Suit of Coat, Vest, and Trousers, about 1920-1940

According to our records, the suit belonged to Henry Ford.Born in 1863 on a farm in what is now Dearborn, Michigan, Henry Ford parlayed a youthful aptitude for engineering into a career as an automotive innovator and founder/president of Ford Motor Company. Among his ideas were the introduction of the first moving automobile assembly line, affordable pricing, fair wages for employees, and the vertical integration of manufacturing processes from raw materials to the finished product. His many phi…

Boy's Vest and Pants

Mens Suit, about 1880

This morning suit belonged to Willis C. Ward. He likely used it for a wedding or other special occasion. It is exquisitely made and looks to have been rarely used.Willis C. Ward was born in 1861 to one of Michigan's wealthest families of the 19th century. His father David Ward, made his fortune in lumber and acquired and sold timbered land throughout the United States.

Trousers, about 1820-1850

Worn by a member of the Mitchell family of New York State.Used on an everyday basis for hard work.

Trousers, about 1820-1840

Breeches, about 1800-1825

Trousers, about 1810-1820

Trousers, about 1780-1830

Expensive heavyweight fabric work pants worn over trousers to protect fine clothing from abrasion during riding.The trousers are a very rare survival.

Trousers, about 1830-1870

The pants were purportedly worn by an individual in a Shaker community.

Trousers, about 1810-1830

Trousers, about 1800-1820

Pantaloons, about 1820-1840

Concentration Camp Uniform, about 1940-1945

Worn by Jan Kamienski, a Polish Catholic who was seized by the Germans inApril, 1940 in Poznan, Poland and set to Dachau, then to Mauthausen, then back to Dachau.He spent a little over five years in a concentration camp when he was liberated by the GIs.He spoke and read German and Polish and was apparently used as a translator in the camps.He was very ill during his internment but managed to survive.He came to Detroit shortly after the war where he met and married the donor of the uniform.He die…