Photocopying photographs

We have an individual on our staff in Special Collections who attended
an annual seminar at the George Eastman House on the Preservation of
Photographs.

When she returned we were horrified to find out that *any* kind of
photocopying of photographs results in irreversible damage to the
photograph!!

(Especially sad since we used to allow this.)  I can't tell you the
exact chemical names, but somehow the light in the photocopying machine
causes a chemical reaction, even in 100-year old photos.  If I remember
correctly (and I may not) the chemical reaction is of the same type that
"stop" fluid is used to halt.

This co-worker of mine said the seminar was very informative.  They
offer it every year during the summer for about a week.

Bob Kosovsky
New York Public Library--Music Division

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 4:58
                  Distributed: Saturday, May 11, 1991
                        Message Id: cdl-4-58-001
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