This course will begin with a discussion of Henry Ford himself – his background and early life, his role in the early automobile industry, and the development of Ford Motor Company. There will be a discussion about Ford’s idiosyncrasies and the controversies into which these led him. Descriptions and visual demonstrations of Ford car models built during Ford’s lifetime will follow – Model N and other early models, Model T, Model A, V-8, and the 1949 Ford (developed at the end of Ford’s life). There will also be a discussion of Ford’s role in the development of the farm tractor, both the early pre-WWI and the Ford- Ferguson versions.

Other automobile products produced in the U.S. by Ford will be discussed – the acquisition of the Lincoln Car Company; the role of Ford’s son, Edsel, in the mid-1930’s development of the Lincoln Zephyr and the Lincoln Continental; and introduction of the mid-sized Mercury in the late 1930’s. Finally, the River Rouge plant, the Ford Foundation, and the Henry Ford Museum will be described. At the first meeting a discussion of the organization of the subject matter will take place, and the list above may be revised. Each of the subjects in the final selection will be assigned to member(s) willing to prepare and present a session, aided as needed by the course leader in research and the preparation of PowerPoint slides.