Summary

Letter, dated 29 December 1966, from Albert K Chapman of Eastman Kodak, sent to Dr Neil B Lewis, of Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd.

Mr Chapman was retiring as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York, in the United States of America. Dr Neil Lewis was head of the Research Laboratory at Kodak Australasia's Coburg factory. Dr Lewis knew Mr Chapman personally and had sent him a best wishes message on the occasion of Mr Chapman's retirement. Mr Chapman's letter was thanking Dr Lewis for his kind thoughts, and those of his colleagues, and also wished Dr Lewis and his wife Margaret best wishes for the New Year.

Mr Albert K. Chapman became vice-chairman of the board of directors in 1960, and in 1962 he became chairman of the board of directors.

Part of a collection of research material and artefacts assembled by former Kodak Australasia employee Nigel Beale while he was writing 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, educational, defence, scientific and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.

Physical Description

Single sheet of Eastman Kodak letterhead, with message typed in black ink, signed by the author in blue ink,and with various annotations from Kodak Australasia staff.

Significance

This item enhances our understanding of photographic manufacturing and retailing in Australia, and specifically highlights Kodak's important research laboratory work, which was key to some of Kodak's Australian success by developing local innovations. It highlights the close relationship that key Australian research staff had with Kodak head office in Rochester.

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