Turning Negatives into a Positive: Evaluating the Tradeoffs Processing, Digitizing, and Preserving Large-scale Collections of Photographic Negatives

Authors

Cory L. Nimer, Brigham Young University - UtahFollow
Karen Glenn, Brigham Young UniversityFollow
Lindsey Memory, Brigham Young UniversityFollow
Marissa Bischoff, Brigham Young UniversityFollow

Keywords

archives, photographs, negatives, digitization, preservation, archival processing

Abstract

Photographic negatives are unique artifacts. They have been collected at such a large scale, yet are technically challenging to process, digitize, and preserve. Collections of negatives present a number of difficult decisions and tradeoffs that should be better understood in order for all parties to steward these materials in a way that meets their access and preservation goals. This poster presents a case study from the BYU Library that addresses the issues encountered when processing and digitizing a large, fairly complete collection of photographic negatives from the university photographer's office.

Original Publication Citation

Presented at Society of American Archivists annual conference, August 2025

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Nimer, Cory L.; Glenn, Karen; Memory, Lindsey; and Bischoff, Marissa, "Turning Negatives into a Positive: Evaluating the Tradeoffs Processing, Digitizing, and Preserving Large-scale Collections of Photographic Negatives" (2025). Faculty Publications. 8104.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/8104

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2025-8

Language

English

College

Harold B. Lee Library

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Copyright Use Information

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/