The History of Kodakery Magazine

Submitted by Al …

Kodakery, "A Magazine For Amateur Photographers", was published by Eastman Kodak from September 1913 through to June 1932. All purchasers of a Kodak or Brownie camera received a free 1-year subscription, otherwise it was sold for 5¢ per copy or $1 for a two-year subscription.

Kodakery was filled with how-to articles, photo-essays, a centerfold photo feature, and advertisements for the latest Kodak products. The magazine was typically 32 pages in length and measured 5¼"x7½". It is interesting to note that the U.S. issue

for a particular month published different articles than the Canadian version of the same month. All issues of both publications are believed to be in the public domain today (not protected by copyright) and many are available online.

Pictures of children, pets and women engaged in idyllic domestic activities were most likely to find their way between Kodakery covers. The children were sometimes pictured wielding cameras - a clear suggestion to the Kodak message that it made photography easily accessible to anyone. Women were also frequently shown using Kodak cameras. The magazine also featured numerous shots of smiling young women in dramatic poses, wearing stylish clothing at the beach or in some exotic location like a cruise ship. Those same images, resembling fashion shots, became very prominent in Kodak advertising presentations.

The magazine format remained constant over the years, while the cover design and interior masthead were changed several times. The original cover design is shown above, note that this design had a border around the margin.

Shown above is the interior masthead. Note that the predominant features displayed in the circles are folding cameras on the left and right, and a developing tank on the bottom.

The cover design was first changed for the July 1921 issue (right). Note that the typeface and text layout have been changed, and the margin border has been removed. The interior masthead remained the same.

Very shortly afterwards the cover was changed again in October 1921 (above left). The main design was not changed, however the 5¢ price tag was added. The interior masthead remained the same.

The cover design stayed the same for approximately seven years, until it changed again in January 1928. This is when the covers began to be printed in color. The interior masthead was also changed, although the differences are subtle.

Like a “Where’s Waldo?” puzzle, if you study the masthead long enough, you will observe that the folding camera in the left circle has been changed to a box camera, and the developing tank in the bottom circle has been switched to a movie camera.

In a total re-design of the cover, the June 1930 issue displayed art-deco styling. The words "Amateur Photographers" were changed to "Amateur Picture Makers". In keeping with the art-deco styling, the 5¢ price tag was replaced with the words “FIVE CENTS”. As with the outside cover, the interior masthead was completely re-designed as well.

The cover was last changed in September 1931. A totally new layout was used, keeping the art-deco styling. The price and words "Magazine for Amateur Picture Makers" were removed and replaced with a list of feature articles included inside. The interior masthead underwent a radical change.

When Kodakery ceased publication in 1932, all current subscribers were sent the book "The Way To Better Pictures", with a letter indicating the discontinuation of the magazine.

"The Kodak Magazine" was a magazine for US Kodak employees from 1920 to the 1940s. That same name was also used in Britain as the name of a magazine for amateur photographers.

Eastman Kodak recycled and reused names for their cameras over the years, so it is no wonder that they did the same with their magazines. "Kodakery" was first used as the name of the magazine for amateur photographers in the U.S. and Canada from 1913 to 1932. Kodak revived the “Kodakery” name once again in 1943, and used it as the title of the newspaper for Kodak employees. This time, Kodakery was only distributed internally and not available to the public. The newspaper was issued biweekly from March to May 1943. Then it was issued weekly from June 1943 to 1985.

After that it was issued mostly monthly until it was discontinued in 2005.