The collection contains correspondence from Max to Lina and Lotte, along with letters from Lotte to both of her parents. There are a few letters to and from other family members and friends as well. The letters are interspersed with miscellaneous items such as mail order clothes catalogs, food stamps, and petitions for Kessel to receive leave so he could come home and help with the harvest. There is also a photograph of Kessel in uniform.
Other materials in the collection date 1935-1940 and 1946-1961. This includes letters, bank statements, receipts, real estate papers, house plans, building permits and correspondence regarding legal proceedings. There are also various printed materials including an army-related newsletter and miscellaneous pamphlets and advertisements. Finally, there are letters addressed to various members of the Stumpf family, dated 1916 to 1919, some of which were found in an envelope addressed to Eduard Kessel and postmarked 23 March 1932. Others were found mixed in with the Karl Lofmann papers (MS 411) where they did not seem to belong, but it is unknown whether there was actually any connection between the two families or not.
