Reclaiming the Castle: a Case Study in Nitrate Film Preservation

This practical thesis examines the preservation workflow of collections of cellulose nitrate films at the Library of Congress NAVCC (National Audiovisual Conservation Center), and aims to offer a practical description of specific preservation contexts at the NAVCC. Through an analysis of the preservation workflow, which includes inspection, identification, handling, and storage, this research highlights the complexities involved in safeguarding this collection, which falls under the broad categorization of ephemeral films — defined by Rick Prelinger as industrial, advertising, educational and amateur movies pushed to the margins of film history. Drawing on primary sources and case studies, the project sheds light on the challenges faced by institutions preserving nitrate film collections – in particular, staffing limitations and limited vault space availability. Keywords: nitrate film preservation, Library of Congress NAVCC, preservation workflow, archival institutions, staffing challenges, material limitations, cultural artifacts.