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Immediately following the success of the Model T, Henry Ford turned to how he could apply his newfound wealth toward protecting birdlife on his new rural acreage in Dearborn, Michigan. Best of Companions weaves Henry Ford’s personal and very public participation in bird protection into the overall national push to save disappearing North American birdlife in the early twentieth century. 

Acting on his love of birds, Ford formed acquaintances and friendships with some of the most prominent North American wildlife conservation activists of the time. Michigan Audubon Society President Jefferson Butler was recruited to plan, establish, and promote an expansive, visionary bird protection project known as Henry Ford’s Bird Farm. Highlighting the economic benefit of birds, the farm modeled how farmers could use both natural and artificial means to boost populations of native insectivorous bird species on their land, reducing crop damage from insects and increasing agricultural productivity. Best of Companions takes readers on an exciting journey through Ford’s ambitious efforts to secure passage of the first federal bird protection law in the United States, to support the Migratory Bird Treaty with Canada, and to improve the lives of farmers.

For years political cartoons have shaped the often unflattering popular view of public figures. One of the most-often-portrayed figures of the twentieth century was the automobile manufacturer Henry Ford. Through editorial drawings, a vivid picture of Ford was presented that became the source of myths that surrounded him and continue even to this day.

Drawing Conclusions on Henry Ford is the first and only collection that brings together in one volume these editorial cartoons. They date back as far as the time Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and extend forward to the introduction of the Model A and subsequent V8 engines in the 1930s. They illustrate the emergence of many of the popular myths surrounding Henry Ford, as seen and understood by the average citizen during the opening decades of the twentieth century. With 150 illustrations, the reader is able to trace the evolving images of Ford from a time period when caricature images of public figures were a primary source of information about those persons. Sometimes funny, sometimes sharp and critical, these cartoons are entertaining in themselves. Viewed as a whole, they create anew view of the Henry Ford story.

Rudolph V. Alvarado is a freelance writer and museum consultant, as well as the former programs leader for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Sonya Y. Alvarado is an instructor of English, at Eastern Michigan University and a former adjunct faculty member, Wayne State University.

“This is both a biography of Henry Ford, American folk hero, and a study of the sociohistorical impact of the often idiosyncratic ideas and most of all his Tin Lizzie on rural America… the result is a book of considerable worth, perhaps the single best volume yet published on Ford.”
–Kirkus Reviews
 
“…a unique social history of the period. The book has nostalgic value for all over 40, the humor of a naïve America for young people, and social and technical history for the scholar.”
–Robert J. Havlik, Library Journal        
 
“…the underlying theme is how Ford became a folk hero to rural America… This well written book not only supplements… previous studies… but helps to illuminate American values and attitudes during the 1920’s.”
–Choice