Gerald R. Ford Library

What Gerald R. Ford Library does

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum is a federal institution administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), operating as part of the U.S. Presidential libraries system. The institution is structured as two complementary sites: the Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan (on the University of Michigan North Campus, operating 50,000 square feet of space) and the Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan (on a six-acre site downtown fronting the Grand River). The Library serves as the archival repository, housing 23 million pages of documents, 325,000 still photographs, 3,500 video hours, 3,000 audio hours, and 787,000 feet of motion picture film, open to researchers and pre-scheduled school groups by appointment. The Museum offers ten permanent interactive exhibit galleries, including the only exact replica of the Oval Office, alongside rotating exhibits and an 8,000 square foot Education Center opened in 2003.

The institution operates on a non-commercial funding model: operating support is provided through federal congressional appropriations, with supplementary revenue from museum admission fees, Museum Store merchandise sales (via estore.archives.gov/ford/), and private fundraising through the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. It serves scholars and researchers, K-12 and higher-education students, the general public, and media/journalism professionals. Educational programming includes teacher resources, the 'Civics for All of US' initiative, field trip planning, classroom visits, and the President Gerald R. Ford Essay Challenge, supplemented by author programs, dialogues, film screenings, and special events. Digital channels include a Digital Research Room, a 'Ford in Focus' blog, YouTube-recorded programs, and social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and a newsletter.

The go-to-market is event-driven and diversified: physical visitation at both Michigan locations, virtual/Zoom programming with global reach, distance learning extending beyond West Michigan, an e-commerce Museum Store, and cross-institutional partnerships (e.g., with the Nixon and LBJ Presidential Libraries, WGVU Public Media, Grand Valley State University, Calvin University, and Corewell Health). The technology stack is not applicable as a product development platform; the institution's core assets are its archival holdings, physical exhibits, and educational programming. Headcount is reported at 8, with no management team, funding rounds, M&A, or competitive revenue metrics disclosed.

Name

Gerald R. Ford Library

Legal name

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum

Website

https://fordlibrarymuseum.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum is a federal institution administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, operating a research Library in Ann Arbor and a public Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It preserves presidential archival materials and serves scholars, students, and the general public through exhibits, educational programming, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage / Presidential Library & Museum Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

akta.pro primary industry

National Archives, Records & Information Governance (BPAIAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Special Libraries (Law, Medical, Corporate, Government) Operations (EDAEAGAD), Archival Preservation & Conservation (Handling, Storage, Environmental Controls) (MPADAMAF)

Keywords

• Presidential library services
• Historical archive preservation
• Museum education programs
• Civics educational resources
• Archival research access

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission and Store: Revenue generated from museum admission fees and the museum store selling books, merchandise, and commemorative items.
2. Government Funding: As part of the Presidential libraries system administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, funding comes from federal government appropriations.
3. Donations and Support: Support through the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation including donations and fundraising events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum is a federal institution that preserves and provides public access to the historical materials of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford. It operates two physical sites — the Library in Ann Arbor, MI (archival repository with 23 million pages of documents and extensive audiovisual holdings) and the Museum in Grand Rapids, MI (exhibits, educational programming, events) — and supplements these with a Digital Research Room, education programs with distance learning, a museum store, and an online artifact collection.

Product overview

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum operates as a two-part institution within the Presidential libraries system administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Library (Ann Arbor, MI) serves as the archival repository housing 23 million pages of documents and extensive audiovisual collections, while the Museum (Grand Rapids, MI) provides public exhibits and educational programming. Together they offer Digital Research Room access, Education Programs with distance learning capabilities, rotating Exhibits, public Events featuring author programs and dialogues, an Artifact Collection database, and a Museum Store. The institution focuses on preserving and presenting the legacy of America's 38th President and First Lady Betty Ford.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, features ten permanent exhibit galleries with hands-on interactive displays covering the 1960s-1970s, Watergate, and the Ford presidency. The Museum includes an exact replica of the Oval Office, a reproduction of the White House Cabinet Room, an Education Center, and serves general public visitors, families, students, and tourists. Open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the University of Michigan North Campus, houses 23 million pages of documents, 325,000 still photographs, 3,500 video hours, 3,000 audio hours, and 787,000 feet of motion picture film. The Library serves scholars, researchers, media production staff, government officials, journalists, and pre-scheduled school groups. Open Monday-Friday 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. by appointment only.
• Digital Research Room

Quantifiable outcome

• The Museum has been part of community gatherings for over two decades, serving as a meeting place for diverse community members.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)coreOthersThe Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum are part of the Presidential libraries system administered by NARA, a federal agency. NARA oversees the preservation and management of all presidential library materials.
• Gerald R. Ford Presidential FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation supports the Library and Museum through fundraising, event sponsorship, and promotional activities. Executive Director Gleaves Whitney participates in Foundation-led programs and initiatives.
• University of MichiganmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is located on the North Campus of the University of Michigan, Gerald Ford's alma mater. The university serves as an educational partner providing academic resources and student access.
• Richard Nixon Presidential Library and MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted events such as 'A President Resigns: 50 Years Later' panel discussion bringing together archivists and historians from both institutions.
• Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting the National Archives & Records Administration's first annual virtual Vietnam War Symposium on Forgotten Humanity.
• WGVU Public MediaGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for documentary screenings including 'Frontier to Freedom' and media coverage of museum events and programming.
• Grand Valley State University (GVSU)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvents held at GVSU's Loosemore Auditorium for special screenings and programs, including 'Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History' screening.
• Corewell HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 'Be Bold Like Betty' breast cancer awareness event at the museum, providing physician specialists and mobile mammography services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum: NARA presidential library in Abilene, Kansas. Comparable as a smaller, Midwest presidential library with museum, archival holdings, and educational programming run within the NARA system.
• Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum: NARA presidential library at the University of Texas at Austin. Directly comparable as a university-housed presidential library with extensive archival holdings, museum exhibits, and educational programming.
• William J. Clinton Presidential Library: NARA presidential library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Directly comparable in mission, federal governance, and educational programming, with a large archival collection and public museum.
• Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum: NARA-administered presidential library located in Yorba Linda, California. Operates the same Library + Museum model with archival collections, public exhibits, and educational programming — directly comparable in mission, governance, and offerings.
• Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum: NARA presidential library in Atlanta, Georgia. Operates the same dual Library/Museum structure with archival collections, public exhibits, and educational outreach comparable to the Ford Library.
• George W. Bush Presidential Center: Presidential library and museum in Dallas, Texas operated in partnership with NARA. Comparable in operating structure and educational mission, including a policy institute component.
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: NARA presidential library in Boston, co-located with a university (UMass Boston). Operates the same archival and museum mission with strong educational programming and a major cultural brand.
• Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum: NARA presidential library in West Branch, Iowa. Smaller-scale presidential library and museum in the Midwest — directly comparable in geographic positioning and operational scale to the Ford Library.
• Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: NARA presidential library in Simi Valley, California. One of the most-visited presidential libraries with a museum, archival holdings, and major educational programming — directly comparable in mission and operational model.

Broad incumbents

• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation: The nonprofit foundation that supports the Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum through fundraising and programming. While distinct from NARA's institutional operation, it is the primary complementary fundraising and outreach entity for the same presidential legacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Ford_Library
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GRFordLibraryMuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/FordPresidentialLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/fordlibrarymuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gerald-r.-ford-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gerald R. Ford Library