Jens Jensen Drawings Series

Biographical / Historical Note

Born in Denmark, landscape architect Jens Jensen came to the United States in 1881. Jensen brought with him an appreciation and love of nature and an unusual skill as a landscape architect, having attended the agricultural and horticultural colleges...

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Born in Denmark, landscape architect Jens Jensen came to the United States in 1881. Jensen brought with him an appreciation and love of nature and an unusual skill as a landscape architect, having attended the agricultural and horticultural colleges of Copenhagen, Berlin, and Hanover. His ability was quickly recognized and he became superintendent of the Union and other small parks in the Great West side of Chicago. Later, he became superintendent of Humboldt Park, general superintendent of the Great West Park System, which includes the famous Garfield Park Conservatory.

Many parks and estates in various cities throughout the United States were the result of Jensen's genius, as were most of the estates along Chicago's famous North Shore. In addition to landscaping Fair Lane, he completed four homes for Edsel Ford and projects for the Dearborn Inn, Henry Ford Hospital, Henry Ford Museum, and the Ford pavilion at the 1933 Chicago Century of Progress. Jens Jensen died on October 1, 1951 at the age of 91.

- From "A Virtual Tour - Jens Jensen" page, The Henry Ford Estate - Fair Lane website. Accessed 2011-06-06 at: http://www.henryfordestate.org/jensen.htm

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Scope and Content Note

Box 1 drawings are linen-backed blueprint reprographic copies, and are bound in individual, numbered volumes. The volumes themselves are housed in a specially-made box.

The large format, blueprint reproduction drawing, catalog number 64.167.797.1, illustrates the Fair Lane house, Rouge River, waterfall, pond, plantings, trees, and gardens.

Collection Details

Object ID: 64.167.797.0
Creator: Jensen, Jens, 1860-1951 
Inclusive Dates: 1914-1924
Size: 1 cubic ft. (1 box and 1 oversize folder)
Language: English

Collection Access & Use

Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit

Access Restrictions: The materials are open for research. However, access to the oversize Fair Lane Landscaping Plan drawing requires advance notice due to special handling.

Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Digitized Artifacts From This Collection

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

Box, Jens Jensen Fair Lane Landscape Architecture Drawings, circa 1921

  Details

Box, Jens Jensen Fair Lane Landscape Architecture Drawings, circa 1921

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Box (Container)

Date Made

circa 1921

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. Jensen created landscape drawings for his vision of the estate's formal and natural areas. Jensen numbered and stored these plans in this case.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.30

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Box, Jens Jensen Fair Lane Landscape Architecture Drawings, circa 1921

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

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  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Planting Plan for Rose Garden," April 1916

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Planting Plan for Rose Garden," April 1916

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. Jensen envisioned naturalistic meadows, gardens, orchards, grottoes, and wandering paths for the nature-loving couple to enjoy. Jensen suggested this planting plan for a more formal rose garden near the house.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.21

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Planting Plan for Rose Garden," April 1916

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

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "The original Location of Residence and Garage," January 1914

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "The original Location of Residence and Garage," January 1914

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. This drawing shows Jensen's starting point. Jensen envisioned and built naturalistic meadows, gardens, orchards, grottoes, and wandering paths throughout the grounds. Jensen's landscaping provided enjoyment for the nature-loving couple for the rest of their lives.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.29

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "The original Location of Residence and Garage," January 1914

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

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Grades and location of buildings," March 1915

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Grades and location of buildings," March 1915

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. Jensen envisioned naturalistic meadows, gardens, orchards, grottoes, and wandering paths for the nature-loving couple to enjoy. This drawing shows the proposed plans for the area around the Fords' 56-room mansion.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.4

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Grades and location of buildings," March 1915

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

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "A Planting Plan No. 3 for the Informal Gardens," April 1920

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "A Planting Plan No. 3 for the Informal Gardens," April 1920

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. Jensen envisioned naturalistic meadows, gardens, orchards, grottoes, and wandering paths for the nature-loving couple to enjoy. This drawing shows the proposed plans for several gardens near the couple's 56-room mansion.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.19

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "A Planting Plan No. 3 for the Informal Gardens," April 1920

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

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Grading Plan, Estate of Henry Ford," 1913-1915

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Grading Plan, Estate of Henry Ford," 1913-1915

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Date Made

1913-1915

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. Jensen's plans envisioned meadows, gardens, orchards, grottoes, and wandering paths for the nature-loving couple to enjoy. This drawing shows part of the grading plan for the grounds around the Ford's home.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Grading Plan, Estate of Henry Ford," 1913-1915

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

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Sections and Elevations of Dam, Henry Ford Estate," 1913-1915

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Sections and Elevations of Dam, Henry Ford Estate," 1913-1915

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Date Made

1913-1915

Summary

Henry Ford planned to tap the power of the Rouge River that ran through his Dearborn, Michigan, estate. A concrete, industrial-looking dam, however, would destroy the natural setting that he and his wife, Clara, desired. Jen Jensen, the landscape architect the couple hired to design the grounds, provided the solution. He camouflaged the dam as a section of natural rapids.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.9

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Sections and Elevations of Dam, Henry Ford Estate," 1913-1915

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

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Plan for Areaway East of Power House," 1915

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Plan for Areaway East of Power House," 1915

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. Jensen created landscape drawings for many of the estate's natural areas. He also provided plans and drawings for landscaping around service areas, such as greenhouses, vegetable gardens, the powerhouse, and other support buildings.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.13

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Plan for Areaway East of Power House," 1915

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

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Plan showing location of Greenhouses and Hotbeds," March 1915

  Details

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Plan showing location of Greenhouses and Hotbeds," March 1915

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Blueline print

Summary

Henry and Clara Ford hired landscape architect Jens Jensen to design the grounds surrounding Fair Lane -- the Fords' 1300-acre Rouge River estate. Jensen created landscape drawings for many of the estate's natural areas. He also provided plans and drawings for more formal areas, such as orchards, vegetable gardens, greenhouses, and hotbeds.

Object ID

64.167.797.2.12

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Landscape Architecture Drawing for Fair Lane, "Plan showing location of Greenhouses and Hotbeds," March 1915

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