Collections & Research
Unparalleled resources documenting the American experience of innovation, ingenuity, and resourcefulness
Digital Collections
Containing 26 million artifacts, with more than 100,000 digitized for online access, The Henry Ford Archive of American Innovation™ is the greatest collection ever assembled documenting American innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness. Explore artifacts and stories about Agriculture and the Environment, Design and Making, Power and Energy, Communications and Information Technology, Mobility and Society and Social Transformation.
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Search the CollectionsQuickly search our extensive archive of digitized artifacts. From objects to buildings, archival documents to oral histories, each artifact has been digitized at high fidelity, allowing you to see extraordinary details.
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Browse Expert SetsThe experts at The Henry Ford have carefully curated artifact sets from focus areas of our collection. Explore specific topics or use as a foundation for building your own collection.
Digital Resources
Though many of our collections are not yet available online, these digital resources will provide you with avenues to start exploring the American experience. Access online databases, tools, popular research topics, and more.
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Research DatabasesBrowse the holdings of our research library and archive and discover specialized resources on specific collections.
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Popular Research TopicsGet authoritative information on some key topics relating to our collections.
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Caring for Your ArtifactsLearn to care for your own artifacts from educational materials developed by our in-house conservation staff.
Services
The Benson Ford Research Center is the portal to the collections of The Henry Ford, offering programs and services to help you find the information you need.
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Reading Room
View historic documents and photographs, study rare books, and explore a wealth of other materials.
AskUs
Questions to and answers from the Benson Ford Research Center’s experts. Can’t find what you need? Ask an expert.
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Remote Research Services
If you can’t visit our site, we offer fee-based remote research services.
Tours & Special Access
Tours are designed for groups who are interested in going behind the scenes at The Henry Ford.
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Conservation Services
Our staff conservators have experience conserving a wide range of objects and materials.
Loans
We arrange artifact loans to museums, libraries, and archives around the world.
About Us
Learn more about the experts who make The Henry Ford’s amazing collection possible, and find out how you can get involved.
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Our Collection ExpertsMeet our curators and learn about their area of expertise.
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Ways to Get InvolvedGrants, internships, and other ways to work with the Benson Ford Research Center.
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Donate ArtifactsLearn more about how donations assist The Henry Ford, and discover how you can contribute authentic artifacts.