Eastman's Untold Legacy: The Vault

The George Eastman House opened to the public in 1949, but beneath the museum is a treasure most people never get to see.  "This collection is a national and probably international treasure," said Todd Gustavson, Curator  George Eastman House.  "You're really not going to find anything like it anyplace else."  In a climate controlled vault underground is what's referred to as "The Technology Collection."  There are more than 25-thousand separate items including photographs and films. 
Items like vintage prints from Ansel Adams.  Also, film classics like The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind.  Many Hollywood stars like Martin Scorsese use the Eastman House to store films.  "We are trying to store an infinite collection in a fixed space.  It's a complicated thing to do," said Gustavson.  A large section of the vault is reserved for items from The Eastman Kodak Patent Collection.  Nearly every Kodak camera ever made is being preserved here.  The Kodak Company has donated many items to the museum. Over the years designers and engineers also set things aside.  Plus, countless individuals have donated items.  Curators don't usually accept duplicates.  Gustavson said, "It's sort of like a never ending list of amazing products that have rolled out of Rochester."