Tip #23: Keep an eye and a nose on your film.

Written By Dmitri Schmidt

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll probably know that paper, when left to its own devices, will yellow and turn brittle. But did you know film can do something similar too?

Despite its nickname of “safety film,” acetate film is still subject to degradation if stored improperly. Exposure to moisture and heat (think back to tip #16 on environmental fluctuations) causes acetic acid to form. This acid, just like in paper, turns the film brittle, destroying the information preserved on it. As the film starts to deteriorate, it gives off a pungent vinegar smell, which is why this process is called Vinegar Syndrome.

For more on Vinegar Syndrome, stay tuned for our next archival tip! Can’t wait? Check out our AV preservation webinar on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtxDC7SPgW4

#ArchivalTips #BacklogArchivists #Conservation #Preservation

Dmitri Schmidt

Dmitri plays a pivotal role in coordinating Backlog’s outreach efforts. They curate our weekly #FridayFinds and #ArchivalTips social media posts, shedding light on items discovered in our genealogy work and providing tips and tricks to approaching problems in the archives.

Dmitri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and German Studies from Saint Louis University. During their university years, they dedicated over 1000 hours to interning and volunteering at local St. Louis institutions, including the St. Louis Science Center and the St. Louis University Museum of Art. As the Collections Intern at the Science Center, Dmitri assisted in developing and installing the "Into the Vault" exhibit.

Before joining Backlog, Dmitri served as a Fulbright Grantee, teaching English as a second language in former East Germany. From guiding 11th graders in analyzing pop albums as poetry to discussing the significance of the civil rights movement with 8th graders, they covered a broad spectrum of subjects. While reveling in connecting with students and injecting fun into grammar lessons, Dmitri's deep passion for all things archival eventually drew them back home.

Today, Dmitri works as a Herbarium Assistant at the Missouri Botanical Garden, helping digitize the millions of preserved plant specimens. After being scanned and transcribed, these images aid scholars around the globe in furthering botanical research. Dmitri also serves as the archivist for the Kirkwood Historical Society. They are currently overseeing the “Journeys into Kirkwood’s History” project, which aims to digitize documents related to Kirkwood’s early Black settlements.

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Archival Supplies: What They Are, What to Avoid, and Why It Matters