SIXTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 29 



can Indians. The file had its origin with the famous "Jackson" col- 

 lection of over 1,000 negatives which was brought to the Bureau by 

 Major Powell from the directorship of the United States Geological 

 Survey. This unique and valuable group has been supplemented by 

 about 11,000 additional negatives obtained from various sources in- 

 cluding the field trips of the first 40 years, the exposures made in 

 Washington of the visiting Indian delegations, gifts, and purchases. 

 Nowhere else in this country is there a more complete photographic 

 record of the Indians who figured prominently in peace and war 

 during the important opening of the West in the nineteenth century. 

 In several instances the only known photographs of important char- 

 acters of this period are in this collection. 



The great bulk of this collection was made before 1900 in the early 

 days of photography, and often under extremely adverse field condi- 

 tions of heat and bulky weight. These factors have contributed toward 

 a deterioration of the negative image. This deterioration fortunately 

 has started around the edges of the negative and is progressing toward 

 the center, still leaving the figure and facial characteristics quite legi- 

 ble. However, if allowed to go on unchecked this collection will have 

 disintegrated unto uselessness. 



During this fiscal year it was determined to inaugurate a systematic 

 program of restoration and preservation of this unique collection. The 

 continuous demand for reprints from these negatives, especially those 

 being used for publication, made this restoration imperative. 



In February 1947 the services of a photographer, John O. Brostrup, 

 were obtained. The photographer and the scientific illustrator have 

 begun the program of restoration and preservation of these negatives. 

 The following system was devised and is being used in this work : 



(1) Chemical improvement and cleaning of the original negative. 

 (2) Making a uniform enlarged print from the original negative, 

 cropping out destroyed and objectionable background areas. (3) Res- 

 toration of missing areas, and improvement of backgrounds by the 

 scientific illustrator with the minimum alteration necessary to pre- 

 serve faithfully the original negative. (4) Copying the restored en- 

 largement to uniform 8 by 10 inch size. (5) Printing of permanent 

 file prints. 



All the processing is being carried out with the intent of insuring as 

 great a degree of permanence as possible. 



First priority is being given those negatives which are needed to 

 supply prints for pay orders, i. e., those for which there is an imme- 

 diate demand. Second priority are those negatives which are in the 

 most advanced stages of deterioration. 



At the beginning of the work in February an inspection was made 

 ^ of each negative, and those requiring early restoration were listed. 



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