Incorporated in new jersey, the corporation was founded in 1888 by george eastman in rochester, new york, where its headquarters are located today. In 1992 kodak introduced a revolutionary development that would change the face of photography again. Jan 18, 2012 the problem is that, during its 10year window of opportunity, kodak did little to prepare for the later disruption. Strong, eastmans original partner, remained at the head of the new york company until his death in 1919. Genealogy charts for george eastman may include up to 30 generations of ancestors with source citations. The company was incorporated in 1901 as the successor to a business established in rochester in. Important events, famous birthdays and historical deaths from our searchable today in history archives. Jared case, head of cataloging and access, george eastman museum, motion picture department. Eastman wanted to simplify photography to make it available to everyone, not just trained photographers. He trademarked the brand, and it quickly caught on. You press the button, we do the rest was the motto of the business, which the main strategy was selling cameras cheap and making good margins on films and other photo equipment and materials. Eastman kodaks decline and fall is a failure of its leaders to develop the appropriate buffers to keep competition from imitating and replicating its strategy. He was the founder of eastman kodak, and he didnt just start one of the most important companies in the history of consumer technology products. George eastman 18541932 from humble beginnings, george eastman revolutionized the field of photography by simplifying the process and making it accessible to the masses.
Senior curator, george eastman museum, motion picture department. As eastman kodak grew, his philanthropy extended to such institutions as the massachusetts institute of technology, the hampton and tuskegee institutes, and the university of rochester. George eastman was one of the driving forces behind the invention of portable and effective cameras during the industrial revolution. It was founded by george eastman in 1888 kodak provides packaging, functional printing, graphic communications and. Eastman kodak company history timeline timetoast timelines. Oct 03, 2014 it was march 14, 1932 when george eastman, famed inventor, philanthropist, and founder of eastman kodak, invited a few loyal friends over to witness the rewriting of his will. George eastman and kodak history of camera technology. View kodk business summary and other industry information. The family tree for george eastman is still in progress. George eastman family tree along with family connections to other famous kin.
In fact, kodak made exactly the mistake that george eastman, its founder. Eastman was buried in the grounds of kodak park in. He bought his fist camera to take pictures of potential properties he wanted to buy, and became one of the few amateur photographers out there. He played as important a role as anyone in inventing the idea of consumer technology products. Eastman kodak company, american manufacturer of film and photographic supplies and provider of digital imaging services and products. Please access detailed information on over 250 individual film color processes via the classification system on this page, display the timeline of historical film colors in chronological order, search via the tag cloud at the end of this page or directly on the search page, or see the contributing archives collections on the header slides.
After manufacturing digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames for a considerable time period, kodak is now focused on the corporate digital imaging market. Eastman kodak manual 1918 timeline of historical film. More than a quarter of a million objects from the photography, technology, and george eastman legacy collections are now searchable, and more of the museums vast holdings will be added on an ongoing basis. Jan 07, 2012 the dream originated in the brain of the gentleman in the above photo, george eastman 18541932. Mar 10, 2020 george eastman, american entrepreneur and inventor whose introduction of the first kodak camera helped to promote amateur photography on a large scale. Through the development of microfilm technology, eastman kodak was able to provide long term document storage. Strong remains the head of the new york company until his death in 1919. His ancestors, the early eastmans and the kilbourns, lived in america since the 1630s in central new york, and spent their humble lives on agricultural activities at their family farms. George eastman was an avid photographer who became the founder of the eastman kodak company. The eastman kodak company, known around the world as kodak, is an american imaging company that began in the 19th century as an innovator of photography. Kodachrome is the brand name for a color reversal film introduced by eastman kodak in 1935. From 1839 to the present the george eastman house collection taschen on. After his education in the public schools of rochester, new york, eastman worked briefly for an insurance company and a bank.
How george eastman started the kodak company history. Inventing dry film george eastman invented dry, transparent, and flexible, photographic film rolled photography film and also created kodak cameras that could use the new film. So far i am probably 20 pages in, with information mainly about very early photography and nothing kodak related except a daguerrotype of george eastman and discussion of its technological artistic shortcomings. High school drop out and bank clerk george eastmans technological breakthrough in the late 1870s and 1880s was the development of dry film.
From 1839 to the present the george eastman house collection. Aug 05, 2014 bill tells the story of how george eastman invented film. After being founded by george eastman in 1888 with its madeup name eastman was a huge fan of the letter k kodak became so dominant in photography that by 1976, 85% of all film cameras and. After his education in the public schools of rochester, new york, eastman worked briefly for. Historically this industry began when george eastman partnered with banks to image checks in the 1920s. George eastman claimed he came up with the unique name while playing an anagram game. The problem is that, during its 10year window of opportunity, kodak did little to prepare for the later disruption. He had made the decision to give a good portion of his money. Photo shows eastman in 1888 courtesy george eastman house.
George eastman was born in 1854 in waterville, new york, the same year that his father, george washington eastman, established eastmans commercial college in rochester. It was one of the first successful color materials and was used for both cinematography and still photography. It was march 14, 1932 when george eastman, famed inventor, philanthropist, and founder of eastman kodak, invited a few loyal friends over to witness the rewriting of his will. Roll film was also the basis for the invention of motion picture film stock in 1888 by the worlds first filmmakers eadweard muybridge and louis le prince, and a few years later by their followers leon. Roll film was also the basis for the invention of motion picture film in 1888 by t. I cannot imagine wanting to know as much about kodak as this tome appears to contain. It encompasses works made in all major photographic processes, from daguerreotype to digital, for a wide range of. George eastman was born on 12th july, 1854 at his family farm in marshall, waterville village, new york to george washington eastman and maria kilbourn. The increased speed and sensitivity to light of the dryplates freed the camera from the tripod and paved the way for the handheld camera instant photography at low cost of this the most popular was the kodak handheld camera. Find the latest eastman kodak company kodk stock quote, history, news and other vital information to help you with your stock trading and investing. The youngest of three children, eastman was born in waterville, new york on july 12, 1854.
The company was incorporated in 1901 as the successor to a business established in rochester in 1880 by george eastman, who. His kodak flourished on the slogan, you press the buttonwe do the rest. All agreed that the true power of imaging has barely been tapped. George eastman, american entrepreneur and inventor whose introduction of the first kodak camera helped to promote amateur photography on a large scale. In 1901, the eastman kodak company of new jersey was formed under the laws of that state.
For many years kodachrome was widely used for professional color photography, especially for images intended for publication in print media. Jan 05, 2012 high school drop out and bank clerk george eastman s technological breakthrough in the late 1870s and 1880s was the development of dry film. George eastman july 12, 1854 march 14, 1932 was an american entrepreneur who founded the eastman kodak company and helped to bring the photographic use of roll film into the mainstream. He later created the kodak camera that could take 100 pictures. George eastman july 12, 1854 march 14, 1932 was an american entrepreneur who founded the eastman kodak company and helped to bring the photographic use of roll. Eastman kodak company, commonly known as kodak, is an american technology company that concentrates on imaging products, with its historic basis on photography. Kodak is trademarked george eastman had been in the camera business for several years before he developed kodak. How george eastman revolutionized photography youtube. History of photography timeline timeline description. Bill tells the story of how george eastman invented film. Eastman kodak company american corporation britannica.
Eastmans philanthropic relationship with the university began in 1899 with the gift of a single kodak camera to a geology professor. The kodak camera changed many aspects of america, including journalism, entertainment, and many other fields. Educated in the public schools of rochester in new york, eastman started off working in a bank. Make educational timelines or create a timeline for your company website. As is often the case with great philanthropists, this small gift eventually led to the transformational gifts that created the eastman school of music and the school of medicine and dentistry, and supported the expansion of the university in the 20th century. Eastman kodak company of new jersey, the present parent company, was formed. Document imaging was one of the first imaging solutions to move to digital imaging technology. More than 120 years ago, in 1888, a man named george eastman founded a small company eastman kodak company, selling cheap cameras and consumables for them. Eastman kodak company kodk stock price, quote, history. They were sold for a surprisingly low price and began mass marketed photography. George eastman changed the world through his entrepreneurial spirit, bold leadership, and extraordinary vision.
He was george eastman, and his ability to overcome financial adversity, his gift for organization and management, and his lively and inventive mind made him a successful entrepreneur by his midtwenties, and enabled him to direct his eastman kodak company to the forefront of american industry. On february 2, 2000, exactly 100 years from the day george eastman introduced the brownie camera, a group of kodak researchers, inventors and business strategists met at the companys rochester headquarters to speculate on what the next 100 years might bring to their industry. The photography collection at the george eastman museum, among the oldest and best in the world, comprises more than 400,000 photographic objects dating from the introduction of the medium in 1839 through to the present day. The rise and fall of the company that invented digital cameras. George eastman family tree surname index please note. The youngest of three children, eastman was born in waterville, new york on. The company has been called eastman kodak company since 1892, when eastman kodak company of new york was organized. Eastman kodak manual 1918 timeline of historical film colors. Its use in the brownie camera revolutionized photography. He will be remembered throughout history for founding the eastman kodak company and revolutionizing the photography, film, and. In 1900, he purchased the blair camera company of boston, and the american camera company of northboro, massachusetts.
The dream originated in the brain of the gentleman in the above photo, george eastman 18541932. Explore the george eastman museums collections online. George eastman was an american innovator and entrepreneur who founded the eastman kodak company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream. George eastman american inventor, entrepreneur, and. Timetoasts free timeline maker lets you create timelines online. During most of the 20th century, kodak held a dominant position in photographic film. He was the founder of eastman kodak, and he didnt just start one of the most important companies in the history of consumer technology. The family tree for george eastman is still in the early. Strong, eastman s original partner, remained at the head of the new york company until his death in 1919.
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