FOR RELEASE: The Colorado Questers recently awarded a $1,200 grant to their Arvilla Meeker Chapter on behalf of the City of Greeley Museums to purchase a sub-zero freezer for nitrate negative storage. The freezer will store over 1,000 nitrate negatives representing the work of professional photographers who documented Greeley and Weld County’s architectural and agricultural heritage from 1910 to 1950.
Cellulose nitrate film negatives deteriorate over time unless stored in a consistently low temperature. Deteriorating nitrate film is highly flammable and can independently combust. Cold storage is the only safe way to stop the deterioration process.
The freezer will also accommodate new donations of historical nitrate negatives.
“The historical content of the museum’s negatives is rich and irreplaceable and the goal is to digitize and preserve them in perpetuity, rather than destroy them,” says Peggy Ford Waldo, development curator for the City of Greeley Museums.
According to Norma Lord, grants chairman of the local chapter, “The Arvilla Meeker Chapter #802 submitted this proposal to the Colorado Questers. In addition to the Colorado Questers grant, the Friends of the Greeley Museums and the Arvilla Meeker Chapter pledged an additional $500 each to secure a freezer that meets museum standards.”
“We are delighted to receive this grant as the freezer has been on the Collections’ staff wish list for many years,” said Museum Manager Dan Perry. “Chapter #802 has initiated several successful grant-funded projects for the City of Greeley Museums and its members have served on the Museums’ Advisory Board and as docents and volunteers. We are very appreciative of their support.”
The goal of the Questers, a national study club, is to stimulate the appreciation and collecting of antiques and to encourage the preservation of historical landmarks.
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Photo (Left to Right): Museums Manager Dan Perry and Curator of Collections Sarah Saxe receive a check from Norma Lord and Deanna Holmes on behalf of the Arvilla Meeker Chapter of the Colorado Questers.