John Margolies Roadside America Transparencies

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,...

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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, 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 A complete list of Margolies' publications can be found on an archived version of his website held by the Internet Archive at https://web.archive.org/web/20170929110416/https://www.johnmargolies.com/.

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Scope 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....

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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. 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

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Collection 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

  Details

Rowe Drugs, Ottumwa, Iowa, 1980

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

Rowe Drugs, Ottumwa, Iowa, 1980

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Lee's Barber Pole, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1980

  Details

Lee's Barber Pole, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1980

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

Lee's Barber Pole, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1980

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Modern Drugs Sign, Fort Worth, Texas, 1995

  Details

Modern Drugs Sign, Fort Worth, Texas, 1995

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

Modern Drugs Sign, Fort Worth, Texas, 1995

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Broadway Florist Sign, Paducah, Kentucky, 1993

  Details

Broadway Florist Sign, Paducah, Kentucky, 1993

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

Broadway Florist Sign, Paducah, Kentucky, 1993

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

4 Lanes Liquor Sign, Winslow, Arizona, 1979

  Details

4 Lanes Liquor Sign, Winslow, Arizona, 1979

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

4 Lanes Liquor Sign, Winslow, Arizona, 1979

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Greenfield Liquor Sign, Greenfield, California, 1991

  Details

Greenfield Liquor Sign, Greenfield, California, 1991

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

Greenfield Liquor Sign, Greenfield, California, 1991

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Princess Theater, Oxford, Ohio, 1984

  Details

Princess Theater, Oxford, Ohio, 1984

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

Princess Theater, Oxford, Ohio, 1984

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

Malta Drive-In Theater Sign, Malta, New York, 1983

  Details

Malta Drive-In Theater Sign, Malta, New York, 1983

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

Malta Drive-In Theater Sign, Malta, New York, 1983

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details

San Pedro Drive-In Theater, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, 1979

  Details

San Pedro Drive-In Theater, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, 1979

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

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:

thehenryford.org

San Pedro Drive-In Theater, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, 1979

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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.

VIEW CALENDAR

  Details