
Plant Engineering Construction Photographs Series
This series contains photographs taken by Ford Motor Company photographers to document the growth of the company around the country. It mainly includes construction photographs of factories, railroad stations, and Dearborn, Michigan buildings.
Biographical / Historical Note
Ford Motor Company photographers were dispatched across the country to document the growth of the company evident in construction projects large and small. A large number of the images are progress photographs documenting the construction of Ford Motor...
MoreFord Motor Company photographers were dispatched across the country to document the growth of the company evident in construction projects large and small. A large number of the images are progress photographs documenting the construction of Ford Motor Company automotive assembly plants, service and repair structures, and manufacturing facilities. Particularly well represented is the construction, repair, and renovation work at the Highland Park Plant in Michigan.
Construction in non-automotive areas include views of the construction of a Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton Railroad passenger station; several hydro-electric power stations and airplane factories and hangars in Dearborn, Chicago, and Cleveland. Dearborn, Michigan projects included in the series are the Dearborn Inn, Dearborn Country Club, the Edison Institute and Greenfield Village (now The Henry Ford), and the Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Engineering Laboratory. The series is also a good source for images of many of the Ford Village Industries, Chicago and New York world's fairs buildings, and several dealerships.
LessScope and Content Note
The Plant Engineering Construction Photographs series is arranged alphabetically by city; all cities are in the United States. The alphabetical listing ends with Oklahoma City. Highland Park, MI occurs in its alphabetic arrangement and following Oklahoma...
MoreThe Plant Engineering Construction Photographs series is arranged alphabetically by city; all cities are in the United States. The alphabetical listing ends with Oklahoma City. Highland Park, MI occurs in its alphabetic arrangement and following Oklahoma City at the conclusion of the collection. The Lincoln Plant in Detroit, Michigan is arranged alphabetically under "L" for Lincoln. While the bulk of the photographs were taken between 1921-1945 it should be noted that the years 1913-1916 are also well documented.
LessCollection Details
Object ID: 64.167.721.0
Creator: Ford Motor Company. Photographic Department
Inclusive Dates: 1913-1953
Size: 16.8 cubic ft.
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Benson Ford Research Center
Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.
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.
Aerial View of Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Charlotte, North Carolina, March 18, 1924

Aerial View of Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Charlotte, North Carolina, March 18, 1924
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
18 March 1924
Summary
Starting in 1912, Ford Motor Company opened domestic assembly plants throughout the United States. Assembling automobiles closer to regional markets reduced shipping costs -- parts were cheaper to ship than completed automobiles. Ford established a branch in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1914. Ten years later the company built a modern one-story assembly plant designed by Albert Kahn. Automobile assembly ceased at this plant in 1933.
Creators
Object ID
64.167.721.271
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:
Aerial View of Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Charlotte, North Carolina, March 18, 1924
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.
Automobiles Inside B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932

Automobiles Inside B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932
Artifact
Photographic print
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.P.833.57239.43
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:
Automobiles Inside B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932
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.
B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932
Artifact
Photographic print
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.P.833.57239.51
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:
B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932
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.
Construction Progress, B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932

Construction Progress, B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932
Artifact
Photographic print
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.P.833.57239.28
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:
Construction Progress, B.R. Brown Service Building at Ford Motor Company Plant, Alexandria, Virginia, 1932
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.
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, 1930
Artifact
Photographic print
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.246
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:
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, 1930
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.
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, 1930
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
1930
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.245
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:
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, 1930
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.
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, June 19, 1931
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
19 June 1931
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.249
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:
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, June 19, 1931
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.
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, May 1931
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
03 May 1931
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.250
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, May 1931
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.
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, November 14, 1930

Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, November 14, 1930
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
14 November 1930
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.721.247
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:
Construction Progress, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Buffalo, New York, November 14, 1930
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.