Until you replace the non-archival envelopes you may wish to store the
negatives in regular (but new) cardboard file storage boxes. If the old
cardboard boxes are decidely moldy the current current envelopes will
likely have been contaminated  - no need to contaminate the expensive
archival boxes as well.

At 01:03 PM 12/2/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Help!  We are being given a collection of thousands of old negatives dating
>from the late nineteen-thirties to the nineteen-seventies.  They are all
>stored in decidedly non-archival paper envelopes inside old, moldy
>corrugated cardboard file boxes.  Until the information written on the
>envelopes is copied or otherwise transcribed, the negs cannot be
>transferred to new ones; however, we will be putting them into new boxes.
>My question is:  Buffered or unbuffered?  University Products and Gaylord
>both specify unbuffered boxes for negative storage; Hollinger says
>buffered.  Due to budgetary constraints, we would like to use these boxes
>for permanent storage of the collection once the negatives are transferred
>to archival sleeves and envelopes, but that is probably far down the road.
>
>Of course, I need your advice yesterday, since I found out today these
>things are probably going to be picked up next week.  Many thanks for any
>suggestions you can offer.
>Anne T. Lane
>Curatorial Assistant
>Museum of York County
>4621 Mount Gallant Road
>Rock Hill, SC 29715
>803-329-2121, ext 104
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