General Information
Genthe photographed his subjects in both black-and-white and color,
using a variety of formats. Photographic negatives are made of an
image-forming substance or emulsion, which is coated onto a base or
support. The bases found in the Genthe collection are either
glass, nitrate film (nitrocellulose), or safety film (cellulose
acetate). Each type of negative base has a different aging process
with a unique pattern of deterioration. Other factors may also
influence the rate of deterioration: manufacture, storage
conditions, handling, and film processing.
Conditions of the original negatives vary. Some images are
pristine; others are obscured in varying degrees by deterioration.
The following examples are categorized by specific film type and
show typical examples of deterioration. They are ordered from best
to worst condition with the progressive stages of deterioration
shown together in one frame at the end of each section.
In some cases, the deterioration is so great that the negatives
can no longer be printed. The identifying information provided for
each image in the introduction may be used to locate bibliographic
records within the Genthe collection catalog. These bibliographic
records provide the titles, dates, and descriptions for individual
photographs as well as characterize the condition of the original
negatives. Consult these individual catalog records for
reproduction availability.
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