The Long Shadow of Kodak: Markets and Science in Twentieth Century Photography with Joris Mercelis

Hagley History Hangout

Kodak enjoyed dominance over the international photography market for much of the twentieth century. Part and parcel of that success was dominance over the science of photography, achieved and maintained by a worldwide network of research laboratories. In his latest research Joris Mercelis, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, finds that the international network of Kodak research laboratories had two primary functions. In the shorter term their function was problem solve the tricky process of manufacturing photographic film in the different environmental conditions prevailing in different world regions, a process that proved difficult to standardize. In the longer term, and perhaps more significantly, Kodak laboratories conducted novel and cutting-edge research into the fundamentals and applications of photographic science. In support of his work Dr. Mercelis received funding from the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society, including a NEH-Hagley postdoctoral fellowship. For more information and more Hagley History Hangouts visit us online at hagley.org.