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The Argus Museum is housed in one of the Argus Camera Co.'s former factory buildings. Included in the collection are rare and proto-type cameras, unusual equipment and accessories, military devices, and employee memorabilia. The archives, house a photograph collection, company documents including manuals and ads, and a large collection of the company’s newsletter, The Argus Eyes.
Argus, which was started as the International Radio Corporation (IRC) in 1931, was established to help Ann Arbor’s economy during the Great Depression and first produced radios. Beginning in 1935, ICR began manufacturing cameras, the first being the Model A. With that, the company played an important role in popularizing amateur photography by manufacturing cameras and accessories that were affordable and easy to operate. In 1941, it changed its name again to Argus Incorporated. Argus cameras of the 1940s and 1950s are often viewed as iconic classic American-made cameras. During that time, significant photographic collections were created using Argus cameras. The company even contributed to making wartime equipment during WWII and the Korean Conflict.
Today, the Argus Museum holds the largest collection of Argus-related cameras and productions.
