Search
- Henry Ford and Clara Ford with Group on the Grounds of Fair Lane, 1932 - In the early 1910s, Henry and Clara Ford selected 1300 acres of farmland in Dearborn, Michigan, as the site for a new home. They called the estate Fair Lane. Surrounded by woods, meadows, gardens, and the nature they loved, Henry and Clara found this home a peaceful respite. Here they could wander the landscaped grounds, entertain guests, and play with grandchildren.
- July 09, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford and Clara Ford with Group on the Grounds of Fair Lane, 1932
In the early 1910s, Henry and Clara Ford selected 1300 acres of farmland in Dearborn, Michigan, as the site for a new home. They called the estate Fair Lane. Surrounded by woods, meadows, gardens, and the nature they loved, Henry and Clara found this home a peaceful respite. Here they could wander the landscaped grounds, entertain guests, and play with grandchildren.
- Martha-Mary Chapel - Churches were a center of community life in the 1700s, a place where townspeople came together to attend services and socialize. The Martha-Mary Chapel, with its architecture inspired by New England's colonial-era churches, was built in Greenfield Village in 1929. This chapel was named after Henry Ford's mother, Mary Litogot Ford, and his mother-in-law, Martha Bench Bryant.
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Martha-Mary Chapel
Churches were a center of community life in the 1700s, a place where townspeople came together to attend services and socialize. The Martha-Mary Chapel, with its architecture inspired by New England's colonial-era churches, was built in Greenfield Village in 1929. This chapel was named after Henry Ford's mother, Mary Litogot Ford, and his mother-in-law, Martha Bench Bryant.
- Henry Ford and Clara Ford at Henry Ford Museum for the Presentation of the Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter, October 7, 1943 - Henry Ford never intended his Edison Institute -- today's The Henry Ford -- only to be about the past. Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village would inspire the institute's students and visitors to create the future. Ford collected modern inventions alongside historic items. He acquired the VS-300 helicopter from inventor Igor Sikorsky in 1943 -- only four years after the aircraft's introduction.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford and Clara Ford at Henry Ford Museum for the Presentation of the Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter, October 7, 1943
Henry Ford never intended his Edison Institute -- today's The Henry Ford -- only to be about the past. Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village would inspire the institute's students and visitors to create the future. Ford collected modern inventions alongside historic items. He acquired the VS-300 helicopter from inventor Igor Sikorsky in 1943 -- only four years after the aircraft's introduction.
- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," 1921 - By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it <em>Fair Lane</em>. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- June 23, 1921
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," 1921
By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it Fair Lane. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using Fair Lane before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- Portrait of Clara Ford, circa 1908 - In 1908, Clara Ford moved into a large new home with her husband, Henry, and son, Edsel. The Italian Renaissance Revival house was built on the corner of Edison and Second Avenues in Detroit. Ford Motor Company's success had brought new prosperity to the family -- and that success would only grow with the introduction of the Model T that fall.
- circa 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Portrait of Clara Ford, circa 1908
In 1908, Clara Ford moved into a large new home with her husband, Henry, and son, Edsel. The Italian Renaissance Revival house was built on the corner of Edison and Second Avenues in Detroit. Ford Motor Company's success had brought new prosperity to the family -- and that success would only grow with the introduction of the Model T that fall.
- Clara Ford, Josephine Ford and Bryant Relatives at Santa's Workshop, Fair Lane, 1949-1950 -
- 1949-1950
- Collections - Artifact
Clara Ford, Josephine Ford and Bryant Relatives at Santa's Workshop, Fair Lane, 1949-1950
- Henry Ford, Clara Ford and Henry Ford II at Gaukler Point, Michigan, April 1943 - Henry Ford II posed with his grandparents, Henry and Clara Ford. The young Ford served in the U.S. Navy during World War II but, following the death of his father Edsel Ford in May 1943, he was released from duty to return to Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford II was appointed company president in September 1945, after his ailing grandfather resigned.
- April 01, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford, Clara Ford and Henry Ford II at Gaukler Point, Michigan, April 1943
Henry Ford II posed with his grandparents, Henry and Clara Ford. The young Ford served in the U.S. Navy during World War II but, following the death of his father Edsel Ford in May 1943, he was released from duty to return to Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford II was appointed company president in September 1945, after his ailing grandfather resigned.
- Portrait of Clara Bryant Ford, circa 1888 - The year 1888 was an important one for Clara Jane Bryant. She married Henry Ford on April 11 -- her 22nd birthday -- at her parents' home in Greenfield Township, Michigan. Clara had met Henry at a New Year's dance in 1885. After a year of courtship, they became engaged in April 1886.
- circa 1888
- Collections - Artifact
Portrait of Clara Bryant Ford, circa 1888
The year 1888 was an important one for Clara Jane Bryant. She married Henry Ford on April 11 -- her 22nd birthday -- at her parents' home in Greenfield Township, Michigan. Clara had met Henry at a New Year's dance in 1885. After a year of courtship, they became engaged in April 1886.
- Letter from George Washington Carver to Clara Ford, March 30, 1942 - George Washington Carver and Henry Ford became friends in the late 1930s, drawn together by a mutual interest in plants and industry. Carver's warm letters to both Henry and Clara Ford speak to the genuine depth of the friendship. In this letter to Clara, which was presumably accompanied a bottle of peanut oil, Carver offered advice on how to use the oil for natural health.
- March 30, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Letter from George Washington Carver to Clara Ford, March 30, 1942
George Washington Carver and Henry Ford became friends in the late 1930s, drawn together by a mutual interest in plants and industry. Carver's warm letters to both Henry and Clara Ford speak to the genuine depth of the friendship. In this letter to Clara, which was presumably accompanied a bottle of peanut oil, Carver offered advice on how to use the oil for natural health.
- Letter from Austin Curtis, Jr. to Henry and Clara Ford, August 26, 1942 - Chemist Austin Curtis, Jr., came to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1935 to assist the increasingly frail George Washington Carver and carry on his work. Curtis accompanied Carver on his many trips, including one to Greenfield Village in the summer of 1942. In this letter he thanks Henry and Clara Ford for their hospitality on the recent visit.
- August 26, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Letter from Austin Curtis, Jr. to Henry and Clara Ford, August 26, 1942
Chemist Austin Curtis, Jr., came to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1935 to assist the increasingly frail George Washington Carver and carry on his work. Curtis accompanied Carver on his many trips, including one to Greenfield Village in the summer of 1942. In this letter he thanks Henry and Clara Ford for their hospitality on the recent visit.