In the period from 1937 to 1941, the Ford Company became the only major manufacturer of automobiles in the Detroit area that had not recognized any labor union as the collective bargaining representative of employees. At hearings before the National Labor Relations Board Ford was found guilty of repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act. The findings against him were upheld on appeal to the federal courts. Ford was constrained to negotiate a standard labor contract after a successful strike by the workers at his main plant at River Rouge, Michigan, in April 1941. Early in 1941 Ford was granted government contracts whereby he was, at first, to manufacture parts for bombers and, later, the entire airplane. He thereupon launched the construction of a huge plant at Willow Run, Michigan, where production was begun in May 1942. Despite certain technical difficulties, by the end of World War II (1945) this plant had manufactured more than 8000 planes.
Advancing age obliged Ford to retire from the active direction of his gigantic enterprises in 1945. He died on April 7, 1947, in Dearborn. Ford left a personal fortune estimated at $500 to $700 million, bequeathing the largest share of his holdings in the Ford Motor Company to the Ford Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Editorial tributes were favorable to Henry Ford. He was praised as a patriot, philanthropist, philosopher, reformer, economist, and teacher and depicted as a symbol of individualism and productive genius. Today Ford’s genius can be seen at the historic sites dedicated to him: Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers, Florida; Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Estate-Fair Lane, in Dearborn, Michigan.
Ford and his family spent a good deal of time and money on charitable work. They set up an historical museum in Greenfield Village, Michigan, and most notably set up the Ford Foundation. The Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide. Their goals are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation and advance human achievement
This has been their purpose for almost half a century. The Ford Foundation feels that there is a real fundamental challenge facing every society today: to create political, economic and social systems that promote peace, human welfare and the sustainability of the environment on which life depends. They believe that the best way to meet this challenge is to encourage initiatives by those living and working closest to where problems are located; to promote collaboration among the nonprofit, government and business sectors, and to assure participation by men and women from diverse communities and at all levels of society. In their experience, such activities help build common understanding, enhance excellence, enable people to improve their lives and reinforce their commitment to society.
The Ford Foundation is one source of support for these activities. They work mainly by making grants or loans that build knowledge and strengthen organizations and networks. Since their financial resources are modest in comparison to societal needs, they focus on a limited number of problem areas and program strategies within our broad goals.
Founded in 1936, the Foundation operated as a local philanthropy in the state of Michigan until 1950, when it expanded to become a national and international foundation. Since inception it has been an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization. It has provided more than $9.3 billion in grants and loans. These funds derive from an investment portfolio that began with gifts and bequests of Ford Motor Company stock by Henry and Edsel Ford. The Foundation no longer owns Ford Motor Company stock and its diversified portfolio is managed to provide a perpetual source of support for the Foundation’s programs and operations.
The Trustees of the Foundation set policy and delegate authority to the president and senior staff for the Foundation?s grants making and operations. Program officers in New York, and in offices in Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Russia, explore opportunities to pursue the Foundation’s goals, formulate strategies and recommend proposals for funding.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF HENRY FORD
1863 Born July 30 in Greenfield Township, Michigan.
1879 Leaves family farm for Detroit to work in machine shops.
1888 Marries Clara Bryant of Greenfield Township and moves to 80-acre farm in what is today Dearborn.
1891 Secures position as engineer with the Edison Illuminating Company; returns to Detroit. 1893 Edsel Bryant Ford, only child of Henry and Clara Ford, born.
1896 Completes his first automobile, the Quadricycle, and drives it through the streets of Detroit. 1899 Ends eight years of employment with the Edison Illuminating Company to devote full attention to the many manufacture of automobiles. Made chief engineer and partner in the newly formed Detroit Automobile Company which produced only a few cars.
1901 Henry Ford Company organized with Ford as engineer. Ford resigns over dispute with bankers in 1902 and the company becomes the Cadillac Motor Car Co.
1903 Ford Motor Company is officially incorporated. Ford’s first Model A appears on the market in Detroit.
1908 Ford begins manufacturing the famous Model T.
1910 Begins operations at factory in Highland Park, Michigan.
1913 Introduces first moving automobile assembly line at Highland Park.
1914 Announces his plan to share the Ford Motor Company’s profits with workers, paying them $5.00 for an eight hour day.
1915 The Oscar II, Ford’s “Peace Ship,” sets sail for Norway on a pacifist expedition to end World War I.
1917 Begins construction of industrial facility on the Rouge River in Dearborn, Michigan.
1918 Loses his bid for the U.S. Senate.
1919 Edsel B . Ford, son of Henry Ford, is named president of Ford Motor Company
1921 Ford Motor Company dominates auto production with 55 percent of industry’s total output. 1926 Focuses on air transportation and develops the Tri-Motor airplane.
1927 Transfers final assembly line from Highland Park plant to the Rouge. Production of the Model T ends, and the Model A is introduced.
1929 Dedicates his Edison Institute of Technology and Greenfield Village with a celebration of 50 years of the electric light.
1932 Builds first V-8 Ford car.
1933 Successfully resists first efforts to unionize workers at Ford plants.
1937 “Battle of the Overpass” occurs between Ford security staff and United Auto Workers union organizers. As a result, the court orders Ford not to interfere with union activity.
1941 Ford Motor Company signs a contract with UAW.
1943 Edsel B. Ford dies at age 49.
1947 Henry Ford dies at age 83, at Fair Lane, his Dearborn home.
1) Collier, Peter and David Horowitz. The Fords. New York: Summit Books, 1987.
2) Head, Jeanine and Wllliam S . Pretzer. Henry Ford: A Pictorial Biography. Dearborn:
3) Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Vlllage, 1990.
4) Lacey, Robert. Ford: The Men and the Machine. New York: Ballantine Books, 1986.
5) Lewis, David. The Public lmage of Henry Ford: An American Folk Hero and His Company. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1976.
6) Nevins, Allen. Ford: the Times, the Man, the Company. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1954.
7) Nevins, Allen and Frank Ernest Hill. Ford: Expansion and Challenge 1915-1932. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1957.
8) Nevins, Allen and Frank Ernest Hill. Ford: Decline and Rebirth 1933-1962. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1963.
Bibliography
1) Collier, Peter and David Horowitz. The Fords. New York: Summit Books, 1987.
2) Head, Jeanine and Wllliam S . Pretzer. Henry Ford: A Pictorial Biography. Dearborn:
3) Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Vlllage, 1990.
4) Lacey, Robert. Ford: The Men and the Machine. New York: Ballantine Books, 1986.
5) Lewis, David. The Public lmage of Henry Ford: An American Folk Hero and His Company. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1976.
6) Nevins, Allen. Ford: the Times, the Man, the Company. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1954.
7) Nevins, Allen and Frank Ernest Hill. Ford: Expansion and Challenge 1915-1932. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1957.
8) Nevins, Allen and Frank Ernest Hill. Ford: Decline and Rebirth 1933-1962. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1963.