Milford chronicle., 1953-01-09
Ford Co. Is SO Years
Old This Year

Ford Motor Company is so years
old this year.
To mark its 50th anniversary,
the company has planned a series
OF commemorative events during
1858.
Highlight of the anniversary vesr
viii be dedication of the companv's
S5O,OOO,OO0 Engineering and RE
search Center in Dearborn, Mich.
The ceremony is set for June is.
date of the cOmpaNy's incorporation
IN 1903. 1t will be followed by
state dinner to be attended by sew
eral hundred national figures.
On the same day, local company
officials, Ford and Lincoln-Mer-
curry dealers and their wives will
attend anniversary banquets in SO
United States cities in which Ford
maintains plants, parts depots, and
sales offices.
A pictorial book, Ford at Fif-
ty'', will be published by Simon
and Schuster in April. A portrait
of an industrial enterprise taken in
its 50th year, the book graphically
depicts the American environment
and the people who make possible
the growth and success of such an
institution.
Approximately 100000 copies of
the book will be produced. Each OF
Ford's 100000 employees will re-
ceive one. The publication was
edited by JO. eph ]. Thorndike, Jr..
formerly managing editor of Life,
and was written by Joe Mccarthy,
former managing editor of Cos
mopolitan." Pictures for the book
were taken by several noted photo
graphers including Philippe Halls
man, Life" cover photographer.
Theme of the anniversary, Eff
ty Years Forward on the American
Road, will be featured in a two
hour television show and an hour
long radio broadcast the evening
Of June Is.
The telecast will be carried on
two major networks. The show will
be produced by Leland Hayward,
who presented such Broadway hits
as South Pacific" and 'AIr. Rob-
erts." The recorded radio program,
to be aired on one major network,
will be adapted from the television
show.
The Ford Archives, largest in
stitutiOn of its type in industry,
viii be dedicated early in May
Some Of the country's leading
: scholars, archivists, and historians
are expected to attend the cere-
mony.
A motion picture, which centers
around, the anniversary theme,
will be premiered in Dearborn dur
ing May The first audience will
be composed Of top members OF
Ford's management and their
wives.
The ROtunda me worlds largest
privately-owned Industrial display
building, viii be reopened as q
public shoWplace around June 1
It was converted to an office
building during World War II
Theme of its exhibit viii be PRO.
gressiYe Research and Engineer.
ing"
United States dealers will hols
UDEA-MUuoE DIOSAaAAS III LnC pun
lie in June Employees and theil
families will participate in "birth
day party" events in the Detroit
area and all branch locations il
July and August
IN late 1858, the initial volume
Of an official Ford history Will ap
pear. Tentatively titled, @The Risl
Of Henry Ford" the publication
viii cover the period from 1866 Il
1920. Author is Allan Nevins,. twic
a Pulitzer prize winner for bio
eraphy. Mr.. Nevins viii write sew
eraI more detailed volumes dealinl
with the life Of Henry Ford an
history Of Ford Motor Compan
during the next three years.
The Ford Times" and Lincoln
Mercury Times" company maya
zines, will feature the anniversar
In their June editions.
Approximately 100000 ami
versary calendars, featuring seYe
Norman Rockwell illustrations
were distributed in December. Al
Ford employees received copies
Ford's worldwide leadership OF
ganization distributed approximate
" 1,750,000 Of the calendars, whic
were printed in seven languages.