Growing Up Grand

Gerald R. Ford, Jr. (Leslie Lynch King, Jr), April 1914– seated on blanket, surrounded by toys, holding accordion (squeezebox) - Home of Levi Addison Gardner and Adele Augusta Ayer Gardner, Dorothy's parents at 457 Lafayette Street, Grand Rapids, MI. Show less

Gerald R. Ford, Jr. posing for a portrait in 1916 against a tropical backdrop. The precise location is unknown. It was either taken in Grand Rapids or Florida, as the Ford family vacationed there several times in the early years of Jerry's life. Show less

From left to right: Thomas Gerald Ford, Adele Ayer Gardner, Gerald R. Ford Jr., and Richard Addison Ford seated on Adele's lap, on seated on front porch of 649 Union Avenue in Grand Rapids in 1925. Show less

Gerald R. Ford Jr. on the sidewalk in front of steps to front porch of 1960 Terrace Avenue, SE, where he lived with his mother from 1914 through 1917. This photograph was taken in 1916. Show less

Gerald R. Ford Jr., third from left, with cousin Gardner James, Gerald R. Ford Sr., Dorothy Ford, Thomas Gardner Ford, with an unidentified Man and several unidentified youths, at Ottawa beach near Holland in 1920. Show less

Gerald R. Ford Jr., photographed in February of 1914 at the home of his maternal grandparents, 1960 Terrace Avenue, SE, in Grand Rapids. The street was renamed Prospect in 1920. Show less

A photograph taken on July 20, 1913, of Gerald R. Ford Jr. (Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) and Dorothy Ayer Gardner King. It was taken at the residence of Charles H. King on Woolworth Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska, where Jerry was born. On the back of the photograph is the description: “Jerry – 6 days old - Mama”. Show less

Photograph of Gerald R. Ford Jr. (Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) taking his first steps in July of 1914, with his grandmother Adele Gardner keeping watch. This photograph was taken outside of his grandparents home at 457 Lafayette Street SE, in Grand Rapids. Show less

A photo of the Ford family on the front steps of 649 Union circa 1927. Left to right: Thomas Ford, Gerald Ford, Richard Ford, Dorothy Ford, and James Ford seated on her lap. Show less

Gerald Ford Jr. (Leslie King Jr.) riding a tricycle on a family vacation to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1916, possibly in front of Levi Gardner's vacation home.. Description on back: "Florida-second year with Grandpa G, all two years old." Show less

The front porch of 1011 Santa Cruz Drive circa 1937, the house the Ford family called home after moving from Lake Drive in 1933. Ford would stay here with his family when visiting from Ann Arbor and New Haven throughout the 1930's. Show less

Team photo of the 1934 University of Michigan football team, including coach Harry Kipke and athletic director Fielding Yost, featured in that year's Michiganensian yearbook. Ford is in the second row, fourth from the right, wearing number 48. Show less

Newspaper clipping featuring a photograph of the first Mackinac Island Eagle Scout honor guard with Michigan governor Fred Green, 1929. Ford is marked with an 'x' in the back row. This was taken from Dorothy Ford's scrapbook. Show less

Newspaper clipping featuring a photograph of the South High 1928 football team, which won the city championship game that year. Ford is on the far right in the second row. This was taken from Dorothy Ford's scrapbook. Show less