Protecting the Nitrate Film Heritage

FAIN: PF-266767-19

George Eastman Museum (Rochester, NY 14607-2219)
Paolo Cherchi Usai (Project Director: January 2019 to January 2021)
Peter Bagrov (Project Director: January 2021 to present)

Installation of an exterior metal panel system and environmental control system at the George Eastman Museum’s Louis B. Mayer Conservation Center. These improvements would provide the necessary long-term preservation environment for the museum’s 90,000-item nitrate film collection and minimize the risk of catastrophic loss due to fluctuating temperature and relative humidity.

The George Eastman Museum requests a grant of $340,615 as part of a total project of $683,732 to upgrade the environmental systems at its Louis B. Mayer Conservation Center where the significant and rare collection of 35mm nitrate-based film and photographic materials are at risk from chemical damage due to system breakdowns caused by extreme weather and equipment failures. The collection represents the work of internationally acclaimed cinema and photographic artists. The project will add resilience to the structure and minimize the risk of film decomposition and the potential for fire by: improving the exterior insulation of the building envelope; installing a robust back-up generator; and installing an air recovery system. These improvements will ensure the safety and integrity of these unique collections. The project will commence October 1, 2019 and will be completed by September 30, 2021.