The collection is arranged alphabetically by topic and dates from 1913 to 2016. The bulk of the collection dates from 1937 to 1959. The collection contains birth certificates for the Stein family (Mel, Joyce, Philip, and Valerie), death certificates for Joyce and Philip, Joyce’s immigration documents, and the RAF military records of Mavis Stein. Joyce Stein wrote a letter to Mel with the instructions that he open it upon her death (f.14). Due to privacy concerns, access to Valerie T. Stein’s birth certificate is restricted.

The collection pertains primarily to Mel Stein and his military and police careers, with a particular focus on the Southwest Bank robbery of 1953. Other documents include Stein’s discharge certificate from the Civilian Conservation Corps in which he enrolled at Jefferson Barracks on 15 April 1933 at the age of 19 (f.2). There is a notebook printed by the Majestic Manufacturing Company advertising its “Great Majestic” stove. Stein wrote names of women in the book and noted with whom he went steady, where he either met others, or where he took dates (f.11). He worked at Majestic before he entered the Marines. Stein also wrote a short narrative of his time in China for publication by the China Marine Association (f.1).

During his first enlistment in the Marines, Stein kept a brief diary about his service in China and the Philippines, from whom he received letters, and an address list. He was in and out of the hospital for several operations but he didn’t provide details on his condition. Stein noted purchases that he made overseas, money sent home, transfers of duty, and his shooting accomplishments. His California driver’s license was tucked inside the booklet (f.4).

There are two honorable discharge certificates in the collection, since Stein enlisted twice in the Marines. Both documents record the dates of enlistment, dates of discharge, and his service history including places and dates. Stein was discharged on 25 October 1945 as Gunnery Sergeant at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. In 1976, his serial/service number was corrected on his discharge papers (f.5).

In 1946, Stein was awarded the Bronze Star medal for “meritorious service while serving as Chief of a Battery Detail of the Seventh 155-mm Gun Battalion, Fleet Marine Force” in the Pacific from 1943 to 1945. In addition to the citation from the Secretary of War, there are letters of congratulations from the Commandant of the Marine Corp and from the Mayor of St. Louis. Stein received his permanent Bronze Star citation certificate in November 1948. President George W. Bush and President Barrack Obama sent letters to Stein commending him on his service to the United States. President Obama sent a memorial certificate after his death in 2016 (f.3).

There are a few Marine Corps documents, the earliest of which relate to operations at Marine bases, presumably used when Stein was a drill instructor in 1940-1941. Two reports from the Pacific theatre, Bougainville Island, are dated November 1943 and are labeled “Secret.” The reports explain enemy installations in relation to maps (not in collection) used by the troops during the operation. The 1945 documents include an order for troop transport to the U.S., Stein’s name is on the list, and a Liberty Pass granted to Stein at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, presumably while awaiting discharge (f.6-7).

The newspaper clippings, loose and in a scrapbook, relate primarily to Stein’s police career, especially to the 1953 Southwest Bank robbery and stories retold on the anniversary of the event. In 2008, the Police Department held a reception in honor of Stein on the 55th anniversary of the robbery. There is one article about Stein receiving the Bronze Star medal. Other clippings in the scrapbook are about the Guggenhiem movie and about other significant arrests made by Stein in the 1950s. There are also two police reports about incidents to which Mel and his partner responded. There is also a form explaining that Stein’s WWII military service would be added to his police service record.