Freedom and Capitalism, Ingenuity, Hardwork and Discipline

 

George Eastman

July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932

George Eastman was born in Waterville, New York, and was self-educated. In 1884, Eastman patented the first film in roll form; in 1888 he perfected the Kodak camera, the first camera designed for roll film. In 1892, he established the Eastman Kodak Company, in Rochester, New York. It was one of the first firms to mass-produce standardized photography equipment. This company also produced flexible transparent film, devised by Eastman in 1889, which proved important to the development of the motion picture industry. Eastman was associated with the company in an administrative and an executive capacity until his death and contributed much to the development of its notable research facilities. He was also one of the outstanding philanthropists of his time, donating more than $75 million to various projects. Notable among his contributions were a gift to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and endowments for the establishment of the Eastman School of Music in 1918 and a school of medicine and dentistry in 1921 at the University of Rochester.