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Your Photos: Project Polaroid

My first husband, Ben Davis, was a chemist for Polaroid from 1961 until the ’80s. In the early days, I can remember Dr. Land calling my husband during the night if he got a big idea. I have so many photos as he brought home cameras almost every weekend to test the film, but, unfortunately, they are mostly in Massachusetts. I even have some early black and whites which you had to coat with a special chemical that came with the box of film. I can only imagine what was in that! I remember it smelled pretty bad. The early color photos curled badly so Polaroid came up with idea of attaching the sticky card board backs. Then they developed the system that combined everything in one photo — no separate coating or backs. That really brought on instant photography in a big way. P.S. The children in these pictures are mine! — Linda Glaser, Naples

My first husband, Ben Davis, was a chemist for Polaroid from 1961 until the ’80s. In the early days, I can remember Dr. Land calling my husband during the night if he got a big idea. I have so many photos as he brought home cameras almost every weekend to test the film, but, unfortunately, they are mostly in Massachusetts. I even have some early black and whites which you had to coat with a special chemical that came with the box of film. I can only imagine what was in that! I remember it smelled pretty bad. The early color photos curled badly so Polaroid came up with idea of attaching the sticky card board backs. Then they developed the system that combined everything in one photo — no separate coating or backs. That really brought on instant photography in a big way. P.S. The children in these pictures are mine! — Linda Glaser, Naples

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  • Polaroid by Leslie Herzer
  • Polaroid by Chris D. King
  • This Polaroid is of Gary Hochberg and his cousin Jim during a trip to Washington, DC and Williamsburg, VA in July 1963. Hochberg writes, 'our great Uncle Ralph took us on the trip to see the sights in Washington, and then to colonial Williamsburg. Jim and I were just 7 years old and we spent most of our childhood as close friends.'
  • Lisa Mair submitted this Polaroid of her fishing.
  • This photo is of my grandmother Victoria Rowe and her third husband Jesse shortly after they were married. They were just cutting up. I don’t know what year, probably 1976. — Edward Grubbs
  • Jorge Velasquez submitted this Polaroid of his son.
  • Tom Falciglia submitted this Polaroid of his daughter.
  • Polaroid submitted by Margo Snyder
  • Polaroid submitted by Bonnie Sheldrake
  • Polaroid submitted by Al Romeo
  • Sadler Polaroid
  • Polaroid by Jurene C. Cook
  • Archer Polaroid.
  • Polaroid by Lynda Combs
  • Polaroid submitted by Tracy Mobley-Martinez.
  • Polaroid submitted by Tracy Mobley-Martinez.
  • Polaroid submitted by Tracy Mobley-Martinez.
  • Polaroid submitted by Tracy Mobley-Martinez.
  • Polaroid submitted by Tracy Mobley-Martinez.
  • Tammy and Tommy Rodgers. Polaroid submitted by Julia Rodgers
  • Tammra Sigler submitted this Polaroid of Tee Hee, one of Sigler's Labrador Retrievers. Sigler writes, 'I am an artist (painter) and Tee was always in my studio with me. So was my Polaroid. One day I decided to put Tee to work and I got this shot in front of one of my large canvases.'
  • Jim Albert submitted this Polaroid of his son, Justin (age 7), when they were at a circus and a snake charmer put his snake around Justin's neck.
  • Maureen (Hannigan) Wurtz submitted this Polaroid taken in December 2000 at the Publix store at the Strand. Wurtz writes, 'John and I were just engaged to be married and Santa noticed our beaming faces. We were very much in love. It was Christmas time and we shared our good news with Santa. I'm also happy to mention we'll be celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary on May 4th.'
  • The Polaroid played an important part of my teen years. In 1966, for my 14th Birthday I received a Swinger Polaroid. It was a right of passage documenting my teen years. It was a small white Polaroid and only produced the small pictures. That was my only gift and we used it that night. You can see me cutting my birthday cake. That was March 24th, 1966. As you can see I enjoyed taking pictures of my animals. — Pat Mantis, Naples
  • This Polaroid is of Gary Hochberg and his cousin Jim during a trip to Washington, DC and Williamsburg, VA in July 1963. Hochberg writes, 'our great Uncle Ralph took us on the trip to see the sights in Washington, and then to colonial Williamsburg. Jim and I were just 7 years old and we spent most of our childhood as close friends.'
  • This picture was taken in Glocester, R.I. on Jan. 10, 1970. My husband had shoveled the snow from our swimming pool and banked the sides with the snow. Our two daughters and their friends were enjoying ice skating. — Martha Glasheen, Bonita Springs
  • Enclosed is a Polaroid photo taken of me in my boss’ office in June 1949. It was one of the earliest photos made with that camera. Note: The color of the Polaroid still had to be adjusted to black and white.— Edward Shorkey, Naples
  • In the summer of 1955, I purchased the wedding gift for my husband-to-be: The Polaroid camera show in this picture. We were married in Massachusetts on Sept. 3, 1955. This picture was taken sometime in 1956, in either Illinois or Missouri. Bill was in the Air Force, stationed at Scott Air Force Base. Most Sundays we spent touring in Missouri. The camera and case, plus many pictures are in my home in Massachusetts. This picture travels back and forth with me as I love Bill’s smile looking at me. He enjoyed using the camera for many years. I am a widow for almost 11 years. — Mary Ann Kennally, Naples
  • Jeri Borchers was a Polaroid camera girl.
  • I have lived in Naples since 1970. There is always something new and different to photograph. Polaroid manipulations were so much fun to work with all the different utensils. Very sad their day is over. I love the colors in Tin City, especially the bright red wall with green palms. — Diane Boran, Naples
  • This is a 'first' for me, but I could not resist your invitation to resurrect the original Polaroid camera! What memories! Added to the memory enclosed is the fact that I was raised in Polaroid 'country' — a legend on Route 128 outside of Boston — 10 minutes from my hometown of Arlington, Mass. For the photo — the year was 1954 — I was 17 years old. We were a large family and several of us played instruments by ear. We started a singing group, performing mostly at youth and camp ministries. We were unique at that time, playing country western music in New England! When we were played our first concert, my older brother took this photo with the first big, brown leather-looking Polaroid camera. The date was March 5, 1954. I might add I sewed all those country western shorts, cut the trim, did the embroidery, grommets and all — hard for me to believe even today! — Rosalie Tavilla, Naples
  • My first husband, Ben Davis, was a chemist for Polaroid from 1961 until the ’80s. In the early days, I can remember Dr. Land calling my husband during the night if he got a big idea. I have so many photos as he brought home cameras almost every weekend to test the film, but, unfortunately, they are mostly in Massachusetts. I even have some early black and whites which you had to coat with a special chemical that came with the box of film. I can only imagine what was in that! I remember it smelled pretty bad. The early color photos curled badly so Polaroid came up with idea of attaching the sticky card board backs. Then they developed the system that combined everything in one photo — no separate coating or backs. That really brought on instant photography in a big way. P.S. The children in these pictures are mine! — Linda Glaser, Naples
  • This snook was caught sometime between 1983-1986 in the Ten Thousand Islands. — Marvin C. Rodgers, Naples
  • These are my barbecue shots. Judging by the hairstyle, it was in the summer of 1984. I was staying at my grandparents’ for a few weeks and my grandpa decided he would let me barbecue (the first and last time — haven’t touched a grill since). ... So sad to see the Polaroid disappearing. It was always so magical to me. — Lisa Mair, Naples
  • Jim Albert submitted this Polaroid of his TV showing the Apollo lunar landing on July 20, 1969. Albert was 14 years old.
  • Shoveling snow in Bronxville, New York.
  • Polaroid photo taken in 1978 of Andy Dickson who at 9 was the state wide gymnastic gold medalist (for his age group) in Massachusetts. Polaroid submitted by his mother Mary Limont Naples Florida
  • Alice and John Good submitted this Polaroid of the blizzard of 1978.
  • Using the SX-70 film, it was a defective pack, but I love this picture of my wife, daughter and cat 'Fluffy,' who was on the way to being euthanized. The cat and the women each of the same look in their eyes, don’t you think? — Tony Oteri, Naples
  • These are my barbecue shots. Judging by the hairstyle, it was in the summer of 1984. I was staying at my grandparents’ for a few weeks and my grandpa decided he would let me barbecue (the first and last time — haven’t touched a grill since). ... So sad to see the Polaroid disappearing. It was always so magical to me. — Lisa Mair, Naples
  • The Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl in 1986, but were not as successful the following season. Coach Mike Ditka spoke at a charity banquet in St. Charles, Ill, on April 13, 1987, when I had this Polaroid picture taken with him and after it developed in a minute, The Coach signed it. — Joseph Russ, Marco Island
  • I thought that this Polaroid photograph might be of interest to you. It is a photo of our daughter, Gail, taken in a grove of trees in Weston, Mass., in 1966, by one of Dr. Land’s personal photographers, Inge Reethof. She was testing a new 4 x 5 Polaroid Professional Color Film and used a Hasselbad Camera with a Polaroid adapter back. Dr. Land (the founder of Polaroid) so loved this picture that he made it into a black and white mural and had it mounted in the lobby of our corporate headquarters at 575 Technology Square in Cambridge, Mass. So, for over 30 years, you would be welcomed by our little 4-year-old daughter who was affixed to a lobby entry column, holding her balloons. — Richard J. Haberlin; (Polaroid employee 1960-80), Naples

Maybe you still use it now and then. Or perhaps it’s gathering dust on some shelf in the garage or waiting in a box, ready for your next yard sale. Your Polaroid. Brownies and Instamatics were fine, but no other camera gave the shooter the immediacy, the intimacy and the elation of reproducing life in their hand.

Related Stories for Your Photos: Project Polaroid

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