The D. James Galbraith Photographic Collection reflects D. James (Jim) Galbraith's career as a photographer, covering more than five decades and containing thousands of pictures in the form of prints, negatives, and slides about everyday life in rural Michigan. The D. James Galbraith Photographic Collection is significant for its extensive photographic evidence of rural Michigan, particularly its emphasis on families, communities, and local institutions such as churches and schools. The collection is useful as a visual representation of late twentieth-century Michigan, capturing a wide array of social and cultural activities that highlight the daily experiences of Michigan residents.
The D. James Galbraith Photographic Collection is a selection of his work that primarily contains prints, negatives, and slides. The content of Galbraith's photographs is vast, but most reflect various aspects of everyday life throughout the state of Michigan. The collection is arranged into four series: Business Records, Hartland Project, and Private Photography, and Oversize.