Abstract A spectroscopic and photoelectric study is made of matrix isolated crystallites of phenanthrene in rigid 3-methylpentane (3-MP) at 77°K. The crystallites appear to be optically thin and exhibit persistent internal polarizaton (PIP) following photosensitization in the phenanthrene absorption region. A variety of studies including lux-ampere experiments strongly support the picture of a bi-excitonic primary charge generation. The charges exhibit lengthy storage properties. They may be directly excited in the near infrared or they may also be excited in the phenanthrene absorption region, the latter probably by an exciton collision. In either case typical polarization and polarization release curves are generated. A small steady photocurrent is also seen which corresponds to electrons passing through the 3-MP matrix. Changes in viscosity of the matrix alters the mobility of the carriers associated with the crystallites. Lux-ampere studies of the peak of the polarization curve show good agreement wit...