Henry Ford Memorial [Plaster]
Dublin Core
Title
Henry Ford Memorial [Plaster]
Subject
Figure sculpture, American--20th century
Description
Henry Ford, portrait statue from
Henry Ford Memorial, 1975
Plaster originals
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.052
Frederick's design for the Henry Ford memorial at the Dearborn Public Library across Michigan Avenue from Ford World Headquarters features a full length portrait of the company founder standing in front of a curved marble wall that holds four reliefs (two concave and two convex; the wall is that form) depicting the history of the man and the company. The full size plaster models for the reliefs are exhibited above this display case and the full size plaster model of Ford (1863 1947) stands nearby.
On the four reliefs:
The upper left relief depicts him [Ford] during his childhood. It shows the farm activities in which he participated, including an anvil, as he was an expert blacksmith; early school life including McGuffy's Readers which he loved; the actual school house he attended, school desks, bell. etc. The great steam road engine he first saw and which inspired him to be a mechanic, with him running beside it with a farm wagon and horses rearing up in fright; and he, as a youth, doing his watch repairing.
The lower left depicts him as a young man, timbering and cutting lumber. Henry and his wife, Clara, riding in the sleigh he made. The "Square House" he built by hand; the famous steam engine he operated; and Henry and Clara bicycling.
The lower right relief shows many of the vehicles Mr. Ford created including the first tractor; his first car with him driving; the famous model "T"; the first truck; his first commercial car; and two of his famous racing cars including "Old 99" with himself at the wheel and his friend Barney Oldfield assisting.
The upper right shows most of the buildings historically important to the Ford empire, including his first little workshop and the Ford World Headquarters. Also depicted are many Ford products such as cars, planes, trains, and many Great Lakes freighters.
Henry Ford Memorial, 1975
Plaster originals
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.052
Frederick's design for the Henry Ford memorial at the Dearborn Public Library across Michigan Avenue from Ford World Headquarters features a full length portrait of the company founder standing in front of a curved marble wall that holds four reliefs (two concave and two convex; the wall is that form) depicting the history of the man and the company. The full size plaster models for the reliefs are exhibited above this display case and the full size plaster model of Ford (1863 1947) stands nearby.
On the four reliefs:
The upper left relief depicts him [Ford] during his childhood. It shows the farm activities in which he participated, including an anvil, as he was an expert blacksmith; early school life including McGuffy's Readers which he loved; the actual school house he attended, school desks, bell. etc. The great steam road engine he first saw and which inspired him to be a mechanic, with him running beside it with a farm wagon and horses rearing up in fright; and he, as a youth, doing his watch repairing.
The lower left depicts him as a young man, timbering and cutting lumber. Henry and his wife, Clara, riding in the sleigh he made. The "Square House" he built by hand; the famous steam engine he operated; and Henry and Clara bicycling.
The lower right relief shows many of the vehicles Mr. Ford created including the first tractor; his first car with him driving; the famous model "T"; the first truck; his first commercial car; and two of his famous racing cars including "Old 99" with himself at the wheel and his friend Barney Oldfield assisting.
The upper right shows most of the buildings historically important to the Ford empire, including his first little workshop and the Ford World Headquarters. Also depicted are many Ford products such as cars, planes, trains, and many Great Lakes freighters.
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Date
1975
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Relation
Type
Sculpture
Coverage
University Center (Mich.)
Sculpture Item Type Metadata
Physical Dimensions
Henry Ford figure 73" x 23"
Materials
Plaster full-scale
Catalog Number
1991.052
Object Location
Main Exhibit Gallery
Provenance
1987 July, 1 Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control
Notes
On the four reliefs:
The upper left relief depicts him [Ford] during his childhood. It shows the farm activities in which he participated, including an anvil, as he was an expert blacksmith; early school life including McGuffy's Readers which he loved; the actual school house he attended, school desks, bell. etc. The great steam road engine he first saw and which inspired him to be a mechanic, with him running beside it with a farm wagon and horses rearing up in fright; and he, as a youth, doing his watch repairing.
The lower left depicts him as a young man, timbering and cutting lumber. Henry and his wife, Clara, riding in the sleigh he made. The "Square House" he built by hand; the famous steam engine he operated; and Henry and Clara bicycling.
The lower right relief shows many of the vehicles Mr. Ford created including the first tractor; his first car with him driving; the famous model "T"; the first truck; his first commercial car; and two of his famous racing cars including "Old 99" with himself at the wheel and his friend Barney Oldfield assisting.
The upper right shows most of the buildings historically important to the Ford empire, including his first little workshop and the Ford World Headquarters. Also depicted are many Ford products such as cars, planes, trains, and many Great Lakes freighters.
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated August 7, 1991
"RE: Henry Ford Memorial at the Henry Ford Centennial Library
They had limited information regarding the memorial at the library but a reference librarian suggested contacting Ford Motor Company's Archives, (313) 271-1620. Marcy Jefferson from the Henry Ford Estate suggested contacting the Dearborn Historical Society of Dr. Van D. Mericas of Dearborn who was mentioned in an article obtained from the library from the Dearborn Guide Newspapers, June 12, 1975. The library is on the south side of Michigan Avenue just east of M 39."
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated April 3, 1992:
"RE: Henry Ford Memorial, Dearborn
Molly gave me some additional information from her notes. The foundry that cast the figure and the reliefs was the Mengel Art Foundry in Detroit. The Verde Antique marble came from Vermont Marble Company in Proctor, Vermont.
In 1948 the people of Dearborn formed the Henry Ford Statue Committee to gather funds for a memorial for Henry Ford however fund raising didn't get off the ground. In 1968 there were new plans for a memorial and by 1975 the funds were raised. Thus it was funded by small contributions from local people and Mr. Fredericks contributed most of his services.
There is a book at the Henry Ford Centennial Library which lists all the donors. Mr. Fredericks also designed a commemorative medallion commissioned by Manufacturers Bank to be given out at the dedication of the memorial. There are three quotes on the back of the Verde Antique marble wall by Henry Ford. "Education is the greatest force of civilization." "I deeply admire the men who founded this country and I think we ought to know more about them and how they lived and force and courage they had." "work is the natural thing to do."
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated March 6, 1992:
"RE: Henry Ford Memorial at the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn
I called the Industrial Archives to see if they have any correspondence regarding the memorial. The woman I spoke to said if there was any correspondence it would be there but it would be nearly impossible to find. It sounded like she was the only person working there and most of the records are not catalogued."
About the Henry Ford Statue at the Henry Ford Centennial Library
(from the rededication of the Henry Ford Statue Tuesday, October 16, 2007)
The Henry Ford Statue Committee was formed in 1968 to raise funds for a life-size statue that would be a fitting tribute to the inventor. The committee decided that all contributions to the Henry Ford Fund would be voluntary and that the statue would be located on the grounds of the Henry Ford Centennial Library.
The original plan was to have a statue of Henry Ford and a little boy, symbolizing encouragement in business and industry to future generations. The committee envisioned a statue of weathered bronze on either a marble or granite base. The noted Michigan sculptor, Marshall Fredericks, was commissioned to do the work. In fact, Fredericks was so intrigued with the project that he was willing to make a model without any monetary advance. He said, "It is a work that should be done."
With plans firmly in hand, the committee set about raising the $50,000 needed for the work and decided on a target date of July 30, 1969 (Henry Ford's 106th birthday) for the dedication of the statue. However, the fund, while growing steadily, was not increasing at the rate that the committee had hoped. It was not until March of 1970 that Marshall Fredericks was actually ready to begin the comissioned work.
In March of 1972 Marshall Fredericks completed a model of the statue. The actual bronze casting of the finished work was done in Italy. The Vermont Marble Company, the source of the marble for Henry Ford Centennial Library, supplied the marble for the base. Because of a delay in delivery of the marble, the dedication was not held until June 8, 1975.
For over twenty-five years the statue of Henry Ford has been a part of the Henry Ford Centennial Library's landscape. However, time and Michigan weather took a toll on both the bronze statuary and the marble. In 2006, through the kindness of Cynthia and Edsel Ford II, the Henry Ford II Fund generously donated $28,500 for the restoration of both the statue and the marble base. Under the guidance of Dearborn architect J. Michael Kirk, work began to repair the marble, clean and repeating the bronze work, and regild the lettering.
We are here today to thank everyone involved in the restoration project: Carl Meyeroff who first approached the Library Director in the summer of 2006, offering his assistance in securing funding for the restoration work; Cynthia and Edsel Ford II, for making sure that the funding from the Henry Ford II Fund was approved, and J. Michael Kirk, for recommending skilled craftsmen for the project and diligently monitoring their progress. Thank you to Giorgio Gikas and the crew of Venus Bronze Works and the crew of Michigan Tile and Marble for a job well done.
Biography: Henry Ford was born July 30, 1863 in Wayne County, Michigan. He was the son of Irish immigrants, William and Mary Ford, who had settled on a farm in Dearborn. In addition to helping his father with the harvest, Ford also attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. However, Ford disliked both school and farm life, and at age 16, he walked to Detroit in search of employment.
Ford was employed as an apprentice in a machine shop, where he learned about the internal combustion engine. After several years of learning his trade, Ford returned to the family farm and worked part-time for the Westinghouse Engine Company. Ford set up a small machine shop on the farm and began tinkering with engines and machines. During this time, Ford fell in love with Clara Bryant, who he married in 1888.
Several years later, Ford and his wife moved back to Detroit when Ford was made chief engineer at the Detroit Edison Company. The position required Ford to be on-call 24 hours a day, but the irregular hours allowed him time to experiment. He had experimented with gasoline-powered vehicles and horse-less carriages for several years before his first vehicle was completed. The "Quadricycle," a vehicle with a buggy frame mounted on four bicycle wheels was completed in 1896. Ford sold the "Quadricycle" to raise capital for more creations.
During the next several years, Ford continued to fine-tune his passenger vehicles. In addition, he built racing cars and even drove them himself. In 1903, Ford produced an automobile he was ready to market, and he formed the Ford Motor Company with capital from Detroit citizens. In 1908, Ford introduced the successful Model T, which was manufactured for 19 years. However, Ford's successes were not without problems. Soon after the incorporation of the Ford Motor Company, Ford was threatened by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers. After years of legal battles, Ford won his case in 1911, which made it possible for more people to become automobile manufacturers.
Ford was able to market the Model T to the general public because of his advanced production technology. The Ford Motor Company's plant in Highland Park, Michigan, Ford introduced the first assembly line in 1913, which drastically reduced production time. As a result, more automobiles were made available at a lower cost. Ford also instituted the $5.00/day minimum wage, which he claimed increased productivity.
However, not everyone was impressed with Ford's business practices, and in 1917, he was sued by his stockholders for diverting profits into company expansion. Although the court ruled in favor of the stockholders, by 1920, Ford was able to buy them out. He built a huge plant in River Rouge, and the company became almost entirely self-sufficient.
In 1926, Ford began losing sales to General Motors because the Model T was becoming outdated. The Ford plants were shut down for five months, after which Ford introduced the Model A and later the V-8. Both models received moderate success but were outsold by General Motors and Chrysler.
The problems Ford Motor Company encountered can be attributed to Ford's stubborn and authoritarian management style. Although Ford's only child Edsel had been named president in 1919, his father remained in strict control. When General Motors and Chrysler signed contracts with the United Automobile Workers, Ford refused to follow suit. He employed spies and company police to prevent his workers from unionization. Ultimately, Ford was persuaded to sign a contract with the UAW in 1941.
Ford's son Edsel died in 1943, and Ford resumed the presidency. However, he had experienced two strokes by that time, and two years later handed over the presidency to his grandson, Henry Ford II. Ford died at his home on April 7, 1947.
MF archives:
"The Henry Ford I Memorial is in front of the new Henry Ford Centennial Library, across Michigan Avenue from the Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn.
The four bronze reliefs flanking the over life size figure of Mr. Ford are intended to tell the story of his life. Inasmuch as most people will never read a book or even an article about Mr. Ford, they can learn a great deal about him (without effort) through these sculptures.
The upper left relief depicts him during his childhood. It shows the farm activities in which he participated, including an anvil, as he was an expert blacksmith; early school life including McGuffy's Readers which he loved; the actual school house he attended, school desks, bell, etc. The great steam road engine he first saw and which inspired him to be a mechanic, with him running beside it, with a farm wagon and horses rearing up in fright; and he, as a youth, doing his watch repairing.
The lower left depicts him as a young man, timbering and cutting lumber. Henry and his wife, Clara, riding in the sleigh he made. The "Square House" he built by hand; the famous steam engine he operated; and Henry and Clara bicycling.
The lower right relief shows many of the vehicles Mr. Ford created including the first tractor; his first car with him driving; the famous model "T"; the first truck; his first commercial car; and two of his famous racing cars including "Old 99" with himself at the wheel and his friend Barney Oldfield assisting.
The upper right shows most of the buildings historically important to the Ford empire, including his first little workshop and the Ford World Headquarters. Also, depicted are many of the Ford products such as cars, planes, trains, and the Great Lakes freighters."
The upper left relief depicts him [Ford] during his childhood. It shows the farm activities in which he participated, including an anvil, as he was an expert blacksmith; early school life including McGuffy's Readers which he loved; the actual school house he attended, school desks, bell. etc. The great steam road engine he first saw and which inspired him to be a mechanic, with him running beside it with a farm wagon and horses rearing up in fright; and he, as a youth, doing his watch repairing.
The lower left depicts him as a young man, timbering and cutting lumber. Henry and his wife, Clara, riding in the sleigh he made. The "Square House" he built by hand; the famous steam engine he operated; and Henry and Clara bicycling.
The lower right relief shows many of the vehicles Mr. Ford created including the first tractor; his first car with him driving; the famous model "T"; the first truck; his first commercial car; and two of his famous racing cars including "Old 99" with himself at the wheel and his friend Barney Oldfield assisting.
The upper right shows most of the buildings historically important to the Ford empire, including his first little workshop and the Ford World Headquarters. Also depicted are many Ford products such as cars, planes, trains, and many Great Lakes freighters.
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated August 7, 1991
"RE: Henry Ford Memorial at the Henry Ford Centennial Library
They had limited information regarding the memorial at the library but a reference librarian suggested contacting Ford Motor Company's Archives, (313) 271-1620. Marcy Jefferson from the Henry Ford Estate suggested contacting the Dearborn Historical Society of Dr. Van D. Mericas of Dearborn who was mentioned in an article obtained from the library from the Dearborn Guide Newspapers, June 12, 1975. The library is on the south side of Michigan Avenue just east of M 39."
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated April 3, 1992:
"RE: Henry Ford Memorial, Dearborn
Molly gave me some additional information from her notes. The foundry that cast the figure and the reliefs was the Mengel Art Foundry in Detroit. The Verde Antique marble came from Vermont Marble Company in Proctor, Vermont.
In 1948 the people of Dearborn formed the Henry Ford Statue Committee to gather funds for a memorial for Henry Ford however fund raising didn't get off the ground. In 1968 there were new plans for a memorial and by 1975 the funds were raised. Thus it was funded by small contributions from local people and Mr. Fredericks contributed most of his services.
There is a book at the Henry Ford Centennial Library which lists all the donors. Mr. Fredericks also designed a commemorative medallion commissioned by Manufacturers Bank to be given out at the dedication of the memorial. There are three quotes on the back of the Verde Antique marble wall by Henry Ford. "Education is the greatest force of civilization." "I deeply admire the men who founded this country and I think we ought to know more about them and how they lived and force and courage they had." "work is the natural thing to do."
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated March 6, 1992:
"RE: Henry Ford Memorial at the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn
I called the Industrial Archives to see if they have any correspondence regarding the memorial. The woman I spoke to said if there was any correspondence it would be there but it would be nearly impossible to find. It sounded like she was the only person working there and most of the records are not catalogued."
About the Henry Ford Statue at the Henry Ford Centennial Library
(from the rededication of the Henry Ford Statue Tuesday, October 16, 2007)
The Henry Ford Statue Committee was formed in 1968 to raise funds for a life-size statue that would be a fitting tribute to the inventor. The committee decided that all contributions to the Henry Ford Fund would be voluntary and that the statue would be located on the grounds of the Henry Ford Centennial Library.
The original plan was to have a statue of Henry Ford and a little boy, symbolizing encouragement in business and industry to future generations. The committee envisioned a statue of weathered bronze on either a marble or granite base. The noted Michigan sculptor, Marshall Fredericks, was commissioned to do the work. In fact, Fredericks was so intrigued with the project that he was willing to make a model without any monetary advance. He said, "It is a work that should be done."
With plans firmly in hand, the committee set about raising the $50,000 needed for the work and decided on a target date of July 30, 1969 (Henry Ford's 106th birthday) for the dedication of the statue. However, the fund, while growing steadily, was not increasing at the rate that the committee had hoped. It was not until March of 1970 that Marshall Fredericks was actually ready to begin the comissioned work.
In March of 1972 Marshall Fredericks completed a model of the statue. The actual bronze casting of the finished work was done in Italy. The Vermont Marble Company, the source of the marble for Henry Ford Centennial Library, supplied the marble for the base. Because of a delay in delivery of the marble, the dedication was not held until June 8, 1975.
For over twenty-five years the statue of Henry Ford has been a part of the Henry Ford Centennial Library's landscape. However, time and Michigan weather took a toll on both the bronze statuary and the marble. In 2006, through the kindness of Cynthia and Edsel Ford II, the Henry Ford II Fund generously donated $28,500 for the restoration of both the statue and the marble base. Under the guidance of Dearborn architect J. Michael Kirk, work began to repair the marble, clean and repeating the bronze work, and regild the lettering.
We are here today to thank everyone involved in the restoration project: Carl Meyeroff who first approached the Library Director in the summer of 2006, offering his assistance in securing funding for the restoration work; Cynthia and Edsel Ford II, for making sure that the funding from the Henry Ford II Fund was approved, and J. Michael Kirk, for recommending skilled craftsmen for the project and diligently monitoring their progress. Thank you to Giorgio Gikas and the crew of Venus Bronze Works and the crew of Michigan Tile and Marble for a job well done.
Biography: Henry Ford was born July 30, 1863 in Wayne County, Michigan. He was the son of Irish immigrants, William and Mary Ford, who had settled on a farm in Dearborn. In addition to helping his father with the harvest, Ford also attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. However, Ford disliked both school and farm life, and at age 16, he walked to Detroit in search of employment.
Ford was employed as an apprentice in a machine shop, where he learned about the internal combustion engine. After several years of learning his trade, Ford returned to the family farm and worked part-time for the Westinghouse Engine Company. Ford set up a small machine shop on the farm and began tinkering with engines and machines. During this time, Ford fell in love with Clara Bryant, who he married in 1888.
Several years later, Ford and his wife moved back to Detroit when Ford was made chief engineer at the Detroit Edison Company. The position required Ford to be on-call 24 hours a day, but the irregular hours allowed him time to experiment. He had experimented with gasoline-powered vehicles and horse-less carriages for several years before his first vehicle was completed. The "Quadricycle," a vehicle with a buggy frame mounted on four bicycle wheels was completed in 1896. Ford sold the "Quadricycle" to raise capital for more creations.
During the next several years, Ford continued to fine-tune his passenger vehicles. In addition, he built racing cars and even drove them himself. In 1903, Ford produced an automobile he was ready to market, and he formed the Ford Motor Company with capital from Detroit citizens. In 1908, Ford introduced the successful Model T, which was manufactured for 19 years. However, Ford's successes were not without problems. Soon after the incorporation of the Ford Motor Company, Ford was threatened by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers. After years of legal battles, Ford won his case in 1911, which made it possible for more people to become automobile manufacturers.
Ford was able to market the Model T to the general public because of his advanced production technology. The Ford Motor Company's plant in Highland Park, Michigan, Ford introduced the first assembly line in 1913, which drastically reduced production time. As a result, more automobiles were made available at a lower cost. Ford also instituted the $5.00/day minimum wage, which he claimed increased productivity.
However, not everyone was impressed with Ford's business practices, and in 1917, he was sued by his stockholders for diverting profits into company expansion. Although the court ruled in favor of the stockholders, by 1920, Ford was able to buy them out. He built a huge plant in River Rouge, and the company became almost entirely self-sufficient.
In 1926, Ford began losing sales to General Motors because the Model T was becoming outdated. The Ford plants were shut down for five months, after which Ford introduced the Model A and later the V-8. Both models received moderate success but were outsold by General Motors and Chrysler.
The problems Ford Motor Company encountered can be attributed to Ford's stubborn and authoritarian management style. Although Ford's only child Edsel had been named president in 1919, his father remained in strict control. When General Motors and Chrysler signed contracts with the United Automobile Workers, Ford refused to follow suit. He employed spies and company police to prevent his workers from unionization. Ultimately, Ford was persuaded to sign a contract with the UAW in 1941.
Ford's son Edsel died in 1943, and Ford resumed the presidency. However, he had experienced two strokes by that time, and two years later handed over the presidency to his grandson, Henry Ford II. Ford died at his home on April 7, 1947.
MF archives:
"The Henry Ford I Memorial is in front of the new Henry Ford Centennial Library, across Michigan Avenue from the Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn.
The four bronze reliefs flanking the over life size figure of Mr. Ford are intended to tell the story of his life. Inasmuch as most people will never read a book or even an article about Mr. Ford, they can learn a great deal about him (without effort) through these sculptures.
The upper left relief depicts him during his childhood. It shows the farm activities in which he participated, including an anvil, as he was an expert blacksmith; early school life including McGuffy's Readers which he loved; the actual school house he attended, school desks, bell, etc. The great steam road engine he first saw and which inspired him to be a mechanic, with him running beside it, with a farm wagon and horses rearing up in fright; and he, as a youth, doing his watch repairing.
The lower left depicts him as a young man, timbering and cutting lumber. Henry and his wife, Clara, riding in the sleigh he made. The "Square House" he built by hand; the famous steam engine he operated; and Henry and Clara bicycling.
The lower right relief shows many of the vehicles Mr. Ford created including the first tractor; his first car with him driving; the famous model "T"; the first truck; his first commercial car; and two of his famous racing cars including "Old 99" with himself at the wheel and his friend Barney Oldfield assisting.
The upper right shows most of the buildings historically important to the Ford empire, including his first little workshop and the Ford World Headquarters. Also, depicted are many of the Ford products such as cars, planes, trains, and the Great Lakes freighters."
Files
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Henry Ford Memorial [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed April 19, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5101.