Preservation Microfilming: The Challenges of Saving a Collection at Risk

This case study describes Amherst College Archives' experience with the Dwight W. Morrow Papers Preservation Microfilming Project. The authors consider the factors in the managerial decision to commit to a preservation-microfilming project; outline the project management and activities; describe the unanticipated challenges encountered and the solutions that were reached through creative problem solving; and analyze the outcome of the project. The study should be particularly useful for small and medium-size archives that have active programs and limited staff and resources and that are considering similar projects. Practical recommendations for similar projects are offered. An appendix to the article gives cumulative statistics documenting manuscript preservation-microfilming tasks.