In the forepart of this book will be found the autobiography of Woodbridge
N. Ferris, "the good, gray Governor", as he was affectionately
denominated by the people of Michigan. It is obviously incomplete as the
manuscript ends with the recital of his election to the United States Senate
in November of 1922.
Inasmuch as I served him as his secretary during part of his term in the
Senate, I am reasonably certain that he prepared additional chapters dealing
with his reactions to his experiences, both as Governor of Michigan and
as a Senator from that State. I am even more positive in my conviction that
it was his intention to include in his autobiography a comprehensive reference
to the woman who worked and struggled with him during the majority of his
lifetime my mother.
I know that before my father's death there existed at least half a carload
of miscellaneous material, consisting of newspaper clippings, official proclamations,
correspondence, lectures and other material, which would now be invaluable
in the compilation of addenda to his autobiography. The probabilities are
that this material was destroyed in the fire that almost totally consumed
our old home several years ago.
In the circumstances, therefore, I shall do the best I can with the material
at my command to supplement the incomplete autobiography with such additional
narrative and addenda as I believe
my father would approve, with the possible exception of such favorable estimates
of his character and accomplishments as may appear under my authorship or
that of others.
Certain it is that anyone who reads his autobiography cannot avoid the conviction
that my father possessed one characteristic that is revealed consistently
throughout his entire recital modesty. This trait of character undoubtedly
explains the fact that his own compilation is essentially a bare recital
of facts, unembellished with few exceptions with incidents in his life of
a "human interest" character.
In attempting to enlarge upon the autobiography my only objective is to
present to the reader as comprehensive a story of the life-character and
philosophy of my father as is possible, fully realizing the fact that any
recital of mine cannot in the circumstances be entirely free from prejudice.
During the preparation of his autobiography my father made it clear time
and again that he was fully aware of the fact that the general public would
not be interested in the story of his life. He said that the only reason
he was undertaking the task was because of his belief that is would be of
interest to the men and women who had attended the Ferris Institute his
ever loyal student body.