Charles F. Hutchison collection

Charles Force Hutchison (May 21, 1875-Nov. 23, 1974) was born in Rochester, the son of Mary and James Hutchison, a deputy collector of customs and Civil War veteran. In 1927, he married Alice Whitney, George Eastman's personal secretary from 1890 until Eastman's death in 1932. Following Alice's death in 1937, Charles Hutchison married Marjorie E. (Smith) McDowell (1890-1978) in 1938.

After working for Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Charles Hutchison became a student at the University of Rochester and graduated in 1898 with a degree in chemistry. He joined Kodak in 1902 and began a long, distinguished career as a close associate of George Eastman and controller of film and plate emulsion for the United States and Canada. As an authority on the design of emulsion, Hutchison is recognized as the primary developer of the Kodak Park facilities for emulsion making. He retired in 1952 after over fifty years at the company.

Hutchison was also a trustee and advisor of Community Savings Bank and an honorary chairman of the Hillside Children's Center. His biggest contributions outside Kodak, however, were to his alma mater, beginning in 1932 when he was named to the University of Rochester Board of Trustees. He served as secretary of the Board from 1947 to 1961 and as a member of its executive committee from 1932 to 1938. Hutchison was made an honorary trustee in 1959 but continued to attend meetings until well into the 1970s. He was also active as a member of the Board of Managers of the Eastman School of Music from 1932 through 1971. For his contributions to the University, Hutchison was awarded the Associated Alumni Award in 1951 and was named an honorary alumnus of the Eastman School. According to a statement from President Robert Sproull and Chancellor W. Allen Wallis, Hutchison's 80 years of service to the University covers nearly two-thirds its history.

Upon his death in 1974, Charles F. Hutchison bequeathed to the University of Rochester over $25 million "for present or future construction and for the maintenance thereof." It marked the single largest bequest received by any college or university in the previous five years and was one of the three largest ever received by the University of Rochester, after George Eastman's $55 million and $25 million given by Xerox chairman Joseph C. Wilson. At his memorial service, it was further revealed that Charles Hutchison had been the anonymous donor of the Meridian Marker at the center of the Eastman Quadrangle, installed in 1954 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of George Eastman's birth.

Today Charles Hutchison is recognized at each commencement ceremony, when the Charles Force Hutchison and Marjorie Smith Hutchison Medal is awarded to a University of Rochester alumnus or alumna for "outstanding achievement and notable service to the community, state, or nation." Charles Hutchison is probably best known in the University community, however, as the namesake of Hutchison Hall, dedicated October 24, 1971. Located on the River Campus with views of the Genesee River, Hutchison Hall houses the departments of chemistry, biology, and earth science. For a time, the University also owned Charles Hutchison's former home at 930 East Avenue, which he donated in 1951. Hutchison House was used by the Eastman School of Music as a student union, recital hall, activity center, and, from 1964 to 1975, as the residence of the school director. The building was given to the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in 1976.

An infirmary at the Hillside Children's Center was also named for Charles Hutchison. For the most part, however, Hutchison preferred his donations to be anonymous.