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Useful Abbreviations and Terms
Compiled here is a short list of terms and abbreviations that can be helpful to know as you explore the catalog and finding aids for moving image materials.
Abbreviations
Below are some common abbreviations that appear in our guides and finding aids:
arch. pos. - archival positive
mas. pos. - master positive
dupe neg. - duplicate negative
ref. print/copy - reference print/copy
b&w - black and white
col. - color
(inc.) - incomplete
unid. – unidentified
sd – sound
si - silent
Alt. title - Alternate title
Dist. - Distributor
Dir. - Director
Prod. - Producer
Prod. Co. - Production Company
Prf. - performer
Glossary of Terms
Below are some terms you may come across in our guides and finding aids:
Access copy - a copy created for the use of patrons so that the original is protected from wear and damage. These copies are what you will view in the Research Center and can be digital or on a physical medium (ie. film).
Actuality film - non-fiction film of real events, places, people, and things. Actualities are generally brief (several minutes or less) and were popular in the early days of film, when viewers were eager to see even ordinary events through the medium of film.
Archival positive - non-viewable archival copy, created for preservation.
Duplicate negative - non-viewable archival copy, created for preservation.
Kinescope (also, Kine) - a film recording of a television program made by pointing a camera at a television monitor. This was a way to record live TV programs before videotape was available, as well as to distribute the same program to multiple stations.
Master positive - non-viewable archival copy, created for preservation.
Reference print/copy - another term for a viewable copy; see Access copy.