Press Release

The Henry Ford Awarded IMLS Grant to Conserve Key Electrical Artifacts in Archive of American Innovation

(Dearborn, Mich. – Nov. 10, 2015) — The Henry Ford is proud to announce that it was the recent recipient of a $150,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The grant will aid in a two-year project to clean, rehouse and create fully digital catalog records for over 900 electrical-related artifacts within its Archive of American Innovation. These key artifacts include collections acquired by Henry Ford in the 1920s and 1930s from Thomas Edison, Westinghouse, General Electric and the Edison Pioneers, along with artifacts tied to Nikola Tesla, Elihu Thompson, Frank Sprague and many other electrical innovators.

With this grant, The Henry Ford will improve access and preserve these historically significant items that represent the building blocks of our electrical infrastructure for generations to come.

This project will also aid in the development of new cutting edge visitor experiences, providing foundational cataloging and object conservation for upcoming exhibitions at Henry Ford Museum that explore innovation-related themes and topics tied to industrialization, mass production and the information revolution. By cataloging and digitizing each artifact within this collection, The Henry Ford will be able to make the objects available publicly online or through its interactive kiosks inside Henry Ford Museum to researchers, museum staff and visitors, educators and students, and general enthusiasts.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan is an internationally-recognized cultural destination that brings the past forward by immersing visitors in the stories of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation that helped shape America. A national historic landmark with an unparalleled collection of artifacts from 300 years of American history, The Henry Ford is a force for sparking curiosity and inspiring tomorrow’s innovators. More than 1.6 million visitors annually experience its five attractions: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. A continually expanding array of content available online provides anytime, anywhere access. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates 485 students a year on the institution’s campus. In 2014, The Henry Ford premiered its first-ever national television series, The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation, showcasing present-day change-makers and The Henry Ford’s artifacts and unique visitor experiences. Hosted by news correspondent and humorist, Mo Rocca, this Emmy®-winning weekly half-hour show airs Saturday mornings on CBS. For more information please visit our website thehenryford.org.