Frank Campsall records series, 1887-1947 (bulk 1920-1935)

ArchivalResource

Campsall, Frank Charles, 1884-1946. Frank Campsall records series, 1887-1947 (bulk 1920-1935)

Frank Campsall records series, 1887-1947 (bulk 1920-1935)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/289019675

The Frank Campsall records series consists of four subseries. The Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass. records subseries, 1903-1938 (11.6 cubic ft.), Acc. 292, is the largest group of material on a single topic and is divided into correspondence, history and subject subsubseries. The bulk of the correspondence is between Campsall and E. J. Boyer, manager of the Inn. Its research value lies in the fact that the Wayside Inn was Ford's first broad attempt at historic restoration and, according to William Greenleaf, author of a book on Ford philanthropies, the experience may have "led directly to his conception of the plan for Greenfield Village." Contained in the correspondence files are detailed daily reports on the progress of restoration projects as they are undertaken, often including blueprints and drawings. Concurrently, Ford agents, most notably W. W. Taylor, were searching the New England countryside for antiques with which to furnish the Inn. Established dealers such as Israel Sack and the Boston Antique Shop also provided descriptions and prices on pieces they had for sale. A real effort was made to secure items which had belonged to the Howe family whose home the Inn had been for four generations preceding 1866. In addition, historical material was gathered about the Inn and the surrounding area as well as the Howe family itself. Photographs collected of the Inn include both contemporary views from the 1920s and historic views. Ford purchased the Wayside Inn in 1923, remodeled and restored it, and reopened for business in February 1924. Over the next few years he purchased much of the adjoining property, reconstructed three old mills, and dammed a stream to provide waterpower. He also opened a boy's trade school in which he tested some of his educational and dietary ideas. The fact that menus were sent to Dearborn for his (and Mrs. Ford's) approval is an indication of the depth of involvement of the Ford office in the details of the Wayside Inn operations. The History subsubseries is made up of a file Campsall evidently kept separate from the correspondence file. It contains little more than duplicates of letters and reports. The Subject subsubseries includes photos and printed material about the Inn, old-fashioned dance material, correspondence regarding the mill and power plants and legal information about the case of Sturdevant vs. Ford regarding water rights. The extent of Campsall's involvement with Ford interests and a measure of his responsibility within the Ford organization is evidenced by the variety of material found in the Henry Ford Activities records subseries, 1887-1940 (4.8 cubic ft.), Acc. 292. He kept a file on properties Ford had acquired such as those at Savannah, Georgia and La Belle, Florida and on those being considered at Stratford, Virginia. In addition, he held records pertaining to the Dearborn Country Club, the Henry Ford Hospital, the Fords' trip to England in 1928 and Ford's search for former students and teachers of the Scotch Settlement School. Campsall's file also contains voluminous guest lists, invitations and replies for the regularly scheduled old-fashioned dances. The Henry Ford Trips and Interests records subseries,1912-1947 (2.4 cubic ft.), Acc. 292, is made up of material which may or may not have been gathered by Frank Campsall. Pieces displaying his distinctive handwriting style may be easily established as his, but the origin of most printed material remains in doubt. Those items that can be definitely ascribed to Campsall are so identified in the finding aid. Materials on topics of interest include a folder of correspondence and publications regarding the Peace Ship (1915), a list of gift cars given by Henry Ford from the 1920s to the 1940s, letters written to Ford regarding his repudiation of anti-semitism (1927) and his resistance to unions (1937), clippings and correspondence regarding the death of Ford pilot Harry Brooks who was flying a Ford Flivver airplane off the coast of Florida in 1928, two scrapbooks that contain receipts, Spanish language clippings and correspondence documenting a couple's multi-year Model T tour of South America (1930-1935), brief correspondence with Mahatma Gandhi (1941), bits of information relating to Ford's firing of C. E. Sorensen, a codicil to Ford's will (1944), plus a reconstructed sketch (1944) and materials list for Ford's first gasoline engine. The Blueprints, Drawings, Newspapers and Printed Material subseries, 1895-1947 (0.4 cubic ft. and 8 oversize boxes), Acc. 291 and Acc. 292, includes blueprints and drawings for the Wayside Inn (many from the engineering firm of Lockwood, Greene & Co.), Ford's property at Savannah, Georgia, the Dearborn Country Club, Dearborn Realty and Construction's Maloney Subdivision (now known as the Ford Homes Historic District) and miscellaneous blueprints which include his first gasoline engine. Newspaper clippings cover the topics of Ford's 75th and 78th Birthday, Edison's death and Ford's death.

19.2 cubic ft. and 8 oversize boxes.

The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center