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This series contains Norman Studer's curriculum vitae, a partial autobiography, a brief biography, memorial tributes, family photographs, family records, and correspondence. The correspondence has been identified by correspondent's name only when the volume or significance warrants such separation; however, the bulk of the correspondence is arranged chronologically. Notable correspondents include Pete and Toshi Seeger and David Dunaway, Seeger's biographer as well as a former Camp Woodland camper.

The materials in this series document Brecht's life and career, both in Germany before 1933, as well as after his arrival in the United States. This series contains a number of documents relating to Brecht's career as Counsellor in the Reich Ministries of Justice (1910-1917) and Economics (1918), and the Reich Chancellry (1918-1921), as well as Ministerial Director in the Reich Ministry of the Interior (1921-1927) and various other ministries including the Prussian State Ministry and Finance Ministry (1927-1933), until his final dismissal by Hitler in 1933. Also included in this series are materials related to Brecht's activities as Expert to the Secretary of the Army (1948), as well as materials pertaining to HICOG (High Commissioner for Germany).

The series consists of two main sections: family documents and records, and biographical materials and documents of Albert (Leser) Lestoque. The family documents consist primarily of documents pertaining to the family estate known as Auf'm Rech located in the Plittersdorf section of Bonn, Germany. The records consist of land purchase records of various pieces of property primarily in Bonn, as well as records of furniture and art purchases for the property in Plittersdorf. Additional records pertaining to the property, as well as documents and materials pertaining to other family members are found in the Paul Leser Papers.

Watt Espy kept a series of index cards, grouped mainly by state, that records information about executions on American soil (colonies, states, territories) since the 1600s. Some cards contain lots of information, including name, place of execution, method, and details of the crime. Other cards have very little information aside from the fact that someone was executed. Sometimes there is not even a name—just "two slaves" or "pirate". There are additional categories for federal, military, and indigenous executions. There are two different card sizes; for the 3x5 inch cards, each state, territory, or other main division is identified with a manila tab. Subdivisions are marked with blue, unlined cards and are intended to mirror the arrangement of materials in Series #2 as closely as possible.