A survey of acetate negatives is planned in order to correlate manufacturer, date, and other information with type and extent of deterioration. Acetate or safety film was introduced in the 1920s. While all cellulose ester base will exhibit instability at high humidity and temperature, preliminary evidence indicates that some batches are less stable than others. A survey has already been completed of the University of Louisville Photographic Archives. The survey methodology is described. A larger, more representative sampling is now required. Institutions and collections have already been selected, and are listed in this paper. The study will include an extensive review of the literature as well as data collection. The results will help photographic conservators make recommendations regarding treatment and storage. Results will be disseminated as widely as possible.