Understanding the challenges associated with digitising and storing a private family-based photography collection in Cape Town

Abstract

Photographic materials within the familial context are more than just mere objects. They represent priceless memories that are susceptible to material degradation. State institutions within the Arts in South Africa are generally found to be underfunded and understaffed, and find themselves struggling to caretake even conventional objects. Photographs and negatives are some of the most difficult objects to preserve because of their vulnerability to their storage environment, as well as, the autocatalytic degradation behaviour / aging of older negatives. This research will be focused on the condition assessment of a sample selection of negatives within the author’s personal family photographic collection, as well as, the digitisation and appropriate storage with a focus on prolonging the longevity of the collection as a whole, in a sustainable manner. It is the author’s intention that this paper can be used as a starting point for other South Africans hoping to do the same.