The Carl and Laura White papers date from 1918 to 1993 and measure 2.5 linear feet. The bulk of the collection focuses on the years 1918 to 1919, when Carl White served in the army.

The majority of the General series consists of letters Carl White wrote to Laura Birgen during his army service, dating from June 1918 to July of 1919. He wrote frequently, whether in basic training or in France following the armistice. In his letters, he describes army life and outlines his hopes for his and Birgen’s future together. Although none of Birgen's letters are in the collection, White's letters often refer to or respond to events or anecdotes she shared with him.

The collection also includes family obituaries and newspaper clippings relating to both the Birgen and White families, prayer cards from northern Iowa churches, as well as a small collection of postcards, mostly from France. Shelved in the map case are two army newspapers: The Battery Buzzer (September 10, 1918), a newspaper published by soldiers in the United States; and The Gangplank News (April 12, 1919), a newspaper published by a United States embarkation camp in France.

The Artifacts series consists of a pair of uniform shorts; an army mess kit, which contains a tin plate, skillet, canteen, knife, fork, and spoon; a canvas bag marked Carl A. White; and a framed family portrait.