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Appendix: Update on the Filming of "Justice indigène"

November 1997--July 1999

Dr. Joseph Caruso
African Studies Librarian
Columbia University

• Archives Nationales du Sénégal--ANS (National Archives of Senegal)---"Justice indigène, sous série 6M"
  
  • November 1997: 143 reels of negative film ("Part 1") were received from ANS at the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Chicago, Illinois. Test results at CRL showed the master negative to be of high quality. A second negative and a positive copy were ordered.
    
    
  • December 1997: The ANS began "Part 2" of the original filming of "Justice indigène, sous série 6M".
    
    
  • January 1998: The ANS reported problems with the pump in their developer.
    
    
  • February 1998: The ANS reported that the developer had been repaired and that a duplicating machine and special duplicating film had been acquired. The ANS would attempt to produce its own negative and positive copies following the completion of original filming.
    
    
  • August 1998: The 143-reel master negative ("Part 1") was finally returned to ANS.
    
    
  • October 1998: The ANS reported the completion of the original filming of "Part 2" of the collection. However, the ANS staff now reported that they need assistance in duplication.
    
    
  • December 1998 - January 1999: The ANS shipped 62 reels (master negative film of "Part 2") to CRL.
    
    
  • February - April 1999: The master negative of "Part 2" of the collection was received at CRL. 3 sample reels were tested by consultant from University Microfilms International (UMI) with acceptable results. A second negative and two positive copies of "Part 2" have been ordered. The original negative and 1 positive copy was subsequently sent back to the National Archives of Senegal. Plans were also under way for a microfilming training session at ANS in the summer of 1999.
    
    
  • July 1999: A 4-day basic training in micrography for 2 film technicians and 1 archivist was held on-site at the National Archives of Senegal, Dakar. Robert Mottice of Bell and Howell was the training consultant and film lab inspector. The training consisted of lectures and laboratory exercises on the principles and standards of microfilm preservation, film lab procedures, filming techniques, and film developing. The lectures and instructions were conducted in English, with French language translation. A local interpreter/translator was engaged for the sessions. Documentation in English was provided. Subsequently, the documentation was translated into French. The sample films that were produced using the two camera set-ups and the developing equipment in the lab were later tested at Bell and Howell. The results suggested more frequent testing of the camera set-ups and the cameras themselves, and more training on the use of the processor, the densitometer, and the duplicator. Robert Mottice submitted a brief report subsequent to the training sessions in which he urged for more investment in equipment, training, and better environmental controls.