View pictures of recent events at the Ford Library and Museum

For information on events at the Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, please call (616) 254-0400.

For information on events at the Ford Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan, please call
(734) 205-0555.

EXHIBITS

Born to Play Ball
August 8, 2008 through January 4, 2009
GRAND RAPIDS -- A new feature exhibit at the Gerald R. Ford Museum is sure to spark debate among baseball fans.  Born to Play Ball looks at the fifty greatest players in the game's history, five at every position including the best left- and right-handed pitchers.  The exhibit was done in collaboration with the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Museum and features numerous artifacts from Cooperstown's National Baseball Hall of Fame and various collectors.

The Life and Times of Gerald R. Ford
Opened September 2, 2008
ANN ARBOR -- A new permanent lobby exhibit presenting the timeline of Gerald Ford’s life story, featuring over 100 seldom-seen documents and photos from Library collections. Complements the Betty Ford Biography permanent exhibit that opened in April 2008 celebrating her 90th birthday.

Presidential Campaigns and Inaugurations, 1948-2004
September 2, 2008 through January 23, 2009
ANN ARBOR -- The Library opens a feature exhibit and companion web gallery of documents, artifacts, TV campaign spots, and photos from the presidential campaigns and inaugurations of Gerald Ford’s public life, 1948 to 2004.

White House in Miniature
January 23 through May 24, 2009
GRAND RAPIDS -- The White House in Miniature exhibit will be back at the Gerald R. Ford Museum.  Americans will now have the chance to get an insiders tour of "The Presidents' House" without the hassles of traveling to the nation's capital. That is why John and Jan Zweifel have labored since 1962 to create The White House in Miniature, a breathtaking scale model of the White House that is 60 feet long and 20 feet wide. The replica took more than 35 years to research, design and construct.

Among the features are tiny, working televisions, hand-carved chairs and tables, crystal chandeliers, portraits and miniature carpets that reproduce the originals stitch by stitch- each nuance of the White House is painstakingly reproduced to capture the elegance of one of the world's most recognized residences.

A Child in the White House - Caroline Kennedy’s Dolls
June 19 through August 31, 2009
GRAND RAPIDS -- More than 70 dolls and puppets from 30 countries were given to young Caroline Kennedy, beginning in 1961 when her family entered the White House through 1963 when tragedy ended their brief residency.  Foreign dignitaries and first ladies – including Italy's Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani, the Ivory Coast's President Houphouet-Boigny, India's Indira Gandhi, Monaco's Princess Grace, and France's Madame de Gaulle – presented dolls to the First Daughter as state gifts. Other dolls in the collection were gifts from foreign citizens who did not hold official government positions. The collection is on loan from the John F. Kennedy Library.

SPEAKERS AND PROGRAMS

Dale Van Atta
Behind the Scenes in the Nixon/Ford White House: Machiavellian Maneuvers
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 7:30 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS --Join Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist Dale Van Atta as he navigates through both the Nixon and Ford Administrations. Van Atta has written the first-ever biography of Melvin Laird, Nixon's Secretary of Defense. A book signing and reception will follow. Reservations at (616) 254-0384.


Tim Weiner
Monday, November 3, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS - - Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for The New York Times, Tim Weiner discusses his book Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, newly released in paperback. A reception and book signing will follow the lecture. Reservations are recommended for the lecture and can be made by calling the museum at (616) 254-0384.

Norm Coleman
Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS - - TY COBB - The Greatest Player That Ever Played The Game
Norm Coleman has thrilled audiences throughout the west coast as he performs his one-man show based on the legendary baseball icon, Ty Cobb. Coleman uses music and photographs to set the stage of this entertaining, humorous and historical show. Cobb was the first great American sports hero, first player elected to the Hall of Fame, first millionaire ballplayer, first to make a Hollywood movie and a friend of every President from Taft to Nixon. Reservations for this exciting night are recommended, please call (616) 254-0384.

Bill Anderson
The History of Tigers Baseball
Saturday, November 8, 2008 2:00 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS - - Take a break fro football to join the Gerald R. Ford Museum for a recap of Michigan's own Major League Baseball team, the Tigers. A reception will follow. For reservations call the Museum at (616) 254-0384.

Tim Kurkjian
Wednesday, November 12, 2008  7:30 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS - - ESPN personality Tim Kurkjian has an extensive background in baseball.  Kurkjian began covering the sport in 1981 for the Dallas Morning News.  Currently, he can be seen on ESPN's Baseball Tonight and is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.  Kurkijian's visit to the Gerald R. Ford Museum is in conjunction with Born to Play Ball, an exhibit that looks at the 50 best players in recent history.  Reservations to the lecture can be made by calling (616) 254-0374.

David Broder
2008 William E. Simon Lecture in Public Affairs
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR - - David Broder, national political correspondent for The Washington Post, has covered every national election since 1960. Mr. Broder is a regular commentator on CNN's "Inside Politics," and makes frequent appearances on NBC's "Meet the Press" and "Washington Week in Review." Broder will discuss the political landscape following the November elections. A reception will follow the program. Open seating. Free. Details call (734) 205-0555.

Annual Outdoor Tree Lighting
Thursday, November 20, 2008 7:00 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS - - Join the fun as the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum lights up the Grand with its annual holiday display of trees and twinkling lights. A sing-along, refreshments, and free admission will be included in the festivities.
 
Holiday Open House
Sunday, December 7, 2008 1:00-5:00 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS - - This annual favorite will feature a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday music, and activities for children. Admission will be free from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Lincoln on Leadership
Contemporary Lessons from a Legendary Leader 
January 29, 2009   7:00 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS -- Best-selling author of major works of nonfiction, Don Phillips is know for his ability to tell stories and bring history alive with crisp compelling prose.  His trilogy on American leadership (The Founding Fathers On Leadership, Lincoln On Leadership, Martin Luther King, Jr. On Leadership) has won worldwide acclaim.  His first book, Lincoln On Leadership, helped pave the way toward the creation of an entire new genre of books on historical leadership. This event is sponsored by both the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and Grand Valley State University's Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.  Call the Hauenstein Center for reservations (616) 331-2770. Use this link for more information.

Lincoln vs. Douglas
Sesquicentennial Debate by Jim Getty and Tim Connors 
February 12, 2009  7:00 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS -- When Jim Getty takes the stage, he is Abraham Lincoln. Getty brings Lincoln to life:  audiences see and hear the President recount his homespun stories of youth, his recollections of his personal and political life, and his special anguish for Gettysburg. Tim Connors is a life-long resident of Freeport, Illinois, where he is director of speech and theatre for the Freeport Public Schools.  Under his direction, Freeport has produced nearly two-dozen state qualifiers in the annual IHSA Speech Competition, eight state finalists, and one state champion. Join these two men as they bring the Lincoln-Douglas Debate to life!  This event is sponsored by both the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and Grand Valley State University's Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.  Call the Hauenstein Center for reservations (616) 331-2770. Use this link for more information.

National Issues Forum Institute
GRAND RAPIDS -- Join in a nonpartisan local discussion forum, part of a national initiative to encourage civic engagement. Co-sponsored by presidential libraries and the National Issues Forums Institute of the Kettering Foundation. Refreshments will be available at 5:00 p.m. for all forums.

What is the 21st Century Mission of Our Public Schools?
Thursday, October 16, 2008  5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Racial and Ethnic Tensions: What Should We Do?
Thursday, October 30, 2008  5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

DEADLINES

Gerald R. Ford Foundation Research Travel Grants
September 15, 2008
ANN ARBOR -- Application deadline. The Gerald R. Ford Foundation awards several research travel grants of up to $2,000 each in support of research in the holdings of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. A grant defrays travel, living, and photocopy expenses of a research trip to the Ford Library. More information.

Gerald R. Ford Scholar Award in Honor of Robert M. Teeter
May 1, 2009
ANN ARBOR -- Application deadline. A grant of $5000 is awarded annually to support dissertation research on any aspect of the United States political process during the latter part of the 20th century. More information.

Last Updated: October 28, 2008