A proud Clara Ford with her industrialist husband

In an early example of photobombing a proud Clara Ford sits beside her industrialist husband. On the eve of Women’s History Month, we take a look at the unsung hero of the Ford story, the woman Henry Ford described as his “great believer,” Clara Jane Bryant, A.K.A. Mrs Ford.

In 1938, Henry Ford was quoted as saying: “The greatest day of my life was the day I married Mrs. Ford.” From their first meeting at a New Year’s Eve dance, Clara brought common sense, a charitable spirit, energy and enthusiasm to Henry’s many pursuits and her own extensive activities.

Clara first met Henry at a New Year’s dance in Michigan in 1885. A according to her biographer: “The two were impressed by each other, Clara with Henry’s unique mechanical talents and Henry with Clara’s serious and appreciative disposition.”


They were engaged in April 1886, but Clara’s mother thought she was too young to wed and made them wait another two years. They eventually married on April 11, 1888, Clara’s 22nd birthday. Henry Ford was quoted in a 1938 New York Times Magazine article as saying: “The greatest day of my life was the day I married Mrs. Ford.”

Clara was incredibly supportive of Henry and his ideas. He called her his “great believer” because she was the only person who believed in his idea of a motorised carriage, however, she was headstrong too, and refused to drive the Model T Ford that Henry gave her, preferring her 1914 Detroit Electric, which she considered simpler, cleaner, safer, and nicer to drive.

Henry Ford died at the age of 83 on April 7, 1947. Clara Ford died three years later, on September 29, 1950, at the age of 84.

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