The 1974-77 Presidential papers of Gerald Ford and his White House staff form the core Ford Library collection in Ann Arbor. These are supplemented by the pre- and post-presidential papers of Gerald Ford, the papers of Betty Ford, collections of Federal records, and more. Former government officials have donated personal papers, researchers in the period have given copies of research interviews, and private individuals associated with the issues and events of the time have given their materials.
The Ford Museum in Grand Rapids holds around 19,000 artifacts, an assortment of historical artifacts that illustrate the life and times of Gerald R. Ford. These objects include gifts received by the Gerald Ford throughout his life, including head of state and American bicentennial gifts received while President. The collection also includes artifacts related to the 1976 Presidential campaign, the Whip Inflation Now (WIN) campaign, Betty Ford and the Ford children.
Many important materials from our textual, audiovisual, and artifact collections have been digitized and are now available online.
Archival holdings include approximately 25 million pages of documents, 450,000 photographs, 3,000 hours of audiotape, 3,500 hours of videotape, and 787,000 feet of film. The textual holdings include memos, letters, meeting notes, reports, and other historical documents. The audiovisual materials include photographs, videotapes of news broadcasts, audiotapes of speeches and press briefings, film of public events, and televised campaign commercials.
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The Library has an active digitization program that currently focuses on textual materials. Digitized material covers key White House collections in national security and domestic policy, and Ford pre-Presidential records.
Follow our progress as we continue to add more digital content.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum collects, preserves, and exhibits an assortment of historical artifacts that illustrate the life and times of Gerald R. Ford. The goal of the Ford Museum is to preserve this collection so that future generations might better understand the legacy of the nation's 38th President.
Follow our progress as we continue to add more digital artifacts.
