Dr. Julian Webb papers

Dr. Julian Webb was born in Anderson, South Carolina in 1902. He studied electrical engineering at Clemson College for his undergrad and continued his studies to earn a masters degree at the University of Wisconsin for electrical engineering and a PhD in physics in 1929. Dr. Webb joined the research labratories of Eastman Kodak in 1931. While at Kodak became interested in latent image formation, and pioneered the application of quantum mechanics of crystalline solids to silver halides and to the photographic process. Webb also assisted with various other photo and film processing techniques that are still being used today. Webb then began to work on the electromagnetic separation of uranium isotopes during World War 2 for the Manhattan Project. During this time he also assisted with a process to mold high precision optical elements, which has become important for the process of high quality glass lenses. After the war Webb turned his attention back to photographic research and the formation of the photographic latent image. Dr. Webb continued his career with Kodak until 1967 when he retired. Dr. Webb passed away in April of 1988 at the age of 85.