John Margolies Roadside America Transparencies
John Margolies traveled throughout the United States for more than thirty-five years taking photographs of American commercial architecture and design. The collection contains approximately 1500 color transparencies and includes images of theaters, gas stations, motels and restaurants among other subjects.
Biographical / Historical Note
John Margolies (1940-2016) traveled throughout the United States for more than thirty-five years taking photographs of American commercial architecture and design. Some of the photographs were used in the publication of his many books on the signs, architecture,...
MoreJohn Margolies (1940-2016) traveled throughout the United States for more than thirty-five years taking photographs of American commercial architecture and design. Some of the photographs were used in the publication of his many books on the signs, architecture, resorts, travel and tourist attractions in America. A complete list of Margolies' publications can be found on an archived version of his website held by the Internet Archive at https://web.archive.org/web/20170929110416/https://www.johnmargolies.com/.
LessScope and Content Note
The collection contains approximately 1500 35mm color transparencies and is organized into two series. The General series, 1973-2004, includes images of theaters, gas stations, motels, restaurants, hotels, the Atlantic coast, and tourist attractions....
MoreThe collection contains approximately 1500 35mm color transparencies and is organized into two series. The General series, 1973-2004, includes images of theaters, gas stations, motels, restaurants, hotels, the Atlantic coast, and tourist attractions. The Main Street series, 1975 2005, is comprised of civic buildings, banks, clubs, churches, barber shops and signs, and commercial buildings.
Researchers should note there is an item level inventory to the transparencies in Box 1. The inventory lists location and date the photograph was taken.
Selected items from the collection have been digitized and are available at: http://collections.thehenryford.org/Collection.aspx?keywords=%22John+Margolies+Roadside+America+transparencies%22
LessCollection Details
Object ID: 2013.150.0
Creator: Margolies, John
Inclusive Dates: 1973-2005
Size: 3 oversize boxes
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit
Access Restrictions: The transparencies are open for research.
Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Digitized Artifacts From This Collection
In many cases, not all artifacts have been digitized.
Contact us for more information about this collection.
1 Hr. Drive-In Cleaners Sign, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 1987
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following 3 decades he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
2013.150.1479
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1 Hr. Drive-In Cleaners Sign, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 1987
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.
Mickey's Diner, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following 3 decades he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.424
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Mickey's Diner, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1976
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.
Presto Whip Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
These silos stored soybean oil and sugar. They stood in front of the Dearborn, Michigan, factory that made Presto Whip -- a soy-based non-dairy whipped topping. The company fashioned these eye-catching advertisements around plain, ordinary storage tanks. The silos became a recognizable landmark and local residents fondly remember these roadside signposts long after they were torn down.
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
2013.150.1341
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Presto Whip Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1976
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.
Cunningham Drugs, Detroit, Michigan, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following 3 decades he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1391
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Cunningham Drugs, Detroit, Michigan, 1976
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.
Presto Whip Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
These silos stored soybean oil and sugar. They stood in front of the Dearborn, Michigan, factory that made Presto Whip -- a soy-based non-dairy whipped topping. The company fashioned these eye-catching advertisements around plain, ordinary storage tanks. The silos became a recognizable landmark and local residents fondly remember these roadside signposts long after they were torn down.
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
2013.150.1340
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Presto Whip Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1976
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.
Bradley's Mobil, Franklin, New York, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following 3 decades he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.118
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Bradley's Mobil, Franklin, New York, 1976
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.
Presto Whip Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
These silos stored soybean oil and sugar. They stood in front of the Dearborn, Michigan, factory that made Presto Whip -- a soy-based non-dairy whipped topping. The company fashioned these eye-catching advertisements around plain, ordinary storage tanks. The silos became a recognizable landmark and local residents fondly remember these roadside signposts long after they were torn down.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1339
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Presto Whip Building, Dearborn, Michigan, 1976
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.
Dog House, Los Angeles, California, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following 3 decades he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.440
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Dog House, Los Angeles, California, 1976
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.
White Tower, Highland Park, Michigan, 1976
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following 3 decades he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.393
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
White Tower, Highland Park, Michigan, 1976
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.
