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)

465. 16 As you can see in attachment 5, Washington Film Laboratory. Inc. (R72-0287, R73-0093, R74-0032, R76-0053, R76-0058, and R76-1417) did work for us. Washington Film Laboratory converted to Bono Film Laboratory in 1977 (R77-0123, R78 -0029, TF-7900G7, TF79-0146, and TF79-0608. (Washington Film Lab. totaling $89,200) Bono Film Lab. totaling $375,000. Total $464,200. 51. The Audiovisual Archives Division said that it was having trouble processing still pictures because its work could be delayed when the Office of Presidential Libraries or NNPP had a big work order in the laboratory. Is this still a problem? N'o. This problem has been solved, and in general the standard photographic still picture preservation activities are progressing satisfactorily. The one problem that remains is that tlie lab has not received the special equipment, similar to the type of scanner and 105mm film system that is now being adapted for use in copying 10" nitrate aerial film, which will enable it to prepare preservation copies of nitrate and glass negatives at a cost significantly below that of the standard photographic processes. Once the aerial project is underway, NAPP will be able to devote its attention to applying this approach to copying still picture negatives. 52. The Division was anxious to finish converting the aerial film to make space in vaults for nitrate motion pictures. Kow much space does the film take up? The nitrate film referred to consisted of approximately 1,120 cubic feet of March of Time footage which could not be shelved in Building C because of the aerial film. It was necessary to store the motion picture film on the floors of the vaults. Currently, nitrate aerial film occupies 17? vaults principally in Building C. Each vault contains 850-1,000 roUs or 170-200 cubic feet. ►' 53. The Preservation Services Division was laying out its laboratories to separate NATT and NAT^T operations, and as a consequence, to increase motion-picture capacity by 250,000 to a total of 850,000 feet. Have the laboratories since been rearranged to increase capacity for the currrent crash program to convert nitrate film? The laboratories have been rearranged, three additional people added and equipment reengineered, resulting in increasing NARS nitrate film conversion capacity from approximately 1.5 million feet in 1977 to approximately 4 million feet per year. 54. A problem had turned up in copying still pictures because safety film manufactured during the 1950's and perhaps the 1960's had a thin nitrate layer that caused the base to separate from the emulsion. Has this problem been solved? Safety film made between 1935 and 1965 contained organic materials called plasticizers in the base. These plasticizers, sometimes comprising as much as 25 percent of the base, evaporate slowly over the years and the base (whether microfilm or cut sheet) shrinks as much as 0 to 10 percent. Since all film made by any manufacturer during these years was so compounded, aU of the collections are subject to this film base shrinkage. The base shrinkage results in emulsion wrin'des . We have developed a technique that allows these films to be salvaged but it is labor intensive at the moment. ; 55. The report mentioned that NATT had no reason to expand its laboratory capacity and that the Office of the National Archives accepted this position. Does this lack of coordination between the Office of the National Archives and the T^xecutive Director persist, particularly in converting motion picture film an-i still pictures from nitrate to safety base? No. See response to Question 53 above.