Light Impressions carries alot of archiving materials. Maybe they will
have something that suits your friends needs. Isn't it Arizona
University in Tuscon that has a huge collection of archived
photography? Maybe someone there can pass a few tips along. I always
liked the feel of glassine myself, but have settled on the plastic
archival materials from various companies, in the hopes that they are
safe.

anything involving PCV is a big no, due to large amount of
plasticisers (phthalates), which can migrate and foul film strips.
Avoid anything that can release acidic vapours.
PE and PP seem to be OK, cos there is nothing except a polymer.
Waxed paper is OK, but I do not thing 'breathing' properties are so
important.
To make the whole story short - if it is good for color films, then it
should be good for BW films.

I use KLAME archival film filing & protection system sheets.

#A photographer friend of mine had insisted on using paper negative
#wallets to archive his negatives, his rationale being that the paper
#can "breathe" and therfore the enclosed negative will wether changes
in
#humidity better.  Now, his regular stockist won't carry paper
negative
#wallets anymore and he is trawling ebay to look for these things.
#
#I work in the printing industries and I am sure most PP/PE film are
not
#a moisture barrier unless a coating is applied.  So his preference
for
#paper is really redundant. However my friend won't be convinced so I
#thought I will leave him to it.
#
#My question is, is there any other good reasons for using paper
#negative wallet for archiving black and white negatives?  My friend
#only brought up the topic because he knows that I know some envelope
#makers who might be able to do a short production run just for his
#benefit.  I am willing to help, but perhaps only if there is a very
#good argument for all the efforts that is going to be involved
(mainly
#dust control).
#
#Another question, for those of you who use plastic negative wallets,
do
#you have any preferece for what material goes into protecting your
#negatives?  Any horror stories involving plastic negative holder? And
#Do anyone knows what museums do to archive photographic negatives?
#
#Many Thanks.
#
#Illicium

Paper negative wallets?  If he is using glassines that's the worst choice he
could make unless they are guaranteed to be archival and neutral pH.  I have
boxes of old glassines that have yellowed significantly in the 30 years I
have had my darkroom.  (I don't use them but hate to throw anything out.
Occasionally I have done copy work for local outfits where the "spec" is for
glassine sleeving of copy negatives, I'll haul out my old stock to show
them, usually they'll change their minds, if they don't I'll sleeve the
negatives in glassine after they sign a release.)

On the subject of envelopes, if he had envelopes made, his biggest concern
is the type of paper used but you also need to be aware that most envelope
gums are not archival either.  I wonder how many envelope companies will
change out the glue in the glue pots on their lines for a "short run"?

He can store individual strips in 100% rag paper folded once to make a "V"
and put all negatives from the same roll in a "archival" envelope.  As a
commercial equivalent I can refer him to Light Impressions.  Light
Impressions makes a lot of different museum quality (and museum priced!)
storage options.  I haven't bought anything from them but like both their
catalog and website as a source of storage ideas and options.  (That may
need to change since local sourcing for all photographic materials is
"drying up".)

http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping

I still use Print File pages.  They don't need to "breathe" unless they are
stored in an area that widely and rapidly fluctuates in humidity (or unless
he is coating living animals with Rockland Colloid emulsion).  Both ends of
each storage strip are open to the atmosphere, that's good enough for me.

In my opinion, neutral pH, acid free storage with constant humidity is much
more important than the actual material put next to the negatives.  (And I
don't mean papers that have been carbonate buffered but rather 100% "rag" or
purified wood pulp (cellulose) or Polypropolene or Polyethylene.)

eBay?  Great for many things, this month I bought some collectibles, a SCSI
cable and a transparency lid for my Epson Scanner but for archival
materials?  Come on, these are the same guys that will open a box of
photographic paper to photograph so they can show you it's condition before
you bid!

Unless he is using the right paper, he is possibly setting up for alot
of hurt. His paper DOES meet the ANSI specs?

PP to the correct spec. See Henry Wilhelm's collection for details etc.