P3D Paul Milligan remembers Mattie Sanford

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It appears that we are celebrating the Mattie Sanford stereo week.
Via Norm Henkels I received the following recollections from (our
very own) Paul Milligan.

Paul writes:
                                              
   In 1961 I was busy practicing orthopedic surgery in Salt lake City,
when my secretary invited Carol and me to visit the Utah Stereo Society
meeting.  Mattie Sanford was going to present one of her programs, and
they were always outstanding. We went.  I had never seen a series of
pictures to even vaguely compare with this.  And the stereo effect in
the projected images was fantastic.  I had never before seen stereo
projected.  I was hooked on stereo for life.

    I bought a Realist camera, and seldom afterwards took a flat
picture.  I was later elected president of the Utah Stereo Society, and
served in this capacity till I retired and moved to New Mexico in 1974.

    I knew Mattie Sanford well.  She was indeed one of the greats of
modern stereo.    She was a retired school teacher, a widow with two
grown daughters.  She was also quite active in the local camera club in
Salt Lake City, for many years; one of the pillars of amateur
photography in the area.  She held a number of positions in PSA.  Her
stereo photographs were legendary.

    She moved in the top circles of PSA.  A good friend was one, Myrtle
Walgreen, widow of the drug store magnate.  Myrtle also was an avid
stereo fan: quite elderly, when I knew her, skinny as a bean pole,
member of the Chicago Stereo Camera Club.  I can see her yet at the
annual club banquet, insisting that she be served nothing but a bowl of
"clear broth".  Mattie was a house guest at Myrtle's country estate;
used to tell me all about Myrtle's prowess as a stereographer, and
describe her extensive mansion.

    Mattie received many awards and citations for her stereo images,
including the Realist camera from Eastman Kodak.  It wasn't platinum,
but it did have the legendary Ektar lenses, and was covered with
kangaroo hide, I think it was.  Had a number of extra goodies.  It
served her well till her eyes dimmed with age.

To be continued....



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