Director’s Foreword

In 2006, the Polaroid Corporation generously donated its extensive corporate archives to Baker Library. This vast collection chronicles the history of one of the most innovative American companies of the twentieth century. Founded in 1937 under the visionary leadership of Edwin H. Land, Polaroid was celebrated for its groundbreaking product development. An inspiring leader, Land pioneered a management approach that prioritized employee engagement, collaboration, and an interdisciplinary approach to research and development.

The Polaroid Corporation Collection at Baker Library is exceptionally comprehensive, capturing nearly every aspect of the firm’s sixty-four-year history (1937–2001). It took the efforts of a dedicated team many years to organize and enhance access to this vast archive. In 2016, the exhibition At the Intersection of Science and Art: Edwin H. Land and the Polaroid Corporation—The Formative Years, celebrated the opening of much of the collection to researchers. The exhibition traced Polaroid from its entrepreneurial beginnings to the launch of instant photography in 1948.

As part of the work of enhancing access to the archive, art historian Jennifer Quick expertly managed a project centered on the extensive Ansel Adams material within the Polaroid collection. Jennifer’s meticulous research has provided invaluable insights into the Adams test photographs and the accompanying memos.

Building on this strong foundation, Baker Library is proud to present From Concept to Product: Meroë Morse and Polaroid’s Culture of Art and Innovation, 1945–1969. Drawing on the wealth of materials in the Polaroid Corporation Collection, this exhibition uncovers the inspiring career of Meroë Morse and highlights the contributions of the multidisciplinary team with whom she worked at Polaroid.

Morse graduated from Smith College, where she studied under art historian Clarence Kennedy, an early consultant to Polaroid. With no background in science or business, she became a key collaborator with Land in the early development of instant photography. She rose to manager of black-and-white photographic research and later to director of special photographic research—a notable achievement for a woman in the 1950s and ’60s. Morse also served as chief liaison to Ansel Adams, the renowned landscape photographer. A principal consultant for Polaroid from 1948 until his death in 1984, Adams tested the company’s prototype cameras and film. This exhibition examines the dynamic and creative collaboration among Land, Adams, Kennedy, and Morse that resulted in extraordinary innovations and products.

In developing this exhibition, we benefited from the insights of Victor McElheny and Paul Messier. We extend special thanks to John and Mary McCann and Barbara Hitchcock for their review of the catalogue manuscript. Crystal Woodward shared materials relating to her mother, Eudoxia Muller Woodward, a key early researcher in instant photography.

This exhibition and its accompanying catalogue would not have been possible without the significant contributions of Melissa Banta, the exhibition curator. Melissa’s thoughtful analysis, creativity, and keen eye are evident throughout, and I am profoundly grateful for her unwavering dedication and enthusiasm.

I also wish to extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Special Collections and Archives exhibition team, particularly Melissa Murphy, whose attention to detail and coordination were instrumental in keeping us on track. Each member of the team played a crucial role in the success of this project, and their efforts are truly appreciated.

Baker Library remains grateful to the Polaroid Corporation, whose leadership during a challenging period for the company demonstrated remarkable foresight to safeguard the Polaroid Corporation Collection by donating it to Harvard Business School. This generous act has ensured the preservation of Land’s outstanding legacy of bold scientific innovation, allowing researchers to continue to learn from the story of this iconic firm.

Laura Linard
Senior Director, Baker Library
Special Collections and Archives
September 2024