Difference between revisions of "George Eastman" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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:''This article is about the Kodak creator. For the Italian actor, see [[George Eastman (actor)]].''
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[[Image:George_eastman_stamp.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A 1954 U.S. stamp featuring George Eastman.]]
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[[Image:George_eastman_stamp.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A 1954 [[Postage stamps and postal history of the United States|U.S. stamp]] featuring George Eastman.]]
  
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'''George Eastman''' (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932) founded the [[Eastman Kodak]]* Co. and invented [[photographic film|roll film]], which brought [[photography]] to the common man. The roll film was also the basis for the invention of the [[film stock|motion picture film]] in 1888 by world's first filmmaker, [[Louis Le Prince]], and a decade later by his followers [[Léon Bouly]], [[Thomas Edison]], the [[Lumière Brothers]] and [[Georges Méliès]].
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'''George Eastman ''' (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932) founded the [[Eastman Kodak]] Company and invented [[photographic film|roll film]], helping to bring [[photography]] to the mainstream. The roll film was also the basis for the invention of the [[film stock|motion picture film]] in 1888 by world's first filmmaker, [[Louis Le Prince]], and a decade later by his followers [[Léon Bouly]], [[Thomas Edison]], the [[Lumière Brothers]], and [[Georges Méliès]].
  
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== Biography ==
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== Biography==
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=== Early years ===
 
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Eastman was born in [[Waterville, New York]], some 20 miles southwest of [[Utica, New York]]. His parents were George Washington Eastman and Maria Kilbourn. He dropped out of [[high school]] and began working as an office boy at the age of 14.<ref>[http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/kodakHistory/eastmanTheMan.shtml Kodak: History of Kodak: George Eastman - the man: About his Life]</ref>
 
  
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=== Kodak ===
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Eastman was born  in [[Waterville, New York|Waterville]], Oneida County, [[New York]]. He was the fourth and youngest child of George Washington Eastman and Maria Kilbourn, both from the bordering town of [[Marshall, New York|Marshall]]. His third sister died shortly after her birth. In 1854, his father established the Eastman Commercial College in [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] and the Eastman family moved to Rochester in1860. Two years later, his father died and Eastman left [[high school]] to support the family and began working as an office boy by the age of 14.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/kodakHistory/eastmanTheMan.shtml| title=George Eastman - The Man: About His Life| work=Kodak: History of Kodak| accessdate=December 7| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
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[[Image:Kodak ad 1888.GIF|thumb|right|200px|An advertisement for the Kodak camera.]]
 
  
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On September 4, 1888, Eastman registered the trademark '''Kodak''', which was simply a combination of some of his favorite letters, and received a patent for his [[camera]] which used roll film. He coined the phrase '''"You press the button, we do the rest."'''<ref>[http://inventors.about.com/od/estartinventors/ss/George_Eastman.htm George Eastman - The History of Kodak and Rolled Photographic Film] (2006). About.com.</ref> His new lightweight [[United States dollar|US$]]25 [[camera]] could take 100 shots with one roll of film. Then, the owner could return it to Kodak for processing for a fee of $5, and the company would develop the film and return 100 pictures, along with a new roll of 100 [[exposure (photography)|exposures]].{{fact}}
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In 1878, Eastman became intrigued with photography, but was frustrated by the awkward method that required coating a glass plate with a liquid emulsion that had to be used before it dried. After three years of experimentation with British [[gelatin]] emulsions, he "developed" a dry photographic plate, patented it in both England and the US, and began a photographic business in 1880.
  
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Eastman endowed the [[Eastman School of Music]] of the [[University of Rochester]], and chose as its first director Alfred Klingenberg, who was succeeded by the American composer and conductor [[Howard Hanson]]. Hanson made Eastman's school one of the most prestigious music schools in America. Eastman was even a member of [[Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia]], the national men's music fraternity.{{fact}}
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In 1884, he patented a photographic medium that replaced fragile glass plates with a photo-emulsion coated on paper rolls.  The invention of roll film greatly speeded up the process of recording multiple images.<ref> [http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/01-44.htm Kodak film patented] on October 14, 1884</ref>
  
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In 1925, Eastman gave up the day-to-day management of Kodak, becoming chairman of the board. He thereafter concentrated on philanthropic activities.  In his last two years Eastman was in great pain.  He had trouble standing and his walking became a slow shuffle that was caused by a (unnamed at the time) degenerative disorder that was affecting his spine.  A modern diagnosis would probably cite [[spinal stenosis]], a narrowing of the spinal canal caused by [[arthritis]] in the joints of the back. He grew depressed knowing he would likely be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair, something he saw his mother having to use in the last two years of her life.
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[[Image:Kodak ad 1888.GIF|thumb|right|200px|An advertisement for the [[Eastman Kodak|Kodak]] camera.]]
  
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In 1932, he ended his own life by a single gunshot to the heart with an automatic pistol, leaving a [[suicide note]] that read, "My work is done. Why wait?" Eastman is buried at Kodak Park in [[Rochester, New York]].
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Eastman received a patent in 1888 for his roll film [[camera]]. He coined the marketing phrase "You press the button, we do the rest."<ref> [http://inventors.about.com/od/estartinventors/ss/George_Eastman.htm George Eastman - The History of Kodak and Rolled Photographic Film] (2006). About.com.</ref>  The camera owner could return it with a processing fee of $10, and the company would develop the film and return 100 pictures, along with a new roll of 100 [[exposure (photography)|exposures]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/kodakHistory/buildingTheFoundation.shtml| title=Building the Foundation| work=Kodak: History of Kodak| accessdate=December 7| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
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On September 4, 1888 Eastman registered the trademark '''Kodak'''. The letter "K" had been a favorite of Eastman's, he is quoted in saying, "it seems a strong, incisive sort of letter".<ref>{{cite web
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| title = Kodak Origins
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| url = http://www.cinematography.net/Pages%20DW/KodakOrigins.htm
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| accessdate=2007-02-02 }}</ref>  He and his mother devised the name Kodak with an anagram set. He said that he used three principal concepts in creating the name: it must be short, you can not mispronounce it, and it could not resemble anything or be associated with anything but Kodak.<ref>{{cite web
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| title=Rochester's History
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| url=http://www.vintageviews.org/vv-tl/biographies/biography.html#georgeeastman
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| work=George Eastman
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| accessdate=2007-02-02}}</ref>
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By 1896, 100,000 Kodak cameras had been sold. The first Kodak had cost [[USD]] $25 and their pocket camera now cost $5.  In an effort to bring photography to the masses, Eastman introduced the [[Brownie (camera)|Brownie]] in 1900 at a price of just $1. It became a great success.
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In 1925, Eastman gave up his daily management of Kodak, becoming chairman of the board. He thereafter concentrated on philanthropic activities. In his final two years Eastman was in intense pain.  He had trouble standing and his walking became a slow shuffle that was caused by an (unnamed at the time) degenerative disorder that was affecting his spine. A modern diagnosis would probably cite [[spinal stenosis]], a narrowing of the spinal canal caused by [[arthritis]] in the joints of the back. He grew depressed knowing he would likely be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair, as his mother had done during the last two years of her life.
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In 1932, Eastman died by his own hand,<ref> [http://www.nndb.com/people/980/000086722/ - George Eastman Biography] (2006) nnbd.com.</ref> leaving a [[suicide note]] that read, "My work is done. Why wait?"<ref> [http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/dying3.html - Famous Suicide Notes] (2006) corsinet.com.</ref> His funeral was held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Rochester. Eastman, who never married, is buried at [[Kodak Park]] in Rochester, New York.
  
 
== Legacy ==
 
== Legacy ==
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During his lifetime, he donated $100 million, mostly to the [[University of Rochester]] and the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (under the alias "Mr. Smith").<ref>{{cite book | first = Carin T.| last = Ford | authorlink = Carin T. Ford | year =2004 |title=George Eastman: The Kodak Camera Man | publisher=Enslow Publishers, INC.}}
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</div></ref> The [[Rochester Institute of Technology]] has a building dedicated to Mr. Eastman, in recognition of his support and substantial donations.  He endowed the [[Eastman School of Music]] of the University of Rochester.
  
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During his lifetime, he gave away an estimated $100 million, mostly to the University of Rochester and the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (under the name of "Mr. Smith"). The [[Rochester Institute of Technology]] has a building dedicated to Mr. Eastman, in recognition of his support and substantial donations.  MIT has a plaque of Eastman (the rubbing of which is traditionally considered by students to bring good luck) in recognition of his donation. Eastman also made substantial gifts to the [[Tuskegee Institute]] and the [[Hampton Institute]].  Upon his death, his entire residuary estate went to the University of Rochester, where his name can be found on the Eastman Quandrangle of the River Campus. His former home at 900 East Avenue in Rochester was opened as the [[George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film]] in 1947.  On the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1954, Eastman was honored with a postage stamp from the United States Post Office.
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MIT has a plaque of Eastman (the rubbing of which is traditionally considered by students to bring good luck) in recognition of his donation. Eastman also made substantial gifts to the [[Tuskegee Institute]] and the [[Hampton Institute]].  Upon his death, his entire estate went to the University of Rochester, where his name can be found on the Eastman Quadrangle of the River Campus. His former home at 900 East Avenue in Rochester, New York was opened as the [[George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film]] in 1949.  On the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1954, Eastman was honored with a postage stamp from the United States Post Office.
  
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==References==
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== See also ==
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{{unreferenced}}
 
  
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===Notes===
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* [[Camera]]
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* [[Photography]]
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== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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== References ==
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<<We need at least 3 references here, properly formatted.>>
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*Carl W. Ackerman, ''George Eastman: Founder of Kodak and the Photography Business'' (1930), Beard Books, ISBN 1-89312299-9.
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*Elizabeth Brayer, ''George Eastman: A Biography'' (1996), John's Hopkins University Press, ISBN 0-8018-5263-3, University of Rochester Press 2006 reprint: ISBN 1-58046247-2.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://www.library.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=864 George Eastman archive] at the University of Rochester
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* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2184 The George Eastman Memorial]
 
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2184 The George Eastman Memorial]
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===Patents===
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{[[TIFF]] format images}
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*{{US patent|226,503}} "Method and Apparatus for Coating Plates," filed  September 1879, issued April 1880
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*{{US patent|306,594}} "Photographic Film," filed March 1884, issued October, 1884
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*{{US patent|317,049}} "Roll Holder for Photographic Films," filed August 1884, issued May 1885
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*{{US patent|388,850}} "Camera," filed March, 1888, issued September, 1888
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastman, George}}
  
 
[[Category:Physical sciences]]
 
[[Category:Physical sciences]]
 
[[Category:Biographies of Scientists and Inventors]]
 
[[Category:Biographies of Scientists and Inventors]]
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[[Category:Biography]]
  
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Revision as of 18:29, 27 April 2007

File:George eastman stamp.JPG
A 1954 U.S. stamp featuring George Eastman.

George Eastman (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932) founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream. The roll film was also the basis for the invention of the motion picture film in 1888 by world's first filmmaker, Louis Le Prince, and a decade later by his followers Léon Bouly, Thomas Edison, the Lumière Brothers, and Georges Méliès.

Biography

Eastman was born in Waterville, Oneida County, New York. He was the fourth and youngest child of George Washington Eastman and Maria Kilbourn, both from the bordering town of Marshall. His third sister died shortly after her birth. In 1854, his father established the Eastman Commercial College in Rochester and the Eastman family moved to Rochester in1860. Two years later, his father died and Eastman left high school to support the family and began working as an office boy by the age of 14.[1]

In 1878, Eastman became intrigued with photography, but was frustrated by the awkward method that required coating a glass plate with a liquid emulsion that had to be used before it dried. After three years of experimentation with British gelatin emulsions, he "developed" a dry photographic plate, patented it in both England and the US, and began a photographic business in 1880.

In 1884, he patented a photographic medium that replaced fragile glass plates with a photo-emulsion coated on paper rolls. The invention of roll film greatly speeded up the process of recording multiple images.[2]

An advertisement for the Kodak camera.

Eastman received a patent in 1888 for his roll film camera. He coined the marketing phrase "You press the button, we do the rest."[3] The camera owner could return it with a processing fee of $10, and the company would develop the film and return 100 pictures, along with a new roll of 100 exposures.[4]

On September 4, 1888 Eastman registered the trademark Kodak. The letter "K" had been a favorite of Eastman's, he is quoted in saying, "it seems a strong, incisive sort of letter".[5] He and his mother devised the name Kodak with an anagram set. He said that he used three principal concepts in creating the name: it must be short, you can not mispronounce it, and it could not resemble anything or be associated with anything but Kodak.[6]

By 1896, 100,000 Kodak cameras had been sold. The first Kodak had cost USD $25 and their pocket camera now cost $5. In an effort to bring photography to the masses, Eastman introduced the Brownie in 1900 at a price of just $1. It became a great success.

In 1925, Eastman gave up his daily management of Kodak, becoming chairman of the board. He thereafter concentrated on philanthropic activities. In his final two years Eastman was in intense pain. He had trouble standing and his walking became a slow shuffle that was caused by an (unnamed at the time) degenerative disorder that was affecting his spine. A modern diagnosis would probably cite spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal caused by arthritis in the joints of the back. He grew depressed knowing he would likely be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair, as his mother had done during the last two years of her life.

In 1932, Eastman died by his own hand,[7] leaving a suicide note that read, "My work is done. Why wait?"[8] His funeral was held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Rochester. Eastman, who never married, is buried at Kodak Park in Rochester, New York.

Legacy

During his lifetime, he donated $100 million, mostly to the University of Rochester and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (under the alias "Mr. Smith").[9] The Rochester Institute of Technology has a building dedicated to Mr. Eastman, in recognition of his support and substantial donations. He endowed the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester.

MIT has a plaque of Eastman (the rubbing of which is traditionally considered by students to bring good luck) in recognition of his donation. Eastman also made substantial gifts to the Tuskegee Institute and the Hampton Institute. Upon his death, his entire estate went to the University of Rochester, where his name can be found on the Eastman Quadrangle of the River Campus. His former home at 900 East Avenue in Rochester, New York was opened as the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in 1949. On the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1954, Eastman was honored with a postage stamp from the United States Post Office.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ George Eastman - The Man: About His Life. Kodak: History of Kodak. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  2. ↑ Kodak film patented on October 14, 1884
  3. ↑ George Eastman - The History of Kodak and Rolled Photographic Film (2006). About.com.
  4. ↑ Building the Foundation. Kodak: History of Kodak. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  5. ↑ Kodak Origins. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
  6. ↑ Rochester's History. George Eastman. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
  7. ↑ - George Eastman Biography (2006) nnbd.com.
  8. ↑ - Famous Suicide Notes (2006) corsinet.com.
  9. ↑ Ford, Carin T. (2004). George Eastman: The Kodak Camera Man. Enslow Publishers, INC.. 

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

<<We need at least 3 references here, properly formatted.>>

  • Carl W. Ackerman, George Eastman: Founder of Kodak and the Photography Business (1930), Beard Books, ISBN 1-89312299-9.

External links

Patents

{TIFF format images}

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