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Sawmill and Power House at Fordlandia, Brazil, 1931

01

Artifact Overview

Henry Ford established Fordlandia and Belterra in the Brazilian rainforest to supply rubber for automobile production. He began shipping machinery and supplies to the Amazon in 1928. Ford paid the indigenous workers good wages and supplied various amenities -- he also imposed foreign work traditions and behavioral restrictions which the workers resented. The plantations failed and Ford Motor Company disposed of the project in 1945.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

15 August 1931

Subject Date

15 August 1931

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

95.34.1.P.833.56544

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Linen (Material)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in
Width: 11 in