Henry A. Strong

Henry Alvah Strong (August 30, 1838 – July 26, 1919) was an American photography businessman. He was the first president of the Eastman Kodak Company^[1][2][3]

Henry A. Strong
Born	Henry Alvah Strong (1838-08-30)August 30, 1838 Rochester, New York, U.S.
Died	July 26, 1919(1919-07-26) (aged 80) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Photography businessman, inventor
Spouses	Helen Phoebe Griffin ​ ​ (m. 1859; died 1904)​ Hattie Maria (Corrin) Lockwood ​ ​ (m. 1905)​
Children	Gertrude Achilles Helen Carter Henry G. Strong Lester Corrin Strong
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Early life and family

Bas-relief in Strong Auditorium on the University of Rochester River Campus

Henry Strong was born on August 30, 1838, in Rochester, New York.^[4] His brother was the theologian Augustus Hopkins Strong.^[1]

He graduated from Wyoming Academy in 1858. On August 30, 1859, he married Helen Phoebe Griffin. They had three children: Gertrude Achilles, Helen Carter, and Henry G. Strong. After Helen's death in 1904 from diabetes, he married Hattie (Corrin) Lockwood on June 14, 1905.^[5] He adopted her son, Corrin, and the family returned to Rochester, New York.^[6]

Business ventures

1887 ad for Strong and Woodbury Lashes

Strong held a lead position in his family's buggy whip manufacturing company prior to meeting George Eastman in 1870. The two entered a partnership in 1880 and the Eastman Dry Plate Company was founded on January 1, 1881, with Strong as president and Eastman as treasurer.^[7] It would later become Eastman Kodak Company.^[2]

Strong died at his home in Rochester on July 26, 1919.^[4]

Legacy

Numerous buildings in Rochester, notably Strong Memorial Hospital and Strong Auditorium at the University of Rochester were built from his philanthropy.