A presidential library had a collection of nitrate film photos that were in dire need of service. The photos—dated from the mid-1800’s—were deteriorating rapidly and needed to be cataloged and digitized. Adding complexity to the project was that the photos were all shot on nitrate film, which is fragile and highly flammable.

Assets were housed at the presidential library’s archive, so the first step was for PRO‑TEK to arrange for the historical items to be sent to our nitrate service center in Burbank, CA. We sent a certified technician to the presidential library to complete necessary documentation and package the collection in appropriate containers that meet the specific regulatory standards.

We then arranged for an authorized shipping company to transport the materials. Once the assets were in-house, our team worked with the presidential library staff to established standards for image identification and physical condition assessment.

We then implemented a metadata schema for naming and tagging the images for searchability and future access then used that schema for entry of all cataloged footage directly into our asset management system. Photos were then digitized the film using our high-resolution film scanners. Digital files were transferred to the library’s data center.

A presidential library preserved images of historical value for the education and enjoyment of future generations. And by digitizing & eliminating redundant and unneeded images that were dangerous to store, the library eliminated the risks and  costs of maintaining a nitrate film archive.