M' Castelaz1, D' Cline1, E' Griffin2, W' Osborn3

1
Preserving America's Astronomical Photographic
Heritage - Phase 1
M. Castelaz1, D. Cline1, E. Griffin2, W.
Osborn3 1PARI 2Dominion Astrophysical
Observatory 3Central Michigan University
Not-for-profit public foundation
Session 91.01 Wednesday, January 12, 2005. AAS
205th Meeting
www.pari.edu
Storage
Introduction

• Storage Environment for photographic plates will
  have fairly constant temperature and humidity.
• Storage Space at PARI is already equipped with an
  adequate air-conditioning system and a solid
  foundation for firm, long-term storage.
• Storage Enclosures. Plate envelopes that are
  damaged or corrosive will be replaced by acid-
  and lignin-free ones. In those cases, original
  envelopes will be kept separated from the plates.
• Storage Systems. Collections will be maintained
  in the original storage cabinets. Collections
  without adequate cabinets will be stored on steel
  shelving.
• Plate cleaning. Emulsion sides will not be
  touched, identification marks will be preserved.
• Plate Copies. Plates deemed to be severely at
  risk such as
• broken plates
• plates with emulsion peel
• plates with fungal growth
• will be copied photographically as soon as
  feasible.

• Our shared heritage of some 3 million
  photographic observations is seriously in
  jeopardy, and astronomy may well lose vital,
  unrepeatable data dating back over a century.
• A call for preservation of astronomical plates
  has been made by the international astronomical
  community.
• This project is in response, and aims to
  establish a national archive for astronomical
  plates at the Pisgah Astronomical Research
  Institute (PARI) that will
• Ensure the preservation of North Americas
  astronomical photographic heritage (Phase 1) and
• digitize selections of those collections (Phase
  2)
• We describe details of the storage, cleaning and
  cataloging procedures that have been planned for
  Phase 1, and provide an overview of what is
  anticipated for Phase 2.

KPNO 4-m Plate
Basic Steps

• Prepare the storage areas.
• Appraise all U.S. collections.
• Test methods for handling, cleaning, preserving
  and re-storing damaged plates.
• Develop on-line database and finding aid
  including log-book and card index sorting.
• Adopt IAU cataloging and meta-data standards
  where they exist.
• Furnish a laboratory for plate examination and
  measurement.

Phase 2 and Beyond

• Select appropriate digitizing methods and
  equipment.
• Digitize selected collections or sub-sets.
• Continue plate storage and preservation so that
  every USA collection has a guaranteed safe future
  either at home or PARI.
• Establish the PARI preservation and digitizing
  scheme for astronomy world-wide.

PARI Located in Western North Carolina 200
acres Former NASA Tracking Station
Phase 1

• Establish list of priorities for US collections
  at risk.
• Receive at-risk/unwanted collections at PARI.
• File and enter into database.
• Scan log-books, observing note-books,
  manuscripts.
• Provide public access to completed catalogs.
• Hold a workshop at PARI to review achievements
  and plan for Phase 2.

See http//www.pari.edu/p00_content_display00.asp?
ID3 for more information