The Laurent Papers are a small collection comprised of correspondence, memoranda, reports, bibliographies, and legal papers. The papers do not possess the character of raw files, but instead resemble a memorial collection specially prepared by Laurent, a meticulous person, to document the events of his career. Some of the material in the collection duplicates original letters and documents available in the papers in the National Archives of Johnston Avery, an associate of Laurent in the Occupation government. Nevertheless, the collection is of considerable interest to historians, for the files unquestionably contain some unique items, while other documents have been personally edited by Laurent.
The collection is arranged into segments which parallel periods in Laurent's career. The majority of the files refer to his work with the Tennessee Valley Authority and with the Decartelization Branch of the Office of the Military Government for Germany. There is little material from Laurent's early career and only a small quantity of collected material dating from the period of his Navy career. The few personal documents in the collection have been grouped with the documentation on Laurent's retirement years.
APPRENTICESHIP, WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE material consists of carbons of legal memoranda drafted by Laurent and briefs concerning workmen's compensation cases.
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY files, which are arranged alphabetically by keyword, consist of legal briefs and numerous legal memoranda. The majority of these memoranda concern litigation with the Southern Power Company. Also of note is a compilation which he prepared on laws relating to federal control of water resources.
NAVY JUDGE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE records include a compiled file of official naval documents concerning World War II procurement, a draft of a war contracts manual, and a segregated file on escalator clauses in Navy contracts. Although none of these items relate directly to Laurent they have been retained because of his responsibility for contract work for the Navy during the early days of the war.
OFFICE OF THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT FOR GERMANY files include correspondence exchanged with other branch personnel both during and after the Occupation era, personnel information, progress reports of the Decartelization Branch, information on the Bosch Combine, a personal statement to the Ferguson Committee which investigated the decartelization situation, and some miscellaneous official documents. The majority of these documents are organized chronologically, except that they are preceded by Laurent's file of correspondence on this topic which he entitled “Documents and letters” and by some miscellaneous documents. Also of note here is the information on the Bosch Combine, including a 1948 interview with Ernest Rogowski, manager for the cartel. Correspondence conducted during his retirement with Reginald Delwiche also pertains to this phase of Laurent's career.
RETIREMENT ACTIVITIES consists of correspondence regarding drafts of water resources manuscripts and civil defense legislation on which he was asked to comment. Also filed here is correspondence with Reginald Delwiche, a Ph.D. candidate researching Germany's post-war economy, which include a listing of essential documents for the study of the decartelization of Germany.
