The papers contain a passport, World War I military documents, and a newspaper clipping relating to Dr. Edgar Ferdinand Schmitz. The papers date from 1913 to 1919, with a gap from 1915 to 1916, and are arranged chronologically.

Schmitz’s passport was issued in 1913 and has stamps from Berlin, Germany, dating August 26, 1914, which was weeks after the First World War began. The first military document is a circular from the Surgeon General to the officers in the Medical Officers Reserve Corps dated May 4, 1917, which outlined how to travel once called to duty, supplies that officers needed to obtain for themselves, and how to travel and obtain reimbursement. Two May 1918 documents announce that Schmitz has been awarded the British Military Cross. Schmitz’s military photo identity card shows his rank as captain and bears the stamp, “HQ American Troops with B.E.F.” The verso of his honorable discharge, May 7, 1919, lists the battles in which he participated, medals awarded, and three gold service chevrons earned. The newspaper clipping highlights a talk given by Schmitz at an Advertising Club luncheon shortly after he returned to St. Louis in 1919. He explained the duties of medical officers and the realities of trench warfare. It also explains that the St. Louis Globe-Democrat had previously published stories from the war written by Schmitz.