(1854–1932), American inventor and philanthropist, born in Waterville, N.Y. Eastman, who was self-educated, played a leading role in transforming photography from an expensive hobby of only a few devotees into a relatively inexpensive and immensely widespread popular pastime. In 1884 Eastman patented the first film in roll form to prove practicable; in 1888 he perfected the Kodak camera, the first camera designed specifically for roll film. In 1892 he established the Eastman Kodak Co., at Rochester, N.Y., one of the first companies to mass-produce standardized photography equipment. This company also manufactured the flexible transparent film, devised by Eastman in 1889, which proved to be vital to the subsequent development of the motion picture industry. Eastman was associated with the company in an administrative and an executive capacity until his death and contributed much to the development of its notable research facilities. He was also one of the outstanding philanthropists of his time, donating more than $75 million to various projects. Notable among Eastman's contributions were a gift to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and endowments for the establishment of the Eastman School of Music in 1918 and a school of medicine and dentistry in 1921 at the University of Rochester.