Auction of Gerald Ford items to boost museum

Personal items of President Gerald Ford and former first lady Betty Ford are being sold at auction to support a $15 million update and expansion at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

MLive.com reports that the Ford family donated more than 50 items for the auction, including an American flag that flew over the White House. Other items include golf clubs and bag with two American flags, the presidential seal and "Jerry Ford" emblazoned on it.

There's also a gown worn by Betty Ford in 1979 among the auction items.

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The estimated total value of the items is more than $100,000. A live auction organized by Heritage Auctions in Dallas is planned for Dec. 11.

An online auction already is taking place. Check out these websites: http://www.ha.com or http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov .

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Gerald Ford sculpture destined for Albion College

Sculpture to be permanently housed at the college

President Gerald Ford's daughter, Susan Ford Bales, and Albion President Donna Randall dedicated a bronze sculpture of Ford that is permanently housed at the southern Michigan college's Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service.

The sculpture is a one-third-size replica of the life-size statue of Ford that was installed in the U.S. Capitol rotunda last spring.

Ford's relationship with Albion dates to 1963 when the then-congressman became a member of the college's Board of Trustees.

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