Glass plate negatives were the first mass-produced, ready-to-use film made available to photographers. While a glass plate negative can be durable and resistant to changes in temperature and humidity, it is important to follow guidelines for storage and handling to ensure their preservation.

How to Preserve Glass Plate Negatives

1. Always handle plates with two hands by the opposite edges, not the corners.
2. Wear gloves when handling glass plates to avoid leaving fingerprints on the glass or oils on the emulsion. Some recommend lint-free cotton; others recommend a synthetic glove, such as nitrile, to avoid slippage and snags.
3. Place the glass plate, emulsion side up, in a four-flap buffered enclosure. (Label the enclosure before placing the negative inside.)
4. Store glass plates vertically on their long side in an acid- and lignin-free buffered storage box.
5. Make sure that plates are not rubbing against each other and do not fill the box too tightly.
6. Use stiffeners made out of folder stock to separate individual negatives.
7. Label each box with contents and mark "Heavy" and "Glass Negatives: Handle with Care" on the label. This will warn everyone to be careful when lifting the box off a shelf.