Digitizing collections: a reflection on negative archive collections, prioritizing procedures and what is lost

A common practice today, for photograph collections, is to create images databases available (or not) on-line. Usually, this is regarded as an added value to the collection, especially for making it available outside its community. This paper focuses on the values that define and prioritize the digitizing process of negative photograph archive collections. A reflection is made on the effects of mass digitization, how are the negatives being represented in their digitized versions and what does this mean for future generations. In this digital age, when the knowledge about historical photographic processes has become the knowledge of experts, the need for complete and comprehensive records is paramount to ensure the passing on of knowledge and, consequently, the preservation of the negative collections.