History of Photography. Kodak Studio Light Centennial Issue, 1880-1980.

Foreword by William A. Sawyer, Jr. 107 pp. softcover, profusely illustrated chronology and history of photography with emphasis on contributions of George Eastman and the Eastman Kodak Co. In addition to Eastman, many portraits of key individuals in Kodak history, including Lovejoy, Mees, Stuber, Fallon, Mannes, and Godowsky. Also profiles four companies that have used Kodak products for more than a century: Bachrach (portrait studio), Alderman (commercial illustrator), Remington (industrial photo department), and James Lett (photographic products dealer). Fine except wear at bottom of spine and a bit of rubbing on rear cover. Summary:

The Kodak Studio Light Centennial Issue (1880–1980): A 100-Year Start on Tomorrow is a commemorative publication released by the Eastman Kodak Company in 1980. Serving as a special historical edition of Studio Light—Kodak's long-running periodical for professional photographers—this volume celebrates the 100th anniversary of George Eastman’s commercial entry into photography when he first began manufacturing dry plates in a rented Rochester loft in 1880.

With a foreword by William A. Sawyer, Jr., the issue functions as both a corporate retrospective and a highly illustrated history of how the Eastman Kodak Company transformed a messy, highly technical chemical hobby into a global commercial juggernaut.

1. The Genesis of an Industry: George Eastman’s Vision

The volume opens by looking back at the foundation of the company. It recounts George Eastman’s early frustration with the cumbersome "wet-plate" photography system of the late 1870s, which required carrying heavy tents, glass plates, and liquid chemicals into the field.

• The Dry Plate Revolution: The text chronicles Eastman’s nights spent experimenting in his mother's kitchen, leading to his patented plate-coating machine and the commercial sale of convenient photographic dry plates in 1880.

• The "Kodak" Philosophy: The publication details how Eastman revolutionized human memory by pursuing a singular business blueprint: mass production, low prices, international distribution, and heavy advertising wrapped around the famous slogan, "You press the button, we do the rest."

2. Titan Profiles: Key Figures in Kodak History

Rather than focusing solely on its founder, the Centennial Issue shines a light on the inventors, scientists, and executives who drove Kodak's technical advancements across its first century. It provides detailed profiles and portraits of pivotal figures, including:

• Dr. C.E. Kenneth Mees: The brilliant British chemist who founded the pioneering Kodak Research Laboratories, steering the company's rigorous scientific approach to emulsion chemistry.

• Leopold Mannes and Leopold Godowsky, Jr.: The two musicians-turned-chemists who, under the guidance of Dr. Mees at Kodak Labs, invented Kodachrome, the legendary multi-layered film that revolutionized vibrant, archival color photography.

• Frank Lovejoy, William G. Stuber, and Perley S. Wilcox: Key operational and corporate leaders who managed Kodak's explosive industrial growth and expanded its manufacturing capabilities.

3. A Century of Professional Partnerships

A unique highlight of this issue is its focus on the longevity of the commercial photography ecosystem. The publication profiles four distinct organizations that grew alongside Kodak and relied directly on its products for a century:

• Bachrach Photography: The historic portrait studio empire renowned for photographing every U.S. President from Abraham Lincoln onward.

• Alderman Company: A pioneer in large-scale commercial illustration, set design, and advertising photography.

• Remington Arms (Industrial Photo Department): A look at one of the earliest corporate uses of in-house industrial photography for documentation, testing, and marketing.

• James Lett Company: A legacy photographic products dealer, highlighting the century-old retail network that connected Kodak’s factories to working professionals.

4. Photographic Chronology

Woven throughout the issue is a comprehensive visual timeline mapping the evolution of photographic gear and technology. It tracks the physical progression from delicate glass plates and early nitrocellulose roll films to the miniature 35mm formats, instant print films, and sophisticated color copy processes that defined the corporate landscape heading into the 1980s.

The Kodak Studio Light Centennial Issue serves as a time capsule documenting the peak era of traditional analog film. It stands as a celebration of how a single corporate entity fundamentally shaped the global visual vocabulary, moving from a rented third-floor loft to an organization that transformed how humans capture, preserve, and understand their history.