The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 18, May 1, 2005, Article 2

ANS PHOTOFILES SAFE AND SOUND

Last week I questioned a report that a substantial portion of
the American Numismatic Society's photo archives had been
destroyed. I am pleased to report that, no, it ain't so. Joe
Ciccone, ANS Archivist writes:

“The E-Sylum recently published an unconfirmed and erroneous
rumor in which it was alleged that the ANS had destroyed much
of its photographic archives. The truth is quite the contrary:
these archives are alive and well. In fact, we recently began a
digitization effort to ensure the preservation of these images
while also enhancing their accessibility. Anyone who wants to
know the true state of the Society#39;s institutional archives can
visit our website at: amnumsoc.org/archives.

The staff and management of the ANS deeply cherish the
Society#39;s history – one of the reasons they hired an institutional
archivist – and certainly would not permit the destruction of a
substantial portion of the Society#39;s historical records.

Admittedly, in the spring of 2004 an inspection by the New York
Fire Department revealed that certain negatives from the 1940s
had deteriorated to the point where they were unstable and
therefore and not legal to house on the ANS premises. As a
result, the New York City fire department removed them for
reasons of health and safety. These negatives contained images
of only the collections of the Hispanic Society. Photographic
prints of the negatives were made, which both societies own.
Thus no information was lost, and these negatives represented
only a small fraction of the Society#39;s photographic holdings,
which actually date to the 19th century, not the 1940s as was
erroneously reported.

Much of the unnecessary concern and confusion which
resulted from the rumor#39;s publication could have been avoided
had the ANS simply been contacted. Please come and visit
the ANS collections."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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