Search
- Fiddler Mellie Dunham, circa 1925 - Mellie Dunham, Maine's champion fiddler, came to Henry Ford's attention in the fall of 1925. Ford invited the 72-year-old snowshoe maker from Norway, Maine, to play at one of his Dearborn dancing parties. Dunham's performance at the December 11th dance--well attended by the press--was highly publicized. The following day, Dunham delighted his listeners by playing Ford's Stradivari violin.
- circa 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Fiddler Mellie Dunham, circa 1925
Mellie Dunham, Maine's champion fiddler, came to Henry Ford's attention in the fall of 1925. Ford invited the 72-year-old snowshoe maker from Norway, Maine, to play at one of his Dearborn dancing parties. Dunham's performance at the December 11th dance--well attended by the press--was highly publicized. The following day, Dunham delighted his listeners by playing Ford's Stradivari violin.
- Ford Motor Company Clipping Book, Volume 43, December 1925-January 1926 - Ford Motor Company kept scrapbooks of newspaper articles about Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford's activities. This volume contains articles about Henry Ford's interest in reviving fiddling and traditional American dance. At Ford-inspired "old time fiddler" contests, fiddlers vied for the title of champion fiddler. People in various parts of the country, including Michigan, joined in.
- December 1925-January 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Clipping Book, Volume 43, December 1925-January 1926
Ford Motor Company kept scrapbooks of newspaper articles about Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford's activities. This volume contains articles about Henry Ford's interest in reviving fiddling and traditional American dance. At Ford-inspired "old time fiddler" contests, fiddlers vied for the title of champion fiddler. People in various parts of the country, including Michigan, joined in.
- Ford Motor Company Clipping Book, Volume 44, January 1926 - The press took note of Henry Ford's classical violin acquisitions during the mid-1920s. This Albany, New York, newspaper article, published in January 1926, exaggerated the price Ford paid for his centuries-old violins made by Italian masters like Antonio Stradivari. (The figure was probably closer to $100,000.) But the article clearly linked Ford's violin purchases to his interest in "old tunes and fiddlers."
- January 01, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Clipping Book, Volume 44, January 1926
The press took note of Henry Ford's classical violin acquisitions during the mid-1920s. This Albany, New York, newspaper article, published in January 1926, exaggerated the price Ford paid for his centuries-old violins made by Italian masters like Antonio Stradivari. (The figure was probably closer to $100,000.) But the article clearly linked Ford's violin purchases to his interest in "old tunes and fiddlers."
- Emma and Mellie Dunham Leaving Maine to Visit Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, 1925 - When Henry Ford invited Mellie Dunham, Maine's champion fiddler, to play at one of Ford's Dearborn dances in late 1925, Dunham's town of Norway, Maine, celebrated like never before. Stores and schools were closed, Maine's governor conducted the farewell festivities, and the citizens paraded behind Mellie. Children carried signs reading "Mellie will play and Henry will dance" and "Send him safe home Henry."
- 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Emma and Mellie Dunham Leaving Maine to Visit Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, 1925
When Henry Ford invited Mellie Dunham, Maine's champion fiddler, to play at one of Ford's Dearborn dances in late 1925, Dunham's town of Norway, Maine, celebrated like never before. Stores and schools were closed, Maine's governor conducted the farewell festivities, and the citizens paraded behind Mellie. Children carried signs reading "Mellie will play and Henry will dance" and "Send him safe home Henry."
- Book, "Mellie Dunham's 50 Fiddlin' Dance Tunes," 1926 - Fiddler Mellie Dunham's fame as a Henry Ford favorite garnered him enormous publicity--and he took full advantage of it. After playing for Ford, Dunham took a train to New York, where he signed a $500-a-week contract with the Keith-Albee vaudeville circuit. He played throughout the United States and Canada for seventeen months. Dunham also published this 1926 book of "Fiddlin' Dance Tunes."
- 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Book, "Mellie Dunham's 50 Fiddlin' Dance Tunes," 1926
Fiddler Mellie Dunham's fame as a Henry Ford favorite garnered him enormous publicity--and he took full advantage of it. After playing for Ford, Dunham took a train to New York, where he signed a $500-a-week contract with the Keith-Albee vaudeville circuit. He played throughout the United States and Canada for seventeen months. Dunham also published this 1926 book of "Fiddlin' Dance Tunes."
- Ford Motor Company Clipping Book, Volume 45, January-February 1926 - Ford Motor Company kept scrapbooks of newspaper articles about Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford's activities. This volume contains articles relating to Henry Ford's interest in reviving "old time" fiddling and traditional American dance. People in various parts of the country joined in, organizing events. At "old time fiddler" contests, fiddlers vied for the title of champion fiddler. Other groups sponsored "old-fashioned" dances.
- January 1926-February 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Clipping Book, Volume 45, January-February 1926
Ford Motor Company kept scrapbooks of newspaper articles about Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford's activities. This volume contains articles relating to Henry Ford's interest in reviving "old time" fiddling and traditional American dance. People in various parts of the country joined in, organizing events. At "old time fiddler" contests, fiddlers vied for the title of champion fiddler. Other groups sponsored "old-fashioned" dances.
- Emma and Mellie Dunham Leaving Maine to Visit Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, 1925 - When Henry Ford invited Mellie Dunham, Maine's champion fiddler, to play at one of his dances, Dunham traveled to Dearborn by train. During Dunham's journey through Maine, New Hampshire, Quebec, and Ontario, the fiddler was hailed at every stop--which the reporters accompanying him relayed to the press. This fiddler--and his journey to play for Henry Ford--was big news.
- 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Emma and Mellie Dunham Leaving Maine to Visit Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, 1925
When Henry Ford invited Mellie Dunham, Maine's champion fiddler, to play at one of his dances, Dunham traveled to Dearborn by train. During Dunham's journey through Maine, New Hampshire, Quebec, and Ontario, the fiddler was hailed at every stop--which the reporters accompanying him relayed to the press. This fiddler--and his journey to play for Henry Ford--was big news.