Summary

Framed photograph, circa 1950s, of Dr Charles Edward Kenneth Mees, who was responsible for many important chemical and technical advances in photographic manufacturing, was widely published and was a renowned expert in photographic chemistry and industrial research.

Dr Mees was born in Britain on May 26,1882. His passion for industrial chemistry began when he was a boy, and he later completed his PhD in the methods of photographic sensitometry at University College, London. Afterwards, he worked at the photographic firm Wratten and Wainwright, where he was invited to join the company as co-managing director.

Quickly becoming an industrial research expert, in 1912 Dr Mees was invited by Mr. Eastman to set up and direct a research laboratory for the Eastman Kodak Company, in Rochester, USA. Two of Dr Mees' best achievements with the company were the introduction of the Cine-Kodak apparatus (1923) and Kodachrome color film. In 1923, Mees was appointed director of the company and in 1934 he became vice president in charge of research and development. In 1956 he retired. Mees received many accolades from his peers, including being elected as a Fellow in the Royal Society in 1939, made a Fellow of University College, London in 1950, and also being elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States of America.

Part of a collection of research material and artefacts assembled by former Kodak Australasia employee Nigel Beale while he was writting Kodak's company history in the 1980s.

Kodak manufactured and distributed a wide range of photographic products to Australasia, such as film, paper, chemicals, cameras and miscellaneous equipment. Its client base included amateur and professional photographers, as well as specialist medical and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.This item is related to the Kodak collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005, when the Melbourne manufacturing plant at Coburg closed down.

Description of Content

Grey-haired man in grey suit, white shirt and black tie with his arms crossed on a desk, a book open in front of him.

Physical Description

Colour portrait photograph in gold-painted timber frame with nameplate at bottom.

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