Morgan L. Gies Presidential Vehicles Photographs Collection

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...

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...