worst enemy of a photograph. Current research at the time was indicating
storage humidities of between 20 and 40% as desirable. He did say that
the ultimate would be a dry, cold, dark chamber would be best as a storage
facility. Frankly, I agree that works of art are meant to be seen. Museums
can be reasonable about it and try to maintain lower humidities and use
low level incandesent lighting. I would also like to point out that much
of what is done to preserve photographs, e.g. acid free matts and storage
boxes, UV filters on lights and in frames, dehumidifiers etc., is good but
it is also very expensive. Some archives cannot afford it or can afford
only part of it so the question becomes, "what do we preserve?" Conservation
is a relatively new field and was not taught as a general rule in library
schools until about two decades ago. Also we seem to be learning as we
go along. For example, I recently heard that modern RC papers may not
be so bad, archivally speaking, as everyone thought. Has anyone else
heard this?
***************************************************************************
R.W. Schramm
Depts. of Physics and Art
West Liberty State College
West Liberty, WV 26074
schrammr@wlsvax.wvnet.edu