Ford Employee's Service Dog Being "Pawprinted" for Identification, October 1942

Summary

Blackie was a leader or service dog that helped blind employee Sylvester Rypkowski travel to and from his job at the Ford Rouge factory during World War II. The dog, like his human coworkers, was finger (or "paw") printed and received a photo identification badge -- standard for war workers. Local and regional newspapers ran articles about Blackie and his role in wartime production.

Blackie was a leader or service dog that helped blind employee Sylvester Rypkowski travel to and from his job at the Ford Rouge factory during World War II. The dog, like his human coworkers, was finger (or "paw") printed and received a photo identification badge -- standard for war workers. Local and regional newspapers ran articles about Blackie and his role in wartime production.

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

05 October 1942

Collection Title

General Photographs Series 

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

64.167.833.P.77082.J

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Linen (Material)
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in

Width: 11 in

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