Morgan L. Gies Presidential Vehicles Photographs Collection

Biographical / Historical Note

Morgan Gies, who assembled this collection, was born in 1908. As a young man he served in the Merchant Marine and operated a service station before becoming a member of the United States Secret Service in 1940. Almost immediately he was placed in

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Morgan Gies, who assembled this collection, was born in 1908. As a young man he served in the Merchant Marine and operated a service station before becoming a member of the United States Secret Service in 1940. Almost immediately he was placed in charge of the White House vehicles, a position he held for 27 years serving five presidents. In addition to overseeing the White House fleet, he was often the driver of the presidential vehicle or as the driver of the back up car. He retired in 1967. During his service he contributed to the design of the "bubble top" and conceived a method of rapidly loading and unloading special limousines from railroad cars and later from Air Force cargo planes. When asked if Mr. Gies ever talked about his job, his son said that his father was proud to be a member of the Secret Service but he refused to talk about anything that happened while in the Service.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection is divided into three series. The Photograph Series (74 photographs) consists of photographs of presidential vehicles from 1939 to 1961, with many that feature the then sitting president and other luminaries in the car. Also included...

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The collection is divided into three series. The Photograph Series (74 photographs) consists of photographs of presidential vehicles from 1939 to 1961, with many that feature the then sitting president and other luminaries in the car. Also included are photographs of presidential vehicles being transported by air and sea and photographs of the special access provided by Franklin Roosevelt’s private railcar, the Ferdinand Magellan.

The Ephemera Series includes a press kit and press releases relating to the 1961 Presidential Lincoln.

The Flags Series contains three American flags and two ceremonial flags flown on the front of presidential vehicles: Franklin Delano Roosevelt's (1882-1945) Sunshine Special, Dwight David Eisenhower's (1890-1969) Bubbletop, and John Fitzgerald Kennedy's (1917-1963) 1961 Lincoln. These vehicles are in the collections of The Henry Ford. Other special flags include one for Princess Elizabeth before she was Queen flown on the Bubbletop and a special flag for Pakistan that was flown on the Bubbletop when President Eisenhower visited that country while on an eleven nation trip through Europe, Africa and Asia.

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Collection Details

Object ID: 2011.241.0
Creator: Gies, Morgan L. 
Creator Notes: The collection was assembled by Morgan L. Gies.
Inclusive Dates: 1939-1966
Size: 0.8 cubic ft. and 1 oversize box
Language: English

Collection Access & Use

Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit

Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.

Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

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Digitized Artifacts From This Collection

In many cases, not all artifacts have been digitized.
Contact us for more information about this collection.

Kennedy PT-109 Tie Clasp, 1960

  Details

Kennedy PT-109 Tie Clasp, 1960

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Tie clasp

Date Made

1960

Summary

This tie clasp - originally distributed in support of John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign - was gifted to United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies. Agent Gies served five presidents, from 1941 until 1967. During Kennedy's presidency, he was responsible for White House vehicles.

Creators

Jolle 

Object ID

2011.241.6

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Kennedy PT-109 Tie Clasp, 1960

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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  Details

Kennedy PT-109 Pin, 1960

  Details
Artifact

Lapel pin

Date Made

1960

Summary

This lapel pin - originally distributed in support of John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign - was gifted to United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies. Agent Gies served five presidents, from 1941 until 1967. During Kennedy's presidency, he was responsible for White House vehicles.

Creators

Unknown 

Object ID

2011.241.7

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Kennedy & Johnson, "Leadership in the '60s," Matchbook, 1961

  Details

Kennedy & Johnson, "Leadership in the '60s," Matchbook, 1961

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Matchbook

Date Made

1961

Summary

This matchbook belonged to United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies. Gies served from 1941 until 1967. He oversaw the fleet of White House vehicles for five presidents -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Object ID

2011.241.9

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Kennedy & Johnson, "Leadership in the '60s," Matchbook, 1961

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Hood Ornament Allegedly Owned by Al Capone, circa 1930

  Details

Hood Ornament Allegedly Owned by Al Capone, circa 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Hood ornament

Date Made

circa 1930

Summary

This hood ornament - later mounted onto an ashtray - reportedly came from Al Capone's armored 1928 Cadillac. The vehicle, impounded in 1931 after the gangster's arrest, was brought into Presidential service in 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Morgan L. Gies, a United States Secret Service agent responsible for White House vehicles from 1941 to 1967, retained this memento.

Creators

Unknown 

Place of Creation

United States 

Object ID

2011.241.12

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Hood Ornament Allegedly Owned by Al Capone, circa 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

50 Star American Flag Used on Presidential Limousine, 1960-1965

  Details

50 Star American Flag Used on Presidential Limousine, 1960-1965

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Flag

Summary

United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies was responsible for White House vehicles from 1941 to 1967, serving five presidents. This 50-star American flag - officially adopted July 4, 1960 - is from his personal collection. It would have flown on the presidential limousines of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Creators

Unknown 

Object ID

2011.241.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

50 Star American Flag Used on Presidential Limousine, 1960-1965

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

48 Star American Flag Used on Roosevelt's & Truman's Presidential Limousine, circa 1945

  Details

48 Star American Flag Used on Roosevelt's & Truman's Presidential Limousine, circa 1945

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Flag

Summary

United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies was responsible for White House vehicles from 1941 to 1967. This American flag from his personal collection flew on the presidential limousines of both Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Its 48 stars represent the United States of America before the admission of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959.

Creators

Unknown 

Object ID

2011.241.4

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

48 Star American Flag Used on Roosevelt's & Truman's Presidential Limousine, circa 1945

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

The President's House Matchbook, 1960-1970

  Details

The President's House Matchbook, 1960-1970

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Matchbook

Date Made

1960-1970

Summary

This matchbook belonged to United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies. Gies served from 1941 until 1967. He oversaw the fleet of White House vehicles for five presidents -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Object ID

2011.241.8

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The President's House Matchbook, 1960-1970

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

"We're Fore Ike" Golf Tees, 1956

  Details

"We're Fore Ike" Golf Tees, 1956

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Golf tees

Date Made

1956

Summary

These golf tees - originally distributed at the 1956 Republican National Convention - belonged to United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies. Gies served from 1941 until 1967. He oversaw the fleet of White House vehicles for five presidents -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Creators

Adver Tees 

Object ID

2011.241.11

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

"We're Fore Ike" Golf Tees, 1956

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Flag of Ecuador Used on John F. Kennedy's Presidential Limousine, 1962

  Details

Flag of Ecuador Used on John F. Kennedy's Presidential Limousine, 1962

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Flag

Summary

United States Secret Service agent Morgan L. Gies was responsible for White House vehicles from 1941 to 1967. This flag from his personal collection flew on John F. Kennedy's presidential limousine during a visit from President Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy of Ecuador in July 1962.

Creators

Unknown 

Object ID

2011.241.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edward L. Gies in Memory of Morgan L. Gies.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Flag of Ecuador Used on John F. Kennedy's Presidential Limousine, 1962

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details