The Kay R. Whitmore Conservation Center has conducted extensive research on the daguerreotype. The Eastman Museum's vast holdings of daguerreotypes is a singular world resource and has long made the museum a center for historical and material research of the medium. The daguerreotype was the first widely produced photograph, invented in France by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in 1839. It is an image on a polished silver plate—each one a unique positive image. Daguerreotypes were produced for only twenty years before the process was replaced with ambrotypes, tintypes, and collodion negatives

George Eastman was an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and the pioneer of popular photography and motion picture film.

Founding film curator James Card helped to establish the George Eastman Museum as a leader in the fields of cinema and film preservation. Card’s devotion to the silent era of filmmaking (1895–1928), the golden age of Hollywood (1920s–1940s), and silent German cinema created a core collection of classics unrivaled in its quality and diversity. Card is credited with the discovery and preservation of the last surviving print of the silent film Peter Pan (Herbert Brenon, 1924); with re-examining the career and work of silent screen star Louise Brooks by preserving Pandora’s Box (G. W. Pabst, 1928)

The George Eastman Museum honors the legacy of James Card with an annual lecture by a visiting scholar, filmmaker, festival director, or film preservation specialist. The lectures focus on James Card's life and work, his cultural vision, and a wide array of themes linked to the mission of saving, restoring, and showcasing the art of cinema for the benefit of present and future audiences. 2023 | Jon Wengström 2022 | Jan-Christopher Horak 2019 | Elaine Burrows 2018 | Paul C. Spehr 2017 | Alexander Horwath 2016 | David Bordwell 2014 | Ned Price, chief preservation officer, Warner Bros. 2013 |

Learn more about the Colonial Revival mansion, built using classical design but with all the modern conveniences.

Joan the Woman (1916) Cecil B. DeMille’s first large scale historical epic, Joan the Woman (1916), was his most expensive film to date. The final cost of the film exceeded $300,000 ($7,061,590 in 2019), and all the money shows on the screen. The costumes and sets are lavish and the battle scenes impressive. Also impressive is the performance of Geraldine Farrar, Metropolitan Opera soprano in the title role. Farrar, already wildly popular from opera, the movies only increased her fame. Joan the Woman was the fourth of six films she made with DeMille. Enhancing the look of the film was a new

George Eastman Award The George Eastman Award was established by the museum in 1955 to recognize individuals for their distinguished contribution to the art of film. Light & Motion Awards At the Light & Motion Awards, the George Eastman Museum pays tribute to the accomplishments of leaders in the fields of motion pictures and photography and recognizes artists from a new generation. Other Awards and Honors George Eastman Honorary Scholar The title George Eastman Honorary Scholar, established in 1995, is presented for artistic achievement. George Eastman Medal of Honor Awarded in recognition of

At the Light & Motion Awards, the George Eastman Museum paid tribute to the accomplishments of leaders in the fields of motion pictures and photography and recognizes artists from a new generation. The award ceremonies bring together Eastman Museum supporters in New York City to celebrate the museum's work in conservation and preservation. Light & Motion Award for Advocacy Lifetime Achievement Emerging Icon Corporate Photography Moving Image Photography Moving Image 2014 Leonard Maltin Mary Ellen Mark Alexander Payne Chris McCaw Julia Loktev Blurb 2012 Carole and Howard Tanenbaum Howard

The George Eastman Museum has bestowed honors upon individuals whose work enriches and promote the fields of photography and cinema, and who contribute to the philanthropic and cultural legacy of George Eastman. The title George Eastman Honorary Scholar, established in 1995, is presented for artistic achievement. Established in 2006, the George Eastman Medal of Honor has been awarded in recognition of meritorious service to the advancement of the principles embodied by George Eastman, and Eastman House Honors, was a special recognition given in 2009 to an artist whose life work embodies the