The Museum of venerable New England technology education nexus MIT has received an amazing collection of Polaroid equipment from the current holder of the Polaroid IP.
The collection contains every production Polaroid camera, as well as many prototype cameras.
The donation totals more than 9000 items, including many polarizing technologies developed by Polaroid, such as polarized sunglasses and car headlights.
The donation is particularly special to MIT given that Polaroid founder Edwin Land had a strong relationship with MIT. Land had been a visitng professor at MIT, and had originated the idea for MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, which pairs undergrads with faculty for research projects.
Polaroid was also a major employer in the greater Boston area, and its large building along Route 128 currently lays abandoned, a reminder of how technology changes can sometimes leave companies behind.
The MIT museum plans an exhibition of the artifacts in June.
