The papers of Edward T. Lauer are divided into three series: Max M. Smith, Katherine Ehrhart Smith, and Photographs.
Max M. Smith (1944-1950) contains records relating to the World War II service of Smith. The financial records include clearance forms, which had to be signed as he left various bases to confirm that he was not taking government property with him. The pay and allowance records give an idea of how much a doctor in the Army made during World War II. The separation documents and personal service records give details about his service, such as dates of enlistment and separation and medals won. The records jacket is a large cardboard envelope, apparently issued by the Army, in which officers could carry their paperwork around. The ephemera includes ticket stubs from establishments in Europe.
Katherine Ehrhart Smith (1942-1952) contains papers and records from World War II. Smith's brother, Vincent Ehrhart, served in the Navy and wrote to his sister during the early part of the war. Writing from a base in Hawaii in the months immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Vincent showed a constant awareness of military censors and thus described recreational activities that he participated in as well as his pursuit of a promotion. He also gives support to Katherine's decision to leave the teaching field and pursue physical therapy. Smith's service records include orders that help researchers see which stateside hospitals she was stationed at throughout the war. The financial records show the pay a physical therapist in the WMSC received during the war. Her personal service records fill in some of the specifics about her military service, and the exam materials reveal issues important to physical therapy at mid-century.
Photographs (circa 1944-1946) contains pictures taken of, and by, both Max M. and Katherine Ehrhart Smith. This series has been divided into two sub-series in order to separate the two distinct provenances. Max's photographs are more numerous, but are almost entirely unidentified. Visual evidence from the photographs themselves was used whenever possible to describe the pictures, with resulting generalizations such as “Swiss city” and “Shipyard.” This sub-series does include more than twenty pictures taken in and around the headquarters of Smith's Constabulary unit, most likely while in Europe. The buildings and vehicles are pictured, as well as Smith and some of his fellow medical staff. Other photographs show scenery and skiing in an unidentified Swiss city and numerous shots of Smith, both alone and with unidentified comrades. Three photos show Smith with his future wife, Katherine Ehrhart.
Katherine's photographs are less numerous but slightly better identified. There are more than thirty shots of patients and the nursing staff at Schick General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa, where Katherine was stationed circa 1946. Other photographs show Katherine and other women out in the country with a car that several nurses apparently bought together. Finally, there are photographs of Katherine both by herself and with unidentified friends.
