Kodak Historical Archive

The Kodak Historical Archive mainly covers the period 1885-1990 although there is later material, particularly relating to Kodak Research, up to c.2007. The majority of the archive relates to Kodak Limited and its predecessor companies, but there are files and documents particularly from Eastman Kodak Company, Kodak (Australasia) Pty, Kodak A.G., Kodak-Pathé, Kodak (India) and other UK companies which Kodak Limited controlled known as 'B' companies. There is also biographical material relating to Kodak personnel, George Eastman and Eastman's other interests, particularly the Eastman Dental Clinics in London and Europe. The archive includes material in the following categories: Business and corporate documents. The business documents include share prospectuses, share certificates and official AGM/EGM notices for the Eastman Photographic Materials Company Ltd and Kodak Limited; Kodak Limited annual reports; agreements between the company and directors including George Davison and George Eastman; official documents for Kodak 'B' companies and those it took over such as Wratten and Wainwright; official company seals. Corporate documents include public information booklets; a large series of company organisation charts; financial ledgers; a set of internal company memos; some company correspondence; files dealing with the archive, museum and company changes; photographs of directors. Kodak Research. Much of the archive deals with Kodak's research activities from 1900 to around 2007. This includes early research notebooks; a complete set of Kodak [Harrow] Research Reports (1929-1964) which is believed to be the only extant set; research photographs; personnel information; Kodak Communications 1929-1971 and Unnumbered Articles, Harrow 1928-1958. Exhibitions and Marketing. A series of files contain correspondence and photographs of mainly post-war exhibitions mounted at Harrow, the Kingsway premises and overseas; an extensive series of guard books mainly 1920s-1980s containing copies of Kodak advertising and specimen photographs of subjects such as Christmas, summer holidays, children, seaside, etc., taken by named Kodak cameras or on Kodak film, and books featuring Kodak promotional photographs of products and subjects including the Kodak Girl; a small group of market reports examining the UK market for photography. Intellectual property. Correspondence and files relating to patent applications and trade mark infringement, including some sample films; internal publications concerning Kodak's approach to IP; an extensive series of files relating to Agfa. Manufacturing and Production. Correspondence relating to different aspects of manufacturing; photographs of manufacturing premises and operations; time and motion research; a series of Sales Plans 1948-1970 and Consumer Markets Sales Programme 1972-83. Kodak retail and manufacturing premises. An extensive set of photographs and albums recording Kodak's UK premises at Harrow, Kingsway, High Holborn, Hemel Hempstead, Kirkby, Stevenage, Wembley, Ruislip and UK retail premises; European and overseas retail branches; the Copernick (Germany) and Vas (Hungary) factories; a series of files and agreements relating to the take of over of Nagel's business in German and formation of Kodak GmbH and Kodak A.G; a series of files concerning Kodak's takeover of Pathé in France. Kodak transport. Photographs of Kodak transport from the 1920s-1980s; files containing detailed specifications and livery of Kodak vehicles. Employment, industrial relations and safety. Files relating to employment terms; sample employee cards; graduate recruitment; Kodak works committee; correspondence and files detailing Kodak negotiations with trades unions over recognitions rights, union activities and strikes; photographs and papers relating to the Kodak Fire Brigade. Wartime. Photographs, memos and correspondence detailing Kodak's war preparations, including ARP; government manufacturing; visits to the factory from military and political leaders; a series BIOS, CIOS and other intelligence reports. Staff activities. Photographs recording staff social events at Harrow; the Kodak Recreation Society; Kodak Photographic Society and exhibitions; photographs of Kodak research staff, social events and activities; the building of the Kodak Hall at Harrow and interior and exterior views. Photographs, negatives and slides. Photographic material is present throughout the archive. In some cases photographs have been filed separately, in others they are contained as part of a wider file and in some cases the file comprises solely photographic material. They record many aspects of the company's history from premises and products, through to staff and scientific research materials. Photographic materials have been identified separately. The largest group of photographs were produced for marketing purposes and are contained within the guard books (see Exhibitions and Marketing). Motion picture films. Over 200 films, mostly 16mm but including 35mm, 8mm and Super 8mm, in black and white and colour, date from the 1920 to 1980. They include visits to the Harrow site, corporate reviews, research and high-speed film, and records of manufacturing processes, mostly for time-and-motion studies. At the time of writing none of the films have been viewed and some are unidentified as to subject matter. Publications. The KHC contains Kodak internal publications and those intended for customers including Kodak Works Bulletin; Kodak News; Kodak Trade Circular; amateur and specialist product catalogues; Kodak Ltd and Eastman Kodak Co. annual reports; trade and other publications; Kodak histories including Gauntlett's unpublished history; biographies of Kodak personnel; thesis dealing with Kodak history. The main Kodak research library was transferred to De Montfort University. Objects. Although the majority of the KHC is paper-based there is a small selection of Kodak Limited cameras, film and packaging; safety and other awards presented to the company; and company-produced commemorative items such as medals and paperweights.

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