Expert Sets

The experts at The Henry Ford have carefully created these sets. Explore a specific topic or use these as a foundation for building your own collection.
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The experts at The Henry Ford have carefully created these sets. Explore a specific topic or use these as a foundation for building your own collection.

Just Added to Our Digital Collections

Created 01.24.2016 | 18 artifacts

Browse selected artifacts recently added to The Henry Ford's digital collections. These are just a handful of the more than 900 new items digitized in May 2019.

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Cars Inspired by the Stars

Created 05.23.2019 | 12 artifacts

When it came time to name a new model, or even a new company, automakers often found inspiration in the stars. Astronomical phenomena, planets, and whole galaxies have all found their way onto fender badges and hood ornaments. Here are just a few examples.

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Collecting through the Decades: 1960s

Created 05.23.2019 | 8 artifacts

The Henry Ford marks its 90th anniversary in 2019. In celebration, The Henry Ford's curators have taken a decade-by-decade look at how our collections have grown -- through significant additions and evolving philosophies. This set looks at some of the objects and archives collected during the 1960s.

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Blast Off! A Collection of Space-Themed Banks

Created 05.10.2019 | 10 artifacts

In 2018-2019, The Henry Ford acquired a collection of space-themed banks and related materials dating from 1949 to 1964. These items, produced by Detroit-based companies Duro Mold and Manufacturing and Astro Manufacturing, were offered at local bank branches as incentives for potential customers to start bank accounts. The mechanical banks' designs speak to Americans' changing perceptions of outer space during that time--from fantasy to reality.

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Henry J. Heinz: His Recipe for Success

Created 05.09.2019 | 17 artifacts

With a unique flair for marketing and a high standard of production, H. J. Heinz changed Americans' attitudes towards processed food products. From exclusively selling horseradish in 1869 to offering over 60 varieties of products, Heinz built an empire and became a household name. This selection of items highlights the passion, dedication, and creativity of the entrepreneur behind one of the most recognizable companies in the world.

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Space: Our Quest to Understand

Created 05.09.2019 | 11 artifacts

In this set, a number of our staff highlight favorite space-related artifacts from The Henry Ford's collections. The objects they picked all speak to the underlying tools and technologies that have allowed our understanding of the universe to grow. Whether we are observing celestial bodies or venturing into space, humankind has designed innovative ways to overcome the many challenges of comprehending and exploring the cosmos.

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Compact Cars

Created 05.06.2019 | 15 artifacts

Big cars ruled American roads in the 1950s, but some drivers preferred smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. They turned to imports or the few American automakers willing to serve what was then a niche market. But soaring gas prices in the 1970s finally pushed compact cars into the mainstream.

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Collecting through the Decades: 1950s

Created 04.23.2019 | 10 artifacts

The Henry Ford marks its 90th anniversary in 2019. In celebration, The Henry Ford's curators have taken a decade-by-decade look at how our collections have grown -- through significant additions and evolving philosophies. This set looks at some of the objects and archives collected during the 1950s.

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Ex Libris

Created 04.11.2019 | 26 artifacts

Bookplates, or ex libris, were commonly used in the late 19th and 20th centuries to mark ownership of books and to express personal style. The bookplates in this set -- only a sampling of those in the collection of The Henry Ford -- capture common design trends, as well as the individual tastes of the influential people who used them.

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Sightseeing Vehicles

Created 04.09.2019 | 12 artifacts

Sometimes getting there isn't just half the fun -- it's all the fun! Horse-drawn surreys, railroad excursion cars, tour buses, and open-deck boats provided tourists with panoramic views of the passing scenery. Whether traveling through natural splendors, or touring through vibrant cities, these vehicles allowed their passengers to experience all the surrounding sights and sounds from the comfort and convenience of a moving seat.

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