Celebrating 90 -- Collecting through the Decades: 1930s

Jenny Young Chandler's photographs not only capture scenes of daily life in turn-of-the-20th-century Brooklyn, New York, but also document objects and collections held by private individuals and museums during the same period. These themes of documenting everyday life and building museum collections were of interest to Henry Ford when he acquired these images in 1932. -Brian Wilson, Senior Manager Archives and Library, Benson Ford Research Center

Henry Ford appreciated the history found in everyday objects and in inventions that made people's lives better. This innovative 1830s cookstove covers both ideas. Used to prepare meals, it is an everyday object with emotional connection to hearth and home. As an improvement over fireplace cooking, it is an example of technological progress--one of many that Ford was gathering for his museum. -Jeanine Head Miller, Curator of Domestic Life

Henry Ford admired self-made innovators who rose from humble roots to change the world. The Wright brothers fit that mold. Ford acquired the Wrights' home and cycle shop in 1937, relocating them from Dayton, Ohio, to Greenfield Village. Wilbur had passed away in 1912, but Orville assisted Ford in the buildings' restoration--providing original furnishings and helping to locate equipment used in the shop. -Matt Anderson, Curator of Transportation

Henry and Clara Ford both were taught on McGuffey Readers. These beloved primers that taught both morals and literacy skills make up the foundation of the library at The Henry Ford. Many different editions, like this one, were bought in the 1930s to help round out a full collection of McGuffey Readers. -Sarah Andrus, Librarian

Following the dedication of Greenfield Village in 1929, Henry Ford continued to expand the collection of buildings. He purchased the Noah Webster House from the salvage company that had already begun its demolition. The Noah Webster story aligned perfectly with Ford's passion for education and his interest in the history of education in the United States. -Jim Johnson, Director of Greenfield Village and Curator of Historic Structures & Landscapes

The Ford Motor Company used cutaways to educate customers about internal combustion, power generation, and transmission. Antonio Stabile, a Ford distributor in Argentina, instructed his service department manager to make this cutaway of a 1926 Fordson tractor to display in his showroom and at exhibitions. Model changes made the cutaway obsolete and Mr. Stabile shipped it to Ford in late 1931. -Debra Reid, Curator of Agriculture & the Environment

When Henry Ford couldn’t locate a suitable Jacquard loom for Greenfield Village, he called on master weaver Sidney Holloway to oversee the construction of this reproduction. This loom employs the innovative punch card technology that revolutionized the weaving industry in the early 1800s. It tells a story of industrial change and exemplifies Henry Ford’s commitment to experience-based education. -Saige Jedele, Associate Curator, Digital Content

Like many collectors in the 1930s, Henry Ford and his staff were interested in acquiring decorative arts objects that had strong historical associations. The staff also sought out works that were aesthetically pleasing. This sweetmeat basket, which descended through the family of Alexander Hamilton, fit the bill. Part of a larger set of Sheffield plate silver, the group was a prized acquisition in 1935. -Charles Sable, Curator of Decorative Arts

With an eye for design and a developed artistic sensibility, avid art collector Edsel Ford began collecting early American silver in the 1920s. In 1936, Edsel donated part of his silver collection to his father's museum, including this coffeepot made by the talented colonial artisan and silversmith Paul Revere in the late 1750s or early 1760s. -Ryan Jelso, Associate Curator, Digital Content

In 1935, the Strobridge Lithographing Company donated 329 circus posters. The company produced posters for the big-named circuses, including Barnum & Bailey and the Ringling Brothers. Their colorful posters underscore the excitement that "Circus Day" held in communities all over the country. In many towns, the day was treated like a holiday, with schools and workplaces closed for the occasion. -Katherine White, Associate Curator, Digital Content

This cable machine helped to wire the world. Machines like these were used to create submarine cables. This one was used at Enderby's Wharf in Greenwich, England, to build the second transatlantic telegraph cable in the mid-1860s. These submarine cables--like the modern-day fiber-optic cables that carry the signals of Internet traffic--connected cultures and communities. -Kristen Gallerneaux, Curator of Communication & Information Technology