P3D Re: Archival Storage

[Ron Fredrickson <RLF@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brad Richmond wrote:

>I agree with Ron, in part. Many photographs are lost because once the
>photographer expires and his/her work is tossed out. I have a neighbor who
>threw away hundreds of his fathers photographs of Kansas City windows that
>were shot in the 50's and 60's. If I had known, I would have gladly asked
>to keep that local history that is now lost. The sons only kept those
>photos that included family history, overlooking those that had no
>emotional connection. It's a shame.

Here in Kenosha several years ago there was an amateur photographer
(including stereo) named Ray Kransnoble. After his death his snapshots and
negatives of motor trips in the 20s and 30s somehow ended up at a flea
market and were purchased by a photojournalist. She found these to be
fascinating, and created a show which ended up in an exhibition at an art
museum. She didn't know what she was purchasing when she bought them but
decided they were a real treasure, deserving to be seen by other people. How
they got to the flea market no one seems to know, but the family obviously
didn't try to preserve them.  

Also from Brad:

>I also think that a poorly managed collection of photos will appear to have
>less value to heirs. If they are tossed in a shoe box, then one might
>assume that they have little value and out they go with the rest of the
>junk. If the photographs are catalogued and neatly filed (preferably in
>archival containers), then hopefully one who finds them will assume they
>have some value, thinking twice before discarding them.

Agreed. many of the slides which have reached me have come as a jumble of
slides thrown loosely into boxes, little yellow Kodak boxes, slide files,
etc. Only those from Ruth Bauer (some to be shown at the PSA Conference in
Orlando) were well organized by subject in custom-made Addressograph files,
with all slides in glass and labeled as to subject and date. That's why hers
were the first to be evaluated--- they were the easiest! 

Also from Brad:

>It would be wise to make sure your survivors appreciate the value of your
>photographs. One could put in writing that any photos that family members
>did not wish to keep should be donated to an organization such as PSA 3D to
>help preserve our three-dimensional history. 

As Historian for the PSA SD, my interest is in pictures of persons who were
active in PSA SD and helped to keep it the viable organization it is today.
Also of interest are their beautiful exhibition slides of yesteryear, and I
welcome those as well. However, it should be kept in mind that other stereo
endeavours should be preserved, and there is another repository for such
items--- the Oliver Wendell Holmes Research Library of the NSA.

Ron Fredrickson



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