Research Services

The Benson Ford Research Center is the world's most comprehensive resource for researching collections and stories of American innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness — and home to the experts who maintain and interpret The Henry Ford's collections.

Services

Need access to off-display artifacts or specialized research? Count on us to make it happen.

Remote Research Services
Professional research help, wherever you are.
Conservation Services
Assessments, treatments and information for artifact care.
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Our Collections Experts

Meet the team of experts who care for and bring The Henry Ford's collections to life.

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Artifact Loans

At any given time, The Henry Ford has hundreds of artifacts on loan to dozens of museums, libraries and archives around the world. We are happy to discuss the possibilities of loans to qualifying institutions. For information about the policies and procedures governing the loan of artifacts to other institutions, please contact us at loanprogram@thehenryford.org.

Please note that we do not loan artifacts to the general public.

Research Databases

Browse the holdings of our research library and archive and discover specialized resources on specific collections.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in donating to the collections of The Henry Ford. One of the ways new artifacts are added to the collections is through the generosity of our members, individuals and corporations. Donations assist The Henry Ford in fulfilling our mission to provide unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America's traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation.

Please use the Artifact Donation Form (PDF) to begin the donation process. You may send the completed form to us via mail, email or fax:

The Henry Ford
Benson Ford Research Center
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124-5029
fax: (313) 982-6244
email: research.center@thehenryford.org

In order to ensure that your objects are properly tracked and cared for, we ask that you please not mail or drop off items for consideration unless asked to do so by The Henry Ford.

We will confirm your donation request, assign it to a curator, and provide a reference number for your records. The curator will review our existing collections with regard to the donation request, and it will go before the Collections Committee for consideration. This can be a lengthy process and we appreciate your patience as we give your offer thorough and complete attention.

The Henry Ford does not offer appraisal services, but below are organizations that can direct you to a reputable antique dealer in your area. Appraisers often specialize in a particular field. In order to locate a professional in the field in which you are particularly interested, we suggest that you contact one of the following national organizations for specific information:

American Society of Appraisers
555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125
Herndon, VA 20170
(703) 478-2287
FAX: (703) 742-8471
Email: asainfo@appraisers.org

Appraisers Association of America
386 Park Ave. South, Suite 2000
New York, NY 10016
(212) 889-5404
FAX: (212) 889-5503
Website: appraisersassociation.org

Still curious? For additional assistance, ask an expert.

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