A Polaroid Timeline 1932–1977

Edwin Land and George Wheelwright form Land-Wheelwright Laboratories, a research and manufacturing enterprise that develops synthetic polarizers.

The Polaroid Corporation is incorporated. Clarence Kennedy becomes a consultant.

Polaroid net sales: $141,959. Net profit: $8,677.

Harvard Business School faculty begin working with Polaroid on research projects and case studies.

Polaroid Enters into contracts with the U.S. Military.

Morse graduates from Smith College in art history and is hired by Polaroid.

Polaroid net sales: $16,752,465. Net profit: $449,424.

Land demonstrates instant photography for the American Optical Society on February 21.

Polaroid net sales: $1,503,608. Net loss: $954,410.

Polaroid launches Land Camera, Model 95, and Land Polaroid Film, Type 40, at the Jordan Marsh department store in Boston on Black Friday, November 26, 1948.

Morse becomes laboratory supervisor for photographic materials.

Ansel Adams begins consultancy at Polaroid. Morse serves as company liaison to Adams and other consultant photographers.

Polaroid introduces black-and-white Polaroid orthochromatic film, Type 41.

Model 110 Land Camera is introduced for professional use.

Polaroid net sales: $13,393,259. Net profit: $597,210.

Polaroid begins construction of manufacturing plant on Route 128 in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Polaroid net sales: $26,033,656. Net profit: $1,414,021.

Polaroid introduces films with increased speeds, releasing Type 47 film (ASA 3,000) in 1959.

Polaroid net sales: $99,446,057. Net profit: $8,812,687.

Polaroid introduces Type 55 P/N film, which yields reusable negatives, and high-contrast Type 146L black-and-white transparency film.

Color Pack Land Camera, the Automatic 100, includes the first transistorized electronic shutter. Polaroid makes the Fortune 500 list of largest American corporations by revenue.

The Swinger, the Polaroid Model 20 Land Camera, is commercially launched.

Morse receives the Smith College Medal, the school’s outstanding graduate award.

Morse is the first woman elected Fellow of the Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers.

Polaroid net sales: $465,609,000. Net profit: $63,121,000.

Polaroid opens the Clarence Kennedy Gallery featuring the Polaroid Collection of work by artists using instant photography.