Morgan L. Gies Presidential Vehicles Photographs Collection
This collection consists of photographs, press kits, clippings and other ephemera related to presidential vehicles including the Sunshine Special, the Bubble Top and the 1961 Lincoln used by President Kennedy.
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
MoreMorgan 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.
LessScope 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...
MoreThe 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.
LessCollection 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.
Related Objects
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
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
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:
Kennedy PT-109 Tie Clasp, 1960
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.
Kennedy PT-109 Pin, 1960
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
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:
Kennedy PT-109 Pin, 1960
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.
50 Star American Flag Used on Presidential Limousine, 1960-1965
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
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
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:
50 Star American Flag Used on Presidential Limousine, 1960-1965
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.
48 Star American Flag Used on Roosevelt's & Truman's Presidential Limousine, circa 1945
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
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
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:
48 Star American Flag Used on Roosevelt's & Truman's Presidential Limousine, circa 1945
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.
Kennedy & Johnson, "Leadership in the '60s," Matchbook, 1961
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.
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963
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:
Kennedy & Johnson, "Leadership in the '60s," Matchbook, 1961
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.
Hood Ornament Allegedly Owned by Al Capone, circa 1930
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
Place of Creation
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:
Hood Ornament Allegedly Owned by Al Capone, circa 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.
The President's House Matchbook, 1960-1970
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.
Creators
Place of Creation
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:
The President's House Matchbook, 1960-1970
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.
"We're Fore Ike" Golf Tees, 1956
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
Place of Creation
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:
"We're Fore Ike" Golf Tees, 1956
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.
Flag of Ecuador Used on John F. Kennedy's Presidential Limousine, 1962
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
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963
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:
Flag of Ecuador Used on John F. Kennedy's Presidential Limousine, 1962
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.
