Reading Room

As of January 2025, the Benson Ford Research Center remains closed to the public for in-person research, tours, and visits. It will remain closed until further notice, but research center staff members are still responding to inquiries. Please visit here for more information.

The archives of The Henry Ford include historical records, photographs, publications, product literature, and oral histories from Ford Motor Company; the institutional history of The Henry Ford; an extensive collection of trade catalogs; materials on Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers; the Henry Austin Clark, Jr. Automotive History Collection; and many other major collections in automotive, agricultural, industrial, social, and cultural American history. Taken together, these collections form an unparalleled resource documenting the American experience of innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness.

When you visit our public reading room, you can view historic documents and photographs, study rare books, and explore a wealth of other materials. 

Reading Room FAQ 

Campus Map (PDF)