Young Henry Ford: A Picture History of the First Forty Years

Back cover

Young Henry Ford his is the story in pictures of the first forty years of an American farm boy who became one of the greatest manufacturers of modern times, and who was, also, a profound radical all his life. He was a great man, and Americans know most of their great men rather well. He made mistakes—sensational, international, even classic mistakes—and perhaps he is remembered chiefly for them. But if you look through these pictures and read a bit here and there, you will gradually see another Henry Ford emerge.” —From the Preface Young Henry Ford A PICTURE HISTORY OF THE FIRST FORTY YEARS by Sidney Olson Olson Young Henry Ford is a Great Lakes Books publication. Jacket design byVirginia Finn. WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS Detroit, Michigan 48201 Young Henry Ford is a visual and textual presentation of the first forty years of Henry Ford—an American farm boy who became one of the greatest manufacturers of modern times and profoundly impacted the habits of American life. In Young Henry Ford, Sidney Olson dispels some of the myths attached to this automobile legend, going beyond the Henry Ford of mass production and the fivedollar day, and offers a more intimate understanding of Henry Ford and the time he lived in. Through hundreds of restored photographs , including some of Ford’s own taken with his first camera, Young Henry Ford revisits an America now gone—of long days on the farm, travel by horse and buggy, and oneroom schoolhouses. Documentation and illustrations in this book came from the thousands of items, both monumental and inconsequential, saved by Henry Ford and presently in the collection of Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village. Some of the rare illustrations include the first picture of Henry Ford, photos from Edsel’s childhood, snapshots of the interior and exterior of the Ford homestead, Clara and Henry’s wedding invitation, and photos of the early stages of the first automobile. The late Sidney Olson had an extensive career serving as city editor of and White House correspondent to the Washington Post and a senior editor of Time, Life, and Fortune. He was involved in the cinema, advertising, and television, and was a scriptwriter for the “Ford Fiftieth Anniversary Show.” (continued on back flap) T Jacket illustrations are from the collection of Henry Ford Museum & GreenfieldVillage. Front cover: (top) Henry Ford in his first car. 1896; (bottom)The first Ford diagram. The carbide lamp and the water tank were later additions. The gasoline tank held three gallons of gas. Back cover: (top) Henry Ford at age thirty-eight, October 1901; (bottom) Detroit in the early 1890’s. The Campus Martius facing south. ...