The collection is arranged in two nearly equal sections, Family Papers and Legal Papers. The FAMILY PAPERS are predominantly Correspondence between Yngre or Elizabeth Dreutzer and their children, Carl, Cedric, and Genevieve, during their years at college; but there are also letters from other relatives and acquaintances. Included are letters from Carl while he attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, 1905-1907; and the University of Wisconsin Law School, 1907-1909. Letters written between 1909 and 1912 consist mainly of correspondence between Elizabeth Dreutzer and Cedric and Genevieve while both children attended the University at Madison. The 1912 letters also document Elizabeth Dreutzer's work for woman's suffrage in Wisconsin. This material includes correspondence with the Political Equality League and its president, Ada L. James of Richland Center, and with the Wisconsin Woman's Suffrage Association and its president, the Reverend Olympia Brown of Racine; as well as with other members of both organizations. Drafts of Stories by Carl Wernicke are those written by Genevieve Dreutzer Wernicke's husband in the 1920s.
The Press Clippings, 1898-1910, include articles relating to women and woman suffrage, and to Christian Science, among others. The section titled School Papers relates to Carl Dreutzer's law school education (box 2, folders 9-10), and to Genevieve's and Cedric's studies at the University of Wisconsin (box 3, folders 1-3). The Miscellany segment includes Christmas cards, invitations, and materials pertaining to Elizabeth Dreutzer's and Genevieve Wernicke's roles in a local University Extension club and in other literary clubs.
The LEGAL PAPERS give evidence of the types of routine cases handled by the Dreutzers and similar law firms, such as tax settlements and land title disputes. There are legal briefs and a court transcript connected with the practice of Olaf and Yngre Dreutzer, and similar papers from the office of Carl Dreutzer.
