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by Brian Yopp, Deputy Director, MotorCities
Images Courtesy of MotorCities, Robert Tate Collection
Published 2.10.2023

Robert TateRobert Tate

As Black History Month continues, we are sharing an interview I recently conducted with our own automotive historian and researcher, Robert Tate, who recounts his childhood love of cars, educational path and four decades of documenting auto history and collecting memorabilia.

A graduate of Detroit’s Henry Ford High School, Tate continued his education at the Center for Creative Studies (now the College for Creative Studies) in Detroit. Over his career, he has worked with Chrysler (and Daimler Chrysler) at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum and later for General Motors. He has also served as a consultant with the Detroit Public Library working with their National Automotive History Collection.

Robert Tate (left) with Brian YoppRobert Tate (left) with Brian Yopp

For the last dozen years, Tate has been the primary researcher and contributor of MotorCities’ Story of the Week articles, which remain the most popular and most-clicked content across the MotorCities.org website, our weekly e-newsletter “You Auto Know” and our social media platforms.

 

You can watch the interview here.