Betty Ford & The Ford Children

Green gown designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The floor length, chiffon gown features flowing, sheer sleeves and lace with sequined flowers at the top. Inside designer label reads “Estevez.” Mrs. Ford wore this gown for the State Dinner for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on July 7, 1976.

Accession Number: 1982.33.2
Donation Date: 1981
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

Plaque featuring an amethyst rock set atop a black wooden base. The inscription reads, “Silver Humanitarian Award / Presented to / Betty Ford / By the / Philadelphia Association for Retarded Citizens / May 12, 1975.”

Accession Number: 2007.7.2
Dimensions: 7.25 x 9.5 x 9.5”
Donation Date: January 23, 2007
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

Wooden clogs given to Susan Ford. One of a set of three pair given to President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, and Susan. They are carved from wood and each feature a colorfully painted windmill. Wood burned text on the sides read, “Holland Tulip Festival / May 15, 1976” and “Susan Ford / Parade Marshall.”

Accession Number: 1989.586.1.1
Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 11”
Donation Date: May 15, 1976
Donor: Gift of Citizens of Holland

Pencil sketch portrait of Susan Ford by Don Fortunate.

Accession Number: 1991.142
Dimensions: 37 x 31 x 0.75”

Travel trunk used by Betty Bloomer while working as a dance instructor at Camp Bryn Afron in northern Wisconsin during the early 1940s. Stickers throughout indicate she most likely used it for many years afterwards.

Accession Number: 2008.1.1
Dimensions: 15 x 12.75 x 12.25”
Donation Date: December 28, 2007
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

Leather, hand tooled Bicentennial purse with a red, white, and blue body and 30” red carrying strap. The front reads, “First Mama” and “Spirit of 76.” The reverse says, “Betty Ford” above the official Bicentennial logo. Mailed to First Lady Betty Ford as a Bicentennial gift.

Accession Number: 1988.23.1
Dimensions: 9.75 x 12 x 4.25
Donation Date: July 6, 1976
Donor: Gift of “Arizona Joe” Manning, Ye Olde Leather Shop

Gold brooch given to First Lady Betty Ford by Queen Elizabeth II during American Bicentennial celebrations. The custom designed star burst brooch by Grima features the Queen’s cipher “ER” at center, accented by five scattered diamonds and five marquise-shaped panels of diamonds, and a Royal stamp on the back.

Accession Number: 1983.29
Dimensions: 2.75” diameter
Donation Date: July 7, 1976
Donor: Gift of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Elaborate, silver bound book entitled, “The Holy Scriptures: A Jewish Bible According to the Masoretic Text.” Inscription inside reads, “To our beloved First Lady, Mrs. Betty Ford, who graced out festive occasion with her shining spirit.” Mrs. Ford received the bible at an eventful Jewish National Fund dinner in New York City on June 22, 1976.

Accession Number: 2007.2.2
Dimensions: 2.5 x 7 x 9”
Donation Date: November 6, 2006
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

Six-sided, 23K gold purse with gold carrying chain, gold flower on lid, and interior lined with white silk. A gift to First Lady Betty Ford from Indonesia’s First Lady.

Accession Number: 1987.149
Dimensions: 4.5 x 5.25 x 4.5”
Donation Date: December 5, 1975
Donor: Gift of Mrs. Tien Suharto of Indonesia

Political cartoon drawn by Paul Conrad on August 14, 1975. It depicts a drawing of the first family. President and Mrs. Ford are sitting down while the children stand behind. President Ford covers Betty's mouth with his hand. Text at the bottom reads, “For Mrs. Betty Ford and all the gang.” The cartoon refers to the First Lady’s opinionated and candid manner and how it affected the President’s poll numbers.

Accession Number: 1981.138.3
Dimensions: 14 x 10”
Donation Date: 1981
Donor: Gift of Gerald R. Ford

Set of four, gold-tone cufflinks given to Jack Ford by Queen Elizabeth II during America’s Bicentennial celebrations. The cufflinks feature an enamel cipher of the British crown over the initials “EIIR.” Enclosed in a velvet-lined, maroon leather box embossed with the crown.

Accession Number: 1988.971
Dimensions: 2 x 3.75 x 2.25”
Donation Date: July 7, 1976
Donor: Gift of Queen Elizabeth II

Large wooden plaque with metallic profile of a woman’s head and long, flowing hair. Plaque at bottom right corner reads, “McCall's Centennial Award / 1976 / Betty Ford / For her Efforts on Behalf of American Women.”

Accession Number: 1984.3
Dimensions: 24.25 x 36 x 0.75”
Donation Date: December 1, 1976
Donor: Gift of Raymond Eyes, President & Publisher, McCall’s

Large portrait painting of First Lady Betty Ford in an orange dress painted by Frances O’Farrell. Given to Mrs. Ford by the National Art Association. Plaque at bottom is inscribed, “Mrs. Gerald R. Ford / National Art Association / Distinguished Woman of the Year 1975.”

Accession Number: 1987.385
Dimensions: 58.5 x 40 x 3”
Donation Date: May 22, 1975
Donor: Gift of Mrs. Robert Johns Clark, Chairperson, National Art Association

White campaign button with green text that reads, “Keep Betty / in the / White House.”

Accession Number: 2007.381.40
Dimensions: 1.5” diameter
Donation Date: December 28, 2007
Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

Silver trophy presented to First Lady Betty Ford by the Parsons School of Design. Inscription reads, “Presented by / Parsons School of Design / To / Mrs. Gerald R. Ford / For Her / Inspiration and Support / of American Fashion / March 29, 1976.”

Accession Number: 1981.204.1
Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 2”
Donation Date: 1981
Donor: Gift of Gerald R. Ford

Orange, two-piece jersey dress worn by Betty Ford for her husband’s swearing in as Vice President of the United States and for her official First Lady portrait photograph the following year. Designed by Frankie Welch.

Accession Number: 1983.79
Donation Date: March 24, 1983
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

Presentation wooden gavel with base housed in a cardboard box lined with yellow silk. The plaque on the gavel says, “Betty Ford / President / Betty Ford Center.”

Accession Number: 2006.47.3
Dimensions: 2.75 x 12 x 7.5”
Donation Date: August 29, 2006
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

“The Collar of St. Arsene” was presented as a State Gift from Egypt to First Lady Betty Ford. It is made of gold plated silver and cut glass dating back to the pre-Arabic Roman period.

Accession Number: 1981.179
Dimensions: 9 x 6”
Donation Date: October 27, 1975
Donor: Gift of Madame Anwar El Sadat

Framed photograph of Bob Hope and Betty Ford dancing onstage at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum’s 10th anniversary gala. Inscribed by Bob Hope at the bottom, “Dancing or Golf  I'll be there / Bob.”

Accession Number: 2004.14.3
Dimensions: 18 x 21 x 0.75”
Donation Date: May 9, 2003
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

First Lady Betty Ford’s “Bloomer Flag.” The purple satin background is trimmed in white lace with a blue and red star border. The pair of red and white bloomers in the center is a play on Betty's maiden name. White text above the bloomers reads, “Don't Tread on Me,” and below, “E.R.A.” - demonstrating Betty’s support for the Equal Rights Amendment. A wife of one of Betty’s staffers handmade it for her as a limousine flag.

Accession Number: 1981.138.6
Dimensions: 14 x 21”
Donation Date: 1981
Donor: Gift of Gerald R. Ford

White ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) apron given to First Lady Betty Ford. Tag on reverse reads, “Custom designed for Betty Ford by Barbia Hull 12/9  1981 – Lansing.”

Accession Number: 2007.3.8
Dimensions: 24 x 42”
Donation Date: November 20, 2006
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford

Game ball presented to First Lady Betty Ford after a Monday night football game in September of 1975. Inscription in white states, “Game Ball awarded to / Mrs. Betty Ford / from Coach George Allen / and Washington Redskins Washington 30 - Denver 3 / September 30, 1974 / Monday Night Football.” Signatures in black cover the ball. Notable signatures include Hall of Famers Deacon Jones, Ken Houston, and Charley Taylor.

Accession Number: 1981.138.5
Dimensions: 11.25 x 7”
Donation Date: 1981
Donor: Gift of Gerald R. Ford

Silver, loving cup tennis trophy awarded to Betty Bloomer from Central High School. Engraving reads, “TM /  Betty Bloomer /  1929 /  Juno - 1930 /  Eleanor Heald - 1931/  L-M-Ripley - 1932.”

Accession Number: 1996.11
Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 2.25”
Donation Date: 1996
Donor: Gift of Mrs. William H. Ledyard

Ivory brocade gown with gold spider mum design and fur cuffs. Albert Capraro designed this gown for First Lady Betty Ford. She wore it to several formal events and State Dinners.

Accession Number: 1992.94.11
Donation Date: October 1991
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford