Ford Motor Company

William Gernaey Papers

kschmeling — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 13:13:34 -0400

William Gernaey served as an investigator for Chrysler Corporation and Ford Motor Company. He also worked in the same capacity with the, FBI, the State of Michigan and City of Detroit police departments, as well as Army and Navy intelligence.

His records include correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, undercover field notes, background subject files, an autobiography and personal records.

African Americans and the UAW

mosmith — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:53:30 -0500

The Reuther Library celebrates African American History Month with a brief review of the important role that African Americans have played in the formation and growth of the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW), one of the most powerful unions in American history, and the influence of black UAW members within the polity of Detroit. read more »

Battle of the Overpass

kchinery — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:46:13 -0400

On May 26, 1937, nearly sixty UAW members from Local 174 arrived at Ford Motor Company’s River Rouge Plant to pass out leaflets, with city permit in hand, as part of a campaign to secure union representation for Rouge workers. Several neutral observers were also present, including clergy, reporters, and photographers. In order to access the greatest number of workers, participants met read more »

Collection Spotlight: UAW Local 174 Mural

eclemens — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 11:49:00 -0400

In 1937, United Auto Workers Local 174 sponsored the creation of a series of murals to enliven their Union Hall and celebrate their rich, if relatively young, history. The resulting work proved to be one of the most memorable pieces of Detroit’s New Deal-era artwork. read more »

Ford Hunger March

kchinery — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:49:56 -0400

As the devastation of the Great Depression spread throughout Detroit, increased lay-offs and financial instability among Ford Motor Company workers led to an atmosphere of despair that reached an apex in 1932. These workers were among those who marched to Ford’s River Rouge Industrial Complex in Dearborn, Michigan on March 7, 1932. This event, famously known as the Hunger March, was orchestrated by members of Detroit’s Unemployed Councils, who had been helping unemployed workers fight evictions and seek relief from charitable agencies. read more »

On Display: Michigan Labor Actions case exhibit

eclemens — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:33:21 -0400

Michigan Labor Actions case exhibit
February 10, 2025 – July 3, 2025

Come by the library and explore our latest case exhibit, Michigan Labor Actions. This display features photographs, ephemera, and artifacts from our collections that highlight key collective actions in Michigan’s labor history. Events showcased include the Copper Country Strike (1913), Studebaker Strike (1913), Ford Hunger March (1932), Flint Sit-Down Strike (1937), UFW Grape Boycotts (1970s), D.R.U.M. Wildcat Strikes (1970s), P.A.T.C.O. Strike (1981), and the Detroit Newspaper Strike (1995–1997). read more »

(25233) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:40:39 -0400

A pair of UAW organizers, injured during the clash between Ford Service Department employees and union supporters. At right is Tony Marinovich.

Ann Fletcher, Ford Rouge Patent Draftsman, 1954

teller — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 11:32:21 -0400

May 14, 1954 article from the Ford Motor Company's Ford Rouge News about Society of Women Engineers member Ann Fletcher, the company's only patent draftsman. From: Society of Women Engineers National Records, Box 83.

(001) UAW Organizing, Reuther, Frankensteen, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:11:23 -0400

UAW organizers pose for the press on the Miller Road Overpass as members of the Ford Service Department approach. Moments after this image was taken the organizers were savagely beaten by the servicemen in the incident that would become known as the Battle of the Overpass.

Left to right: Robert Kanter, Walter P. Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, J.J. Kennedy

(1190) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:09:48 -0400

Robert Sentman, president of a national CIO technician's union, is chased by William Commett and Mr. Jones (African American man at left) during the Battle of the Overpass. After this image was taken Mr. Sentman was thrown to the ground, kicked repeatedly in the face and dragged down the railway tracks by his assailants.

(7091) Fraser, Caldwell, Ford Training Program, 1982

eclemens — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:30:45 -0400

Doug Fraser shares a laugh with Ford Chairman Philip Caldwell at the Ford Training Program.

(8744) UAW Organizing, Reuther, Frankensteen, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:47:33 -0400

UAW organizers pose for the press on the Miller Road Overpass. Moments after this shot is taken they are attacked by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass.

Left to right: Robert Kanter, Walter P. Reuther, Richard Frankensteen, J.J. Kennedy

(8747) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:39:58 -0400

Ford Motor Company Servicemen beat Richard Frankensteen, a UAW organizer, during the “Battle of the Overpass”, Dearborn, Michigan. From left to right: Tellford, unidentified, Angelo Caruso, Commett, Goodman. Frankensteen is in the foreground with his jacket pulled over his head. At the far right are photographers and/or reporters from the local press.

(8748) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:00:28 -0400

Ford Service Department employees assault a UAW organizer as photographers and reporters record the incident during the Battle of the Overpass. In the background, mounted policemen watch the violence but make no move to stop it.

The two men wearing hats, at center, are identified as Sam Taylor and William Commett

(8763) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:25:31 -0500

Walter Reuther comforts Richard Frankensteen following their assault by Ford Service Department employees during the “Battle of the Overpass”. The men were beaten and tossed down a flight of stairs for distributing United Auto Workers leaflets outside of the Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(8787) NAACP, UAW, Ford Strike, Dearborn, 1941

eclemens — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:30:10 -0400

Men in the picket line outside of the Ford Rouge plant and police officers on horseback pause to listen to the broadcast from the NAACP Detroit Youth Council sound car during the 1941 Ford Strike, Dearborn, Michigan. It is assumed that Horace Sheffield is behind the wheel of the sound car.

(10296) SWE Detroit, Ford Motor Company, 1956

teller — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:52:53 -0500

(l to r) Society of Women Engineers Detroit Section members Mildred Page, Margaret Ford, Juanita Barton, Ann Fletcher, Harriet Vicary, Lorraine Phillips, and Anne Davis work on the SWE Detroit Section newsletter at Ford Motor Company, 1955.

(11621) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:59:09 -0400

Walter Reuther distributes packets of leaflets to members of the UAW Women’s Auxiliary Brigade for distribution at the Ford Rouge Plant, two hours prior to the Battle of the Overpass.

(11719) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:57:07 -0400

An organizer for the UAW is attacked by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass.

(12271) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:49 -0400

“The head of the vast funeral march of 70,000 proceeding down Woodward Avenue in silent pledge that the four martyrs (Joe York, George Bussell, Coleman Leny and Joe Blasio) who were killed on Monday, March 7, 1932 did not die in vain.”

--Photographer’s Description

Note: The banner leading the marchers reads "Smash Ford-Murphy Police Terror." The "Murphy" invoked is Detroit's Mayor Frank Murphy.

(12272) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:49 -0400

-Photographer's Notation

(12273) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:49 -0400

Thousands line Woodward Avenue as the funeral procession for four of the men slain during the Ford Hunger March passes by, Detroit, Michigan. Within the crows, people hold banners and sign denouncing the violence and urging men to join the auto worker’s union.

(12274) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:49 -0400

Thousands line Woodward Avenue as they await the funeral procession for four of the men slain during the Ford Hunger March, Detroit, Michigan.

(12275) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:49 -0400

Thousands fill the streets as they await the funeral procession for four of the men slain during the Ford Hunger March, Detroit, Michigan.

(12276) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:50 -0400

The first of four hearses that carry Joe York, George Bussell, Coleman Leny and Joe Blasio, four of the men killed during the Ford Hunger March, leads the vast funeral procession down Woodward Avenue.

(12276) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, Hearse, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:48 -0400

The first of four hearses that carry the men who were killed during the Ford Hunger March leads the vast funeral procession down Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.

(12277) Ford Hunger March, Funeral Procession, Police, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:50 -0400

Mourners confront Detroit Police officers during the demonstration and funeral procession for four of the men killed during the Ford Hunger March. Several people hold signs aloft, the most prominent proclaims “Negro and White Unite!.”

(12278) Ford Hunger March, Funerals, Communist Party Headquarters, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:50 -0400

The coffins that hold Joe York, George Bussell, Coleman Leny and Joe Blasio, four of the men killed during the Ford Hunger March, are given a public viewing at Detroit's Communist Party Headquarters prior to their internment at Woodmere Cemetery.

Note: The African American man at front center is Christopher Alston, a future organizer for UAW - Ford.

(12279) Ford Hunger March, Funerals, Woodmere Cemetery, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:50 -0400

Mourners stand by memorial wreaths during the funerals of Joe York, George Bussell, Coleman Leny and Joe Blasio, four of the men killed during the Ford Hunger March, at Detroit's Woodmere Cemetery.

(12280) Ford Hunger March, Victims, Joe Bussell c. 1930s

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:50 -0400

Portrait of Joe Bussell, killed by Ford Servicemen during the 1932 Ford Hunger March, Detroit, Michigan.

(12281) Ford Hunger March, Victims, Joe York, c. 1930s

pneirink — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:50 -0400

Portrait of Joe York, killed by Ford Servicemen during the 1932 Ford Hunger March, Detroit, Michigan.

Courtesy of Belle Weisman

(12282) Ford Hunger March, Workers' Inquiry, Flyer, 1932

eclemens — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:50 -0400

A flyer inviting people to the public investigation of the Ford Hunger March Massacre by a Workers Jury to be held March 25, 1932 at Detroit’s Cass Tech High School.

(25223) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:37:49 -0400

An unidentified UAW organizer is knocked to the ground and beaten by a group of Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the overpass.

Third from left with his back to the camera is Sam Taylor.

(25225) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:43:31 -0400

UAW organizers, members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary and their supporters are forced back from the Ford Rouge Plant and into the Detroit Street Railway waiting area by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

The African American man at center is identified as "Jones."

(25227) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:34:47 -0400

An unidentified UAW organizer is soundly beaten by a group of Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

Second from right is Sam Taylor.

(25228) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:58:41 -0400

Richard Frankensteen is brutally beaten by employees of the Ford Service Department during the Battle of the Overpass as photographers record the event and servicemen try to block their view.

(25229) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:01:51 -0400

A member of the Ford Service Department attempts to block the view of the press as Richard Frankensteen is brutally beaten during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25226) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:18:17 -0400

UAW Organizers, members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary and their supporters are violently pushed back into the Detroit Street Railway (DSR) waiting area by Ford Service Department employees during the Ford Rouge Plant during the Battle of the Overpass.

At front, left, a man identified as "Slim" makes a menacing gesture towards the photographers and other onlookers. Charles Goodman stands at center, partially obscured by an unidentified man.

(25231) UAW Organizing, Women's Auxiliary, Battle of the Overpass, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:52:35 -0400

Members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary stand in the back of a parked streetcar and talk to the men standing outside of the Ford Rouge Plant during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25232) Battle of the Overpass, Aftermath, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:35:20 -0400

Members of the crowd that witnessed the violent confrontation between Ford Service employees and UAW organizers clean up handbills that were released during the fight from the Miller Road Overpass onto Ford Property, Ford Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan.

(25234) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:15:13 -0400

Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen clean themselves up after being beaten and thrown down a flight of stairs by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25235) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:44:21 -0400

Portrait of Allwin Stickel, an UAW organizer, injured by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25236) UAW Organizing, Violence, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:06:50 -0400

An unidentified man with severe facial lacerations, injured by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass, shows his wounded leg to a fellow UAW organizer, Dearborn, Michigan.

(25239) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:12:48 -0400

(25240) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:10:47 -0400

(25242) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:01:14 -0400

(25243) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:56:57 -0400

An unidentified man is beaten by Ford Service Department employees as UAW organizers, members of the UAW Local 174 Women's Auxiliary and their supporters are forced back from the Ford Rouge Plant and into the Detroit Street Railway waiting area during the Battle of the Overpass.

(25248) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:55:03 -0400

(25249) UAW Organizing, Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:52:06 -0400

(25251) UAW Organizing, Violence, Reuther, Frankensteen, Dearborn, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:22:26 -0400

A blood-soaked Richard Frankensteen has his wounds attended to after being beaten by Ford Service Department employees during the Battle of the Overpass. Walter Reuther sits at right, his eyes closed.