The Gerald L. Endl Collection is organized into two series: Papers and Still Images.
Papers (1935-2010) is comprised almost entirely of materials that placed in a scrapbook by his widow, Anna Marie. The original scrapbook was in poor condition and was dismantled to better preserve the original materials within. Photocopies of the original scrapbook were made and were placed in the collection. Most of the collection was collected by Anna Marie after his death and placed in the scrapbook. Biographical information includes newspaper clippings she kept pertaining to his activation and reminiscences that were written years after his death, along with commemoration materials pertaining to Endl's actions on New Guinea. Reunion materials pertaining to the liberation of New Guinea and information on Wisconsin Medal of Honor recipients from the Medal of Honor Society were organized here because of the biographical information provided. Also included with biographical material are photocopies of selected sections of a research book complied by the nephew of a soldier who was killed on the same day as Endl and had been buried next to him in New Guinea. The researcher had tried to identify if his uncle was the man Endl was attempting to rescue when they were both killed, but no conclusive information was found. The author had contacted Anna Marie for information on Endl, and gave her a copy of his research book. The book was separated and cataloged into the holdings of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Library. Certificates vary from his discharge certificate from the National Guard, a Neptunus Rex certificate, and various memorial certificates from veteran organizations. Oversized certificates include a Medal of Honor and Purple Heart certificates, and a Gold Star certificate. Ephemera includes two prayer books apparently carried by Endl, a series of Australian stamps Anna Marie kept from letters he sent to her while there, and the original envelope sent by Endl that contained a photograph. The original photograph is in the collection and a photocopy of the image is included with the envelope. Mailing tubes were retained because of their connection to items in the collection and one being the few sources in the collection to have Endl's handwriting. The mailing tube from Camp Livingston contained the oversized panoramic photograph of various images of the 32nd Division during training. The other tube likely contained the oversized Medal of Honor certificate.
Still Images (1941-1948) are mainly black and white photographs that are both in a preserved scrapbook and in loose folders. The scrapbook exclusively from his basic training at Camp Livingston, and is one of the few items in the entire collection that was organized by Endl himself. The cover of the scrapbook is leather and says “Snaps and Scraps, Camp Livingston.” Most of the images in the collection have handwritten notes that were done by Endl prior to his departure to active service in the Pacific. Loose photographs featuring an Australian family he befriended were originally on damaging loose scrapbook pages that were removed for preservation purposes. The original pages were photocopied and placed in the collection for original order. The only photo negative in the collection is of an identified photograph from his basic training.
