VRA Conference 2007, Kansas City

35mm Slide Collections: Retention Criteria, Preservation Issues, and Donation Ideas

Seminar 2: Wednesday, March 28, 9:00 AM-10:30 AM, Salon 1B

What should happen to the 35mm slides that have been the mainstay of visual resources collections for the past 25 years?  As collections move increasingly towards digital media, how can curators best judge what 35mm slides to keep and what to discard?  How can we best preserve the slides we do keep?  Can we donate de-accessioned slides in a meaningful and legal manner?

This panel will examine the 35mm slide collection in transition.  We will discuss ideas for retention criteria, best practices for preserving slides and housing them in VR facilities of the 21st century, and some avenues for donation of discarded material.

Notes from the meeting

Organizer: Heather Seneff, University of Washington

Moderator: Eileen Fry, Indiana University

Participants

Eileen Fry, Indiana University
presentation
Jenni Rodda, New York University, Institute of Fine Arts 
presentation
Heather Seneff, University of Washington
presentation, policy examples

Contributors:

Marianne C. Martin, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation   
Collection appraisal guidelines
Meghan Dougherty, University of Washington
Preservation issues handout
Sara Jane Pearman, Cleveland Art Museum (retired)
transcript of interview