Jesse Owens, August 3, 1944

Summary

Jesse Owens won four gold medals in track and field events at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. In 1942, his friend Willis Ward encouraged Owens to join Ford Motor Company and ultimately succeed Ward as director of its personnel department for African American employees. Owens later worked in public relations at the company. He remained with Ford until 1946.

Jesse Owens won four gold medals in track and field events at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. In 1942, his friend Willis Ward encouraged Owens to join Ford Motor Company and ultimately succeed Ward as director of its personnel department for African American employees. Owens later worked in public relations at the company. He remained with Ford until 1946.

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

03 August 1944

Collection Title

General Photographs Series 

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

64.167.833.P.80420.4

Credit

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

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Linen (Material)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 10.938 in

Width: 8.125 in

Connect 3

Discover curious connections between artifacts.

Learn More