Celebrating 90 -- Collecting through the Decades: 1940s

As word spread of Henry Ford's historical endeavors, people offered him objects that they themselves had gathered. In 1941, Ethel Douglas sent Ford over 2500 objects "collected in several years travel." Many of these—toys, games, clothing, dolls, and books—related to childhood, including this slate. Millions of kids used slates like this one in 19th century one-room schools. Henry Ford was one. -Jeanine Head Miller, Curator of Domestic Life

The Henry Ford’s contemporary collecting—of recent or present-day artifacts—dates back to the start. Henry Ford eagerly accepted Igor Sikorsky's VS-300A helicopter in 1943—a mere four years after its first test flight. Like Sikorsky, Ford understood the helicopter's enormous potential. The gift was initiated by a mutual friend of Ford's and Sikorsky's: Charles Lindbergh. -Matt Anderson, Curator of Transportation

George W. Carver and Henry Ford shared an interest in chemurgy—the chemical transformation of agricultural commodities into byproducts such as hydrogenated oils. Ford invited Carver to speak at the 1937 chemurgy conference in Dearborn. In 1942, Ford honored Carver with this replica of Carver's birthplace, paneled in wood from every state, donated by the Boy Scouts of America. -Debra A. Reid, Curator of Agriculture and the Environment