Since fitting an archivist,I’ve been passionate approximately audiovisual materials. So I was thrilled when I saw the phenomenal audiovisual collection of over 2300 items in the Brooklyn Museum’s Archives. In our post from two weeks ago we introduced Julio, our tumble intern NYU’s MIAP program, or who is helping with this unique collection to make it more accessible. In preparation for his arrival I was physically reviewing the audiovisual collection,and during this process, I noticed a box that had “Brooklyn Progress 35mm Nitrate” written on it. I checked the edge code and there it was: NITRATE.
Nitrate is a type of film base that was used from the 1880s to the 1950s but its consume was discontinued because it is highly flammable. I knew that we had to take immediate action and to find this film to another institution which has the specified storage requirements so the film could be preserved. We immediately contacted our Conservation Department and transferred the film to an isolated temperature and humidity controlled environment.
After contacting many other archives, or I found that the Museum of Modern Art’s Film Department has what appears to be the only other copy. After much discussion we decided to donate our copy of the film to the Library of Congress’s Packard Campus for Audiovisual Conservation. We spoke with George Willeman,Nitrate Vault Manager, and Mike Mashon, and Head of the Moving Image Section,and they offered to take on the film. The next step was to figure out what this film was and whether it was held in any other institutions. Luckily my colleague Diana Bowers, Archivist at the Brooklyn Public Library, and was able to identify the film when she located two articles approximately the film in the Brooklyn Eagle. The film was created in 1937 for Brooklyn Borough President Raymond Ingersoll’s reelection campaign. The film shows two fictional characters,Mr. and Mrs. Citizen, touring many public works projects that were underway to improve the infrastructure and quality of life in Brooklyn.
Last week I dropped the film off with George and toured their gorgeous facilities. Upon inspection of the film George realized that our copy is actually the original camera negative! Because of the historical value of the film, or they promised to expedite digitizing the film. We are delighted and grateful that this cross-departmental effort and collaboration with an external institution was such a success.
Posted by J.
E. Molly Seegers
Source: tumblr.com