AMIPA.org – Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association

Welcome to AMIPA.org

mission to save all Alaskan moving images.

AMIPA’s mission is: to collect, preserve, catalog and provide public access to Alaska’s sound and moving image material, and to encourage the ongoing documentation of Alaskans and Alaska events of historical importance; to provide knowledge and assistance to other archives, private collectors, producers, institutions, and the general public; to advocate on behalf of these materials; and to educate the public, government officials and civic leaders on the importance of preserving Alaska’s sound and moving image heritage.

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Support Alaska's Rich image history

By 1986, Alaska’s moving image heritage was in real danger of being lost. Budget cuts had closed many production facilities, and those that continued to produce made major reductions in staff and budgets. Libraries, museums and archives encountered the same difficulties. Institutions were no longer able to produce and protect Alaskan film, television and recorded sound materials.

Collections ended up in cardboard boxes, closets and improper storage areas, sometimes left for years with no attention given to temperature or humidity control, security, safety, or maintenance.

Because of the lack of documentation and finding aids, the public had little access to these materials. Few archivists and librarians were left in the major institutions to maintain and make these materials available to the public.

Into this climate AMIPA was born, organized as a private non-profit corporation in June 1991. Soon afterwards, AMIPA moved into the Grandview Gardens Cultural Center in Anchorage. Through public and private donations the collection quickly grew, and in 1997 AMIPA transitioned from an all-volunteer organization to one having a paid curatorial, technical and administrative staff. In September 2004, AMIPA entered into a preservation partnership with the UAA/APU Consortium Library; in October 2004 AMIPA moved into offices on the 3rd floor of the library; and during the spring of 2005 installed its 17,000-item collection into modern film and magnetic media vaults adjacent to the office space. The vaults feature temperature and humidity-control, air filtration, and a high level of security featuring motion-detection alarms and keypad-controlled entries.

longer able to produce and protect Alaskan film, television and recorded sound materials.Collections ended up in cardboard boxes, closets and improper storage areas, sometimes left for years with no attention given to temperature or humidity control, security, safety, or maintenance.

Take Action

Donations AMIPA gratefully accepts a variety of donations to assist us in our work, including: media collections, equipment, cash, stock and property. Media Collections Many personal issues should be considered before making a donation of your collection. Archives usually seek collections that will allow wide public access, and the future use or any possible restrictions the donor might require must be negotiated. A regional perspective informs our collecting decisions; and due to the great expense of preservation, not every collection offered finds a home with us. Please contact AMIPA's archivist Kevin Tripp to discuss a donation of your collection. Equipment We are interested in equipment of all types, especially antique or obsolete gear that has been used to record images in a known collection. Working condition may not be a factor, so please consider making a phone call so that we might have the opportunity to review the equipment you have. Financial Contributions Your contribution, in any amount, will help us expand our services and improve access to Alaska's priceless film, video and recorded sound. AMIPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your contributions are tax deductible and gratefully accepted. To make a financial contribution, please send your check or money order to: AMIPA Consortium Library 3211 Providence Drive Anchorage, AK 99508-4614

We also accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. To make a contribution using your credit card,

please call AMIPA: (907) 786-4980
Or you can donate online,

If you have any questions about these collections, or other collections that you believe might be in AMIPA’s vaults, please contact AMIPA Archivist Kevin Tripp at 907-786-4980, or via e-mail at: Kevin “at” amipa.org.

Film Preservation Methods

AMIPA regularly receives grants to fund preservation of films in its collections. What is meant by the term "preservation"? For film, this means making new film negatives and prints, and that can be a very expensive process. To begin with, we test all of the reels for signs of chemical decay, then put the films onto new cores and into new archival cans, made of special plastics that allow air to flow through the can, which keeps decay gases from building up and damaging the film. The film reels are then put back into storage in cabinets in our climate-controlled vault. They are then transferred to professional-quality Betacam SP videotape for easier access to the images, then VHS duplicates are made of the Betacam SP tapes for use as viewing copies. The rules for preserving films in archives also hold true for the home movies you might have stored in your closets or basements. Chemically speaking, the two worst enemies of motion picture film are heat and water, because the combination of the two is what causes the dreaded "vinegar syndrome," so-named because of the distinct odor which degrading film gives off. Despite all of the advances in film and video technology in recent years, the most important step in film preservation is also the most basic: keeping them in a cool and dry place (this is good news for those of us in Alaska, of course). If you haven't watched your films in a while (and most people haven't) running them through an old projector could do some irreparable harm to the films. Since VHS copies are generally easier to use for most home viewings, you might consider transferring your home movie films to video and keeping your films in storage, or consider donating them to AMIPA.

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Video Tape Is Not Forever...

Film & Video Preservation Tips Film Preservation Methods AMIPA regularly receives grants to fund preservation of films in its collections. What is meant by the term "preservation"? For film, this means making new film negatives and prints, and that can be a very expensive process. To begin with, we test all of the reels for signs of chemical decay, then put the films onto new cores and into new archival cans, made of special plastics that allow air to flow through the can, which keeps decay gases from building up and damaging the film. The film reels are then put back into storage in cabinets in our climate-controlled vault. They are then transferred to professional-quality Betacam SP videotape for easier access to the images, then VHS duplicates are made of the Betacam SP tapes for use as viewing copies. The rules for preserving films in archives also hold true for the home movies you might have stored in your closets or basements. Chemically speaking, the two worst enemies of motion picture film are heat and water, because the combination of the two is what causes the dreaded "vinegar syndrome," so-named because of the distinct odor which degrading film gives off. Despite all of the advances in film and video technology in recent years, the most important step in film preservation is also the most basic: keeping them in a cool and dry place (this is good news for those of us in Alaska, of course). If you haven't watched your films in a while (and most people haven't) running them through an old projector could do some irreparable harm to the films. Since VHS copies are generally easier to use for most home viewings, you might consider transferring your home movie films to video and keeping your films in storage, or consider donating them to AMIPA. Video Tape Is Not Forever... In fact, the oxides that coat the plastic ribbons inside those home video cassettes you buy may start to flake off in as little as five years. Even professional quality video tape stored in perfect conditions can begin showing signs of deterioration in ten years, and by 15-20 years you are at the outside edge of their ability to deliver an image without disintegrating. In fact, you may have only one playback pass left by that point! So, what is a home movie director to do? Control the Temperature Store your tapes in the coolest part of the house- 55 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal. Even if you do not have a place that cool, the most important thing to remember is that the tapes should be stored at a constant temperature with as little fluctuation as possible. Avoid storing near heaters, windows, or any place in the house that warms up to 75 degrees or more. Avoid Dust and Dirt Keep your cassettes in a cover. Plastic is best, but cardboard works too. Dust and debris can gunk up a tape quickly, not to mention what it does to your VCR. Avoid Humidity This is rarely an issue for most Alaskans because it is drier here. In general, a level of 50-percent humidity or lower, is acceptable. Of course, you want to keep your films and tapes away from any place where they could get wet. Store Video Vertically, Film Horizontally Laying a video cassette on its long, flat side will eventually cause the bottom side of the tape to warp. Film, on the other hand, should be stored on reels and in cans and laid horizontally. Rewind Your Tapes Don't eject your tapes in the middle. VCR’s occasionally damage tapes during the loading and unloading process, as arms reach in and pull the tape around the heads of the VCR. Wind to either the beginning or end of the tape prior to ejecting. Before recording a tape, fast wind once through the tape and rewind to get a good, even "pack." Transfer One of a Kind Tapes As tapes age, they must be copied onto new media, or "migrated", just as ageing film must. This is an important step in the future life of your valuable tapes. AMIPA can recommend the best solution for your needs and budget. Transfer Your Home Movies to Video... ..but don't throw them away! Having home video copies of your 8mm or Super 8 films made will allow you to watch them without running them through a projector and possibly damaging them. Chances are, though, that the original film reels will last longer than your video copy.