AGING BLEMISHES ON MICROFILM NEGATIVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00163R000100050016-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 20, 2002
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: January 21, 1964
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release .2002/05/06 : CIA -R
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, b. C. 20405
January
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION CIRCULAR NO. 326
ureat, o Standards and the General Services .Administrat;n? T? n
the National Archives, Jul 17 1963, mee LLS at..
Y jointly sponsored by .the National
blemishes was discussed with agency records officers at a t'
Background. Blemishes have been discovered on nrocF,ssurl
press elease sated September 25, 1963, the Bureau stated:
''The chemical and physical nature of the defects is being
v
i
sti
n
e
gated by Bii
ureau scentsts as part of a continuing
graphic records. This research is of considerable importance
because of the exte
i
ns
ve use of microfil f th
more storage of
Go
e
v
rnment recd
ors.
i
-
n most, practical appli-
cations. f Thousands of rolls of microfilmed Government
records have bee
i
n
nspected by the Phthi R
oograpcesearch
S
ection of NBS dih
urng tis past year, and a widespread
incidence of defects was note Although, from the prac-
tical point of view, no information has been lost, even on
films 30 years old, it is considered important to learn
the nature of tcesc defects and, if possible, to prevent
their formation, in the future.
"The defects * * * occur in several forms. Some are
circular yellowish or reddish spots from one to six thou-
sandths of an inch in diameter. Some have concentric light
and dark rings. Others cause recorded lines or printed
letters to become lighter and broader. There are indica-
tions that the incidence of (these) defects depends upon the
Heads of Federal Agencies
11 sSUBJECT: Aging Blemishes on Microfilm Negatives
Approved For Release 2002/05/06 : CIA-RDP75-00163R000100050016-6
 conditions of processing and storage, The remarkable
ppTovsti u s easeaa~ l@ s f~- ~ 'c~ ~~3 ~, iq o i s-~
absence of such defects in a large collection of micrn.
study of the processing and storage conditions there,
"Some(of these) defects have been deliberately produced
in the laboratory by storing films in the presence of small
graph c industry.
being investigated in research laboratories in the photo
evidence of a biological cause. (These) defects are also
amounts,of gaseous chemicals. Scientists at the Armed
Recommended Action;, Pending the discovery of the cause of the
blemishes ishes and methods for their prevention, heads of Federal
agencies; having processed negative microfilm in their custody are
them. The Bureau publication wilt. ;>c: available on or al-,out
February 1, 1964.
on the nature of the blemishes and the methods of detecting
microfilm copies of vital records consigned to security storage
be inspected. The Bureau of Standards has prepared a handbook
Inspections. Samples from collections of negative microfilms
a noelin:ite
r egative rnicro_ i;.r of vital records scheduled for long-A or
code 13-36119.1 11.gencies also "hould conside . ,ositivt- i aies
Appraisal, Wa-;I i.gtori, D. C. 20408; telephone, 3ove r: -nt dia.,
positive film as soon ;l.s possible. (Question;) as to arch.valvalue'
National Archive i as having permanent value should be copied on,
blemishes have not been observed on positive microfilm, exist-
ing collections o:1" negative microfilm of records appraised by the
b. Positive Copies of Negative Microfilm Collections. Since aging
apparently free of aging blemi i s, ':;;A will c. ~.~.:nt c