Re: Archival photocopies

[P3D Bob Wier <wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's kind of an interesting posting regarding archival permanence
from the photo-gen list...

     mailto:wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    11:52 PM Wednesday, April 16, 1997
     Texas A & M University - Commerce
 keeper of the Photo-3d,  Overland-Trails
ICOM radio and LDS State Research Outline Guides
      "Heisenberg may have slept here. . ."=20



>Gary Luke asked:
>>What paper etc should be used to make photocopies for archival purposes.
>>
>>We have some old family letters which we want to copy for an archive.
>>I've read somewhere that there is suitable acid free paper, but I'm not
>>sure if the normal toner and copy machines are suitable.
>
>There are many papers on the market that are suitable. Several of the=
 national preservation vendors carry it under such names as PermaLife and=
 PermaDur. Try=20
>Conservation Resources International at  1-800- 634-6932
>Light Impressions at  1-800-828-6216
>University Products  To order: 1-800- 628-1912
>       For service & questions:1-800- 762-1165=20
>In addition to national vendors, local office suppliers sometimes carry an=
 "acid-free" paper, but don't count on their sales people to know anything=
 about it. Large photocopying shops may also carry some.=20
>
>In regards to equipment, the National Archives studied this sevaral years=
 ago. The target mentioned consists of a large completely black circle about=
 3" in circumference in the middle of the page with lines emanating from it=
 sort of like sunrays. The big circle is most important. You can create=
 something similar.  NARA's advice:
>
>Archival Photocopies
>
>The following is an excerpt from "Archival Copies of Thermofax, Verifax,=
 and Other Unstable Records" by Norvell M.M. Jones of the National Archives=
 and Records Administration. Some paper records are, by their very nature,=
 unstable and deteriorate quite rapidly. Producing an archival photocopy is=
 one option for preserving the information on such documents. The paper used=
 for photocopying must be archival, such as Xerox XXV Archival Bond or=
 PermaLife.   =20
>
>Evaluating  Xerographic  Images
>
>The quick on-site test procedure using a 3M drafting tape for evaluating=
 the adhesion quality of the xerographic image is described below. A special=
 test target  is used in this test.  It is important to use 3M #230 Drafting=
 Tape.  This tape has an adhesion to steel of 20 oz/in (22 N/100 mm).  This=
 tape should not tear the paper fibers from the paper surface when removing=
 the tape from the paper.
>
>
>1.     Pull one inch of tape from a roll of 3M #230 Drafting Tape and fold it=
 over onto itself so there is a non-sticky surface on which to hold.  Pull=
 another three inches off the roll and tear off the four-inch piece of tape.
>
>2.     Apply the tape to a xerographic copy of the test pattern so that it=
 covers  as much of the black ring as possible.
>
>3.     Rub the tape onto the test pattern five or six times with four fingers. =
 Do not rub the tape onto the image with thumb or fingernails.
>
>4.     Fold back the free end of the tape over against the remainder of the=
 tape strip.  Peel the tape strip off the paper by sliding the free end of=
 the tape over the rest of the tape while holding it flat against the page. =
 This is a 180 peel angle.
>
>5.     Examine the adhesive side of the tape strip.  If the curved image of the=
 test pattern can be detected at all, the copy fails the test.
>
>
>Michael McColgin
>Preservation Officer
>Arizona State Archives
>Phone:  (602) 542-4159
>Fax: (602) 542- 4402
>Internet:  mimccol@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>=20
>



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