Henry and Wilfred Leland with a Liberty Engine, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1917

01

Artifact Overview

As the United States prepared to enter World War I, Henry Leland wanted his Cadillac Motor Car Company to build Liberty V-12 aircraft engines for the military. But Billy Durant, head of corporate parent General Motors and a dedicated pacifist, refused Leland's request. Leland quit in protest, formed Lincoln Motor Company, and produced 6,500 of the engines.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1917

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

P.O.14952

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in
Width: 10 in