"Preserving the Past for the Future"

Who We Are

The Automotive History Preservation Society (AHPS) is an IRS non-profit 501 c(3) public charity that has been in existence since 2010. We are "Preserving the Past for the Future" - by digitizing the history of the automobile as found in pictures, period print advertisements, brochures, magazine articles, manufacturer's published training and education materials as well as any other items that document the history of the automobile, including press photos, vehicle service manuals and guides, and any other appropriate sources.

We also promote the history of the automobile through educational programs with colleges, universities, and training institutions by engaging and financially supporting students with projects that will assist in the collection and digitization of documents.

When it comes to materials we collect, we scan them, restore them to their original condition and then post them to our Internet-based Digital Documents Library where anyone can view them, or download them or print them. We have over 250,000 pages of material already stored and available.

Our staff is composed of experienced archivists, automotive experts and authors as well as many volunteers who donate their time and material to our efforts.

The AHPS is headquartered in Michigan, U.S.A. where we are also registered as a non-profit organization. We rely on donations, sponsorships and grants to continue our growth and to fund our projects and scholarship programs. Many donations are tax-deductible. Learn more about us by clicking HERE.

Why We Are Here

The grave decline into obscurity of our original documentation of the history of the automobile gets closer and closer to critical mass each day. The longer we wait - the fewer pieces of automotive history will remain.

Deterioration
Paper and photographic materials have a short life-span. Even with the best of efforts, much of our automotive history will decay to unreadability in the next 50 years. Protecting these materials from that slow slide requires expensive storage, protective encasement, and worse ? restricted access. Worse, organizations can no longer carry the rising cost of storage and manual retrieval of these significant materials.

Access
Paper and photographic materials are hard to access without a physical presence. Either one has to go to where the document is stored, or request a copy be made from the original. This is time consuming and labor intensive - and costly.

Fixing It.
The solution to these issues has been available for the last 30 years, but few have executed on it. It is an excellent technical solution - scan the material and create a digital copy. It is not only possible, but it is the best and least expensive answer to preservation and access. When combined with the Internet's ability for global accessibility, costs go down, and availability goes up.

What We Do

We acquire (or receive loaned) material, then digitally scan it. Once scanned, the material is cataloged according to topic, brand and original source then loaded to our website's Library. The original material is either returned to the donor or, with their permission, is auctioned to raise additional Society funds.

The Society also accepts work from writers, publishers, and researcher who use our materials to document automotive history. We also promote "living history" by encouraging enthusiasts to write and submit articles about their personal vehicle. We also attend car shows and events and encourage technical discussions. All materials are placed in permanent digital storage on the Society's website.

The Society also publishes a digital e-Magazine called No Limits - where we highlight our collections and offer current automotive news from a historical perspective.

Why Use the Library

Any person or organization interested in the automobile should consider a visit to our Digital Library.

• The website contains thousands of original documents and materials as well as a compiled data from multiple sources; factory brochures and print advertisements, including excerpts from magazines, and press releases/press photos.
  
  
• The Digital Documents Library and Technical Center also contain service manuals, factory vehicle assembly manuals, listings of paint codes and their mix codes.
  
  
• The website is also a great place to explore favorite brands, the different model years - or to make comparisons of different vehicles.
  
  
• Thinking of purchasing a collectible automobile? We have information on factory models, options and photographs to help evaluate a potential purchase.
  
  
• The website contains invaluable reference material to assist car club members in restoring or improving their cars.

How You Can Help

• Monetary. As a non-profit 501 c(3) public charity, the Society relies on donations from interested parties and contributions from sponsors for the working capital to continue our efforts. There is a tax deduction incentive for those making larger donations.
  
  
• Helping Hands. The AHPS can always use volunteers who can contribute material or help in the scanning and cleaning of documents. A computer and scanner -along with some inexpensive photo editing software is all that is needed.
  
  
• Buy Something in our Store. After we scan paper, we sell it in our store to raise money. We also sell posters and other artwork! Help us out and buy our stuff. All sales dollars go directly to the operation of the Society and the website. Keep your receipt - it's tax deductible!

Note: Sponsors can champion their favorite brand. We welcome individuals who want to assist in the Society's capital needs by directly funding the continued growth of their favorite brand. Please contact us at sponsorships@ahpsoc.org for more information.

Why not join the Society and help support us through participation, volunteering or sponsoring pages on the website? You can start helping by clicking the gold "Join" box on the upper left. Don't want to join - just make a financial contribution using the PayPal "Donate" button.