Wow, just wow everyone. I have seen the bottom of the iceberg -- and how deep it goes. My day started at 5 AM, and a 4 hour commute. I could write a novel on all of the things I have learned today. What struck me the most is -- I spent 4 years studying film production, and today was the first time I have ever touched an actual roll of film. I didn't get back home until 10:30PM, and what a haul I brought back.I want to paint a picture for you all on just how deep the rabbit hole goes -- just how much of this 'iceberg' is hidden beneath the water.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/45312
Take for example the recordgroup and subcategory "255-S". This is one of two main NASA footage categories, the other being 255-FR (but there are others.) On the National Archives' own website, it lists "423 items" within this series. 423 different pieces of media is what the online catalog is aware of.
I have seen the card indexes with my own eyes -- and the true number is closer to 12,500.
In 255-S alone. The website offers us less than 4% of what's actually out there. The scale and enormity of this challenge is so much bigger than I thought.
I am starting a new monthly reward for the $5 Patrons -- every time I come across a random hidden, unseen item not related to any current project, I'll upload it onto a google drive folder so everyone can see it. This will exist concurrently alongside the $10 "Current Project Material" folder and the $30 "Everything" folders. (I'll make duplicates so everything gets sorted and organized in the proper place.)As a starter -- here's 26 minutes of Apollo 16's launch day direct from NASA TV, including many things I've never seen before including boarding the astrovan, elevator, walk to the white room, and probably the best view of S-II ignition on TV in true color I've witnessed. Not bad for a first trip.https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vHFUJo_xDpejWsEz3SlmKY3CaH9s4PL7?usp=sharing(Take Note: Google Drive compression is real! Downloading is the only way to get best visual results.)