Laurance F. Safford papers, 1941-1967

Laurance Frye Safford was born in Somerville, Massachusetts on October 22, 1893. Safford enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912, and graduated as a commissioned Ensign in 1916. Beginning in 1924, Safford was assigned to various Naval positions that focused on communications and cryptology, including a 1942 appointment as Assistant Director of Naval Communications and Cryptographic Research. After the events at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Safford became convinced that the U.S. government had actionable intelligence prior to the attack, but had ultimately failed to act. Safford passed away on October 22, 1973.