Business Executive, Philanthropist. He was trained for a business career and worked as a merchant in St. Louis before enlisting for the Civil War. Strong served as a Union Navy Paymaster and was present at battles in South Carolina and Alabama, afterwards returning to Rochester, where he became active in a whip making business. In 1880 he became a partner with George Eastman in the manufacture of photographic plates, film and cameras in a company first called Strong & Eastman, later Eastman Dry Plate and Film, and finally Eastman-Kodak. Strong was its first President, serving from 1880 until his death. One of Rochester's most prominent citizens, he also became active in other businesses, including a button company, a voting machine company, and several banks, insurance companies and utilities. The expansion of photography made possible by Eastman-Kodak cameras and film made him one of the wealthiest men in the United States, which enabled him to engage in philanthropic activities in the Rochester area and throughout the country during the last twenty years of his life. Halls and auditoriums at several colleges were named for members of Strong's family, including facilities on the campus of the Rochester Theological Seminary and the University of Rochester. Even after years of donations, at his death his estate was still valued at more than $20 million (nearly $250 million in 2010 dollars), and his descendants have continued his philanthropy.
Business Executive, Philanthropist. He was trained for a business career and worked as a merchant in St. Louis before enlisting for the Civil War. Strong served as a Union Navy Paymaster and was present at battles in South Carolina and Alabama, afterwards returning to Rochester, where he became active in a whip making business. In 1880 he became a partner with George Eastman in the manufacture of photographic plates, film and cameras in a company first called Strong & Eastman, later Eastman Dry Plate and Film, and finally Eastman-Kodak. Strong was its first President, serving from 1880 until his death. One of Rochester's most prominent citizens, he also became active in other businesses, including a button company, a voting machine company, and several banks, insurance companies and utilities. The expansion of photography made possible by Eastman-Kodak cameras and film made him one of the wealthiest men in the United States, which enabled him to engage in philanthropic activities in the Rochester area and throughout the country during the last twenty years of his life. Halls and auditoriums at several colleges were named for members of Strong's family, including facilities on the campus of the Rochester Theological Seminary and the University of Rochester. Even after years of donations, at his death his estate was still valued at more than $20 million (nearly $250 million in 2010 dollars), and his descendants have continued his philanthropy.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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