This series contains autobiographical and biographical materials, including documents, curriculum vitae, appointment books, membership cards and awards, as well as documents concerning Friedländer's position at the Deutsche Zentrale für freie Jugendwohlfahrt in Berlin, as well as later teaching appointments at the University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley, and Michigan State University. Included in the early documents from Berlin are his dismissal papers from the Deutsche Zentrale für freie Jugendwohlfahrt in 1933, documentation of his years in Switzerland and France, 1933-1936, affidavits and letters of support in preparation for his immigration to the U.S. in 1937. Also included in this series are several autobiographical statements, which document the development of social welfare and social welfare education in Germany and the United States.

The correspondence files contain over 40,000 items of correspondence, primarily from the years 1933-1984. The letters are in German, English and French and have been sub-divided into eight sub-series: 1) personal (family and friends); 2) professional; 3) correspondence with publishers and/or dealing with publications; 4) organizations; 5) politicians and public officials; 6) miscellaneous; 7) subject files; and 8) chronological files.