John Margolies Roadside America Transparencies
John Margolies traveled throughout the United States for more than thirty-five years taking photographs of American commercial architecture and design. The collection contains approximately 1500 color transparencies and includes images of theaters, gas stations, motels and restaurants among other subjects.
Biographical / Historical Note
John Margolies (1940-2016) traveled throughout the United States for more than thirty-five years taking photographs of American commercial architecture and design. Some of the photographs were used in the publication of his many books on the signs, architecture,...
MoreJohn Margolies (1940-2016) traveled throughout the United States for more than thirty-five years taking photographs of American commercial architecture and design. Some of the photographs were used in the publication of his many books on the signs, architecture, resorts, travel and tourist attractions in America. A complete list of Margolies' publications can be found on an archived version of his website held by the Internet Archive at https://web.archive.org/web/20170929110416/https://www.johnmargolies.com/.
LessScope and Content Note
The collection contains approximately 1500 35mm color transparencies and is organized into two series. The General series, 1973-2004, includes images of theaters, gas stations, motels, restaurants, hotels, the Atlantic coast, and tourist attractions....
MoreThe collection contains approximately 1500 35mm color transparencies and is organized into two series. The General series, 1973-2004, includes images of theaters, gas stations, motels, restaurants, hotels, the Atlantic coast, and tourist attractions. The Main Street series, 1975 2005, is comprised of civic buildings, banks, clubs, churches, barber shops and signs, and commercial buildings.
Researchers should note there is an item level inventory to the transparencies in Box 1. The inventory lists location and date the photograph was taken.
Selected items from the collection have been digitized and are available at: http://collections.thehenryford.org/Collection.aspx?keywords=%22John+Margolies+Roadside+America+transparencies%22
LessCollection Details
Object ID: 2013.150.0
Creator: Margolies, John
Inclusive Dates: 1973-2005
Size: 0.9 cubic ft. (3 boxes)
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit
Access Restrictions: The transparencies are open for research.
Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Digitized Artifacts From This Collection
In many cases, not all artifacts have been digitized.
Contact us for more information about this collection.
Rowe Drugs, Ottumwa, Iowa, 1980
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1394
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Rowe Drugs, Ottumwa, Iowa, 1980
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Lee's Barber Pole, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1980
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1451
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Lee's Barber Pole, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1980
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Modern Drugs Sign, Fort Worth, Texas, 1995
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1472
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Modern Drugs Sign, Fort Worth, Texas, 1995
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Broadway Florist Sign, Paducah, Kentucky, 1993
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1473
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Broadway Florist Sign, Paducah, Kentucky, 1993
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
4 Lanes Liquor Sign, Winslow, Arizona, 1979
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1480
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
4 Lanes Liquor Sign, Winslow, Arizona, 1979
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Greenfield Liquor Sign, Greenfield, California, 1991
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.1481
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Greenfield Liquor Sign, Greenfield, California, 1991
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Princess Theater, Oxford, Ohio, 1984
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.58
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Princess Theater, Oxford, Ohio, 1984
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Malta Drive-In Theater Sign, Malta, New York, 1983
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.74
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Malta Drive-In Theater Sign, Malta, New York, 1983
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
San Pedro Drive-In Theater, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, 1979
Artifact
Slide (Photograph)
Summary
In the mid-1970s, John Margolies began to assemble a visual record of America's built roadside landscape. Over the following three decades, he traveled thousands of miles to photograph the overlooked and often quickly vanishing structures that had grown out of American automobile culture and main street commerce. His photographs of hotels, motels, diners, service stations, drive-ins and attractions celebrate and capture a unique chapter of American history.
Creators
Object ID
2013.150.88
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
San Pedro Drive-In Theater, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, 1979
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
