Kenneth Mees

Charles Edward Kenneth Mees FRS (May 26, 1882 – August 15, 1960) was a British scientist and photographic researcher.

He was born in Wellingborough, England, the son of a Wesleyan minister, and attended the University of London. In 1906 he was awarded his D.Sc. with a dissertation on photographic theory. From 1906 until 1912 he worked for Wratten and Wainwright, Ltd., assisting Frederick Wratten in developing the first panchromatic photographic plates, as well as light filters and safelights for the darkroom.

In 1912, the Eastman Kodak company acquired Wratten and Wainwright because they were interested in the skills Mees provided. He moved to the United States and set up the Kodak Research Laboratories in Rochester, New York, and become the first director.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he became an American citizen so that he could have access to high security war projects and information.

Later, he was named vice president in charge of Research and Development for Eastman-Kodak, and remained at that position until he retired in 1955. He was awarded the Franklin Medal in 1954.

During his career, he published 100 scientific papers and 60 other works. Among his accomplishments was the development of sensitive photographic emulsions for use in astronomy.

Mees served as the first president of the board of trustees of George Eastman House from 1947 until 1954.

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