Search

The Photographs series (1826-1985) contains photos of several generations of Sunderlands and Saffords. In addition to formal portraits, there are numerous casual images of family gatherings and vacations. Other subjects include Detroit, Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Campus, family homesteads in Canton Township and Grand Haven, and Mildred H. Safford's photo scrapbook of a European tour. Some of the earliest materials in the series are represented by tintypes and glass plate negatives, as well as by original photographs on cardstock and by reprints on modern photo paper.

Above all, the Homer Erwin Safford (1843-1982) series documents Safford's medical career. This includes his general practice in the 1900s, his work on efforts to build a new hospital in Detroit before WWI, his service in the Army Medical Corps during the War, and his later work as a psychiatric consultant for the Highland Park school system, the Children's Aid Society, various juvenile court systems, and others. Much of these papers are in the form of diaries, correspondence, and clippings on Safford's accomplishments. The series also contains Safford's personal correspondence from family and friends. This includes letters from Gertrude Sunderland Safford both before their marriage and while he was away, and letters from his children. Letters addressed to both parents are included in the Gertrude Sunderland Safford series; because these two series include the children's letters home from while they were away at college, the family correspondence in them is especially rich in documenting student life during the 1920s. Finally, the series includes papers on Safford family history, including ante-bellum and Civil War correspondence.

Like the other series in the collection, the Mildred Hortense Safford (1903-1987) series is strong on family correspondence, especially for 1918-1925. (This series includes not only correspondence to Mildred Safford, but also correspondence addressed to both Helen and Mildred Safford from during the time when they were at UM together.) Later correspondence includes letters from life-long friends Safford made with sorority sisters and from coworkers at the Detroit Children's Museum. (Some of the sorority sisters' letters to Safford are addressed to 'Peter', a sorority nickname of hers.) The series also documents Safford's distinguished career at the Detroit Children's Museum and her involvement with the Detroit Women's City Club.