Often his wife would extract from him the answers to homework problems, at the prodding of his instructor. According to biographer Peter Wensberg, once Land could see the solution to a problem in his head, he lost all motivation to write it down or prove his vision to others. Land especially when he set up visiting posts to Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Despite not receiving a college degree, he was still referred to from many as Dr. Land returned to Harvard University after developing the polarizing film, but he did not finish his studies or receive a degree. His breakthrough came when he realized that, instead of attempting to grow a large single crystal of a polarizing substance, he could manufacture a film with millions of micron-sized polarizing crystals that were coaxed into perfect alignment with each other. : 75 He also availed himself of the New York Public Library to scour the scientific literature for prior work on polarizing substances. He was not associated with an educational institution and lacked the tools of a proper laboratory, making this a difficult endeavor, so he would sneak into a laboratory at Columbia University late at night to use their equipment. There he invented the first inexpensive filters capable of polarizing light, which he called Polaroid film. He studied physics at Harvard University, more specifically, optics, but left after his freshman year, moving to New York City. The library there was posthumously named for him, having been funded by grants from his family. Land attended the Norwich Free Academy at Norwich, Connecticut, a semi-private high school, and graduated in the class of 1927 with honors. "nothing or nobody could stop me from carrying through the execution of an experiment" He had an elder sister named Helen who had a difficult time pronouncing Edwin's name, so she called him "Din" a nickname that stuck throughout the rest of his childhood and was used among his closest friends. : 14 He was scolded by his father when taking apart a phonograph and he vowed that Growing up, he was known to take apart household appliances, such as a mantel clock and the family's new gramophone, as well as blowing all the house's fuses when he was six years old. His Polaroid instant camera went on sale in late 1948 and made it possible for a picture to be taken and developed in 60 seconds or less.Įdwin Land was born to Jewish parents in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Matie ( née Goldfaden) and Harry Land, a Russian scrap-metal dealer. He invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light, a practical system of in-camera instant photography, and the retinex theory of color vision, among other things. Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family, 43.Edwin Herbert Land, ForMemRS, FRPS, Hon.MRI (May 7, 1909 – March 1, 1991) was an American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. Paul\”™s Episcopal Church 605 Clay St., Lynchburg, VA 24504, or a charity of your choice. Memorial contributions may be made to Richmond SCORE, 400 North 8 th Street #1150, Richmond, VA 23219, St. Teddy is survived by a brother, Owen Howe Harper, his wife Kathy, his nieces Hillary Harper, Eloise Harper Connolly, and a nephew, Charles Plimpton Harper, all of San Francisco, CA.Ī memorial service in honor of Teddy\”™s life will be scheduled at a later date. Among others, he was an active member of the Mayflower Associates and St. Teddy graduated from Christ Church in Glen Allen VA, attended Swathmore College in Philadelphia PA, and graduated from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg.Įngaged in a number of entrepreneurial and non-profit activities throughout his life, Teddy was most consumed by his organic farming business, domiciled at a family farm in Bedford County. Edwin Adams Harper and Margretta Smedley Howe Harper. He was born in Lynchburg on November 2, 1935, a son of the late Dr. Edwin Adams Harper (Teddy) Jr., 76, of Lynchburg, passed away on Monday, March 26, 2012.
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