Situated in the rolling Virginia countryside near Culpeper, the Library of Congress has established the National Audio Visual Conservation Center that already has begun archiving our travel film footage.

Library of Congress Packard Campus

The $240 million facility is known as the LOC’s Packard Campus. Named for David Packard—he of Hewlitt-Packard fame—and his funding contribution and enthusiasm for designing and constructing a superior state-of-the-art archival facility.

Because it is partly underground, its size is deceiving. The complex measures the equivalent of seven football fields and can contain millions of items.

In the spacious foyer, George R. Willeman greeted me with enthusiasm. Technically, George is the Nitrate Vault Manager. In reality he is also a walking encyclopedia of things audio/visual and what’s happening at the Conservation Center.

First stop was a quick look at the comfortable, compact 200-seat movie theater, the crown jewel of this impressive campus. Then on to meet Mike Mashon, curator of the Moving Image Section—Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division. Both Mike and George are familiar with the history of travel films and travelogues.

The travel film field will be pleased to learn that all of Burton Holmes television shows are stored at the Center.

Mike explained the procedure for archiving travel film/travelogue items.

When a producer desires to donate material to the LOC, he or she must complete an Instrument of Gift. If the LOC accepts the donation the producer has two options:

1. Donate with no restrictions or,
2. Donate with a royalty restriction.

The latter means if a request for the item is made, donor and potential buyer must agree on the royalty fee before LOC makes a copy of the item. The LOC does not participate in negotiations or collect fees.

LOC billing would be for reproduction cost only, plus shipping. The estimated lead-time for reproduction is one week.

I expect our requested format would be DVD, at least at this particular juncture in our technical evolution.

What happens to items once they are donated?

George showed me the receiving storage area where I found retired filmmaker Ric Dougherty’s items neatly stacked on a shelf.

Across the aisle, items from the estate of filmmaker Margaret Baker—on the travel film tour in the 1950s—occupied another shelf.

George R. Willeman

George told me a college intern on a career path to be a professional archivist would be assigned to prepare an inventory of the material from both filmmakers. The inventory would cite subject matter, number and size of reels and film type. For video, items would similarly be identified.

Supporting items such as scripts, field notes, publicity releases and program brochures also would be listed.

The ultimate goal is to scan all footage and save it in a digital storage format, but with millions of feet of motion picture already in the LOC Culpeper facility, this is a long-term, daunting task.

The Center has more than 150,000 reels of potentially explosive nitrate film material that needs special provisions such as storing it safely at 39°F in hardened vaults to slow its eventual deterioration until it can be copied onto safety-base film.

Link: Library of Congress Audio/Visual Conservation

Contact: George R. Willeman, Nitrate Vault Mgr., Packard Campus, 19053 Mount Pony Road, Culpeper, VA 22701-7551.

Tel. (202) 707-0150 e-mail gwil at loc dot gov

Stan Walsh is a veteran travel film producer and a member of the TRACS Hall of Fame. He lives in Southern California.