The Abraham Lincoln Glass Plate Negative: George Eastman House
I’ve been thinking about my recent digitization efforts working with ScanCafe.com and how it has been a long process to have every single image that my Grandpa, Gene Buel, owned made into TIFF files. Besides just having them scanned, ScanCafe.com has also restored some select images for me, too.
I’ve recently discovered that the George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film, has a series of free podcasts. They have a really cool 5 minute podcast on restoring the Abraham Lincoln glass plate negative. Gene has mostly transferred his glass plate stuff to all 35 mm (and some other assorted sizes) and the digitization effort is a very straightforward process. It boggles my mind to think about what goes into restoring something as damaged and as historically significant as the Lincoln negative.
Grant Romer discusses his department’s conservation of the Lincoln glass plate negative. Mr. Romer is the director of the Advanced Residency Program in Photograph Conservation Photo Conservation Department at George Eastman House, International Center of Photography and Film. His discussion of the Museum’s work with the negative helps us understand the importance of preserving historically significant and unique photographic artifacts from our past, for our future.
You may or may not know, but I love the history of the American Civil War. (I have an earlier entry on the new visitor’s center at Gettysburg and I also plan a visit to President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldier’s Home in Washington D.C.). So, this podcast really intersects two of my interests very nicely. Enjoy!