Edwin H. Land introduced the Polaroid instant camera on February 21, 1947.
The Libraries has a great and varied assortment of polaroid trade catalogs in its trade literature collection.
Being part of the Smithsonian definitely has it perks. As librarians of the National Museum of American History Library were helping me put together this post it occured to them to also contact the Photographic History Collection of the National Museum of American History. That department's wonderful staff photographed Edwin Land's 95A—with his initials—the first one off the assembly line. Working here, one is never sure what Smithsonian treasures may cross one's path in a day's work.—Elizabeth Periale
Thanks to Alexia MacClain, Chris Cottrill and Lu Rossignol (who photographed the catalogs) of the National Museum of American History Library
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Thanks to Shannon Perich, Ryan Lintelman and Hugh Talman (who photographed the cameras) of the National Museum of American History Photographic History Collection.
Note: The camera, when closed, has Edwin H. Land's initials on the case.
Related links:
Polaroid Archives Provide A Snapshot of History
4 Comments
These are great photos of Land’s camera! I didn’t realize that this was in a Smithsonian collection… We have a click! photography changes everything story that discusses how Land initially introduced the idea of the Polaroid camera and how Polaroid changed the way we make pictures of each other. Check it out here.
Beautifull pictures, great information. Thumbs up!
I just recently found this among my dads things. I was wondering where I can get it looks at to make sure it still works. Its a 1947 land polaroid camera. Still in the case with everything including film.
[…] innovators have had artistic sides, from Leonardo da Vinci to Samuel Morse to Rosalind Franklin to Edwin Land. But most important, the arts are the distillation of our intrinsic need to express and understand […]