk of suffering a severe loss from fire was minimal.
Our nitrate holding-s have been kept in two specially constructed buildings, A and C, each containing 27 vaults, in Suitland. A third building, building B, is used for similar purposes by the Library nf Congress.
The compartmentalized vaults — each equipped with a blowout panel — were designed to confine any fire to a single vault area.