We had a few of these in freezer storage. Unknown to staff, the freezer lost its cooling power in between the weekly checks.  For a period of possibly six days, these remained sealed in the freezer. They had white fuzzy stuff growing on the edges when we discovered them. Fortunately, the images remained clear.

 

I don’t know the exact solution to the freezer kits, but you will probably want to have some sort of air circulation. I am most definitely not a conservator of photographs/negatives. However, I do know what happened to us.

 

Good luck and I hope you have some dry weather in your forecast!

Lisa

 

Lisa Shockley, Collections Technician

Union Station/Kansas City Museum

30 W. Pershing Road

Kansas City, MO 64108

 

816-460-2055

 

"Where there is Peace; there is Culture;

Where there is Culture; there is Peace."

Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947)

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David E. Haberstich
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 9:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Freezer storage question

 

I need some advice from colleagues, especially conservators.  As some of you know, the National Museum of American History has been without electricity since Monday, due to the flooding in Washington.  We've had limited access to the facility for cleanup (in the dark).  I have acetate photographic negatives in freezer (standard frost-free units) storage, using Metal Edge insulated freezer kits.  I'm a little confused about whether we should leave the packages in the freezers with the doors closed while the power is off.  Should the doors be opened?  Should the packages be removed from the units?  Bear in mind that we don't know exactly when the power will return--it could be in the middle of the night.  Can you think of reasons not to leave the negatives in the freezer as they are, with the doors closed, awaiting the return of electricity?

 

David Haberstich

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

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