The collection consists entirely of the firm's legal papers and copies of correspondence with clients, attorneys, witnesses, and other interested parties (such as medical experts, and foreign diplomats representing individuals overseas). Most of the records date from the years 1929 or 1930 to 1939. The arrangement has retained White and White's system of filing by case numbers; these were assigned by the firm, and follow a roughly chronological order (with many exceptions, however). The entire chronological arrangement is only approximate, for each year the papers record litigation which began and ended in the given year, or spanned the particular year. For example, cases dated 1935-1937, 1930-1935, and 1934-1936, might be arranged consecutively.
The White and White law firm was involved in all types of legal work, in particular with probate and civil court cases. The firm undertook bill and debt collection; litigation for cities and towns; bankruptcies, especially of banks; guardianships; and foreclosures. Also, some non-court work, such as legal advice and preparation of incorporation papers, was done. Many of the same clients' names appear in more than one file, usually during the probating of estates over many years. Unfortunately the files are listed below only by case number; they are not yet indexed by name.
Other legal, political, and personal papers of Kenneth S. and Ferris M. White may be found in the Kenneth S. White Papers (River Falls Mss J).
