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Ford Corrects Anniversary Date

16 June 1998

Most History as Written is Bunk: Ford Corrects Anniversary Date

    DEARBORN, Mich., June 16 -- One of the enduring myths of
popular culture is that Henry Ford bluntly declared that "History is bunk."
The fact that this quotation is repeated so often does not mean, inconvenient
though it may be, that it is attributed accurately.  In fact, what he actually
said was "Most history as written is bunk" -- not so pithy perhaps, but
something altogether different from the apparent dismissal of a significant
body of educational interest.
    The truth is borne out by the records kept in Ford's in-house archive,
where another interesting fact recently was discovered, which should set
another historical record straight.
    For years, Ford Motor Company recognized June 16, 1903, as the
day of its incorporation.  Books about the history of Ford cite that date as
the official beginning.
    Ford held its 50th anniversary June 16, 1953; its 75th was celebrated
June 16, 1978.  And until recently, it was gearing up to mark its centennial
on June 16, 2003.
    Wrong.
    The longtime error was discovered when Annette Wisne Green, Ford corporate
history manager, asked for a clarification on Ford's incorporation dates as
part of groundwork in preparation for the centennial.  Upon receiving the
legal dates from Heidi Diebol-Hoorn, a legal assistant in the corporate
secretary's office, Wisne Green discovered that the legal anniversary of
Ford's initial incorporation in Michigan was not June 16.
    True, Henry Ford and his 11 original investors signed the letters of
incorporation in Detroit on June 16, 1903.  The form was notarized the same
day.  However, transportation being what it was in the days before the Mustang
and the Navigator, the papers didn't make it to Lansing until the following
day.  The state does not legally recognize the formation of a corporation
until papers are filed.  Stop the parade.  At least for one day.
    "I guess we tried for about 94 years, but we're really not in the business
of rewriting history," said Wisne Green upon learning of the glitch.  Without
much internal debate, company officials decided to correct the inaccuracy for
all time.
    So correct your calendars.  Ford, amid much fanfare, will celebrate its
100th anniversary on June 17, 2003 -- exactly 100 years after the papers were
stamped with the state of Michigan's official seal.