Within the Graf-Buck Collection are three boxes of written and printed materials relating to the Graf and Buck families and the publication of their family history, Graf-Buck Family Heritage. Also present are three binders and two boxes of photographic prints, the majority of which were used in that publication.

The Correspondence Series consists mainly of email correspondence concerning the layout and publication of Graf-Buck Family Heritage. These emails date from 2003-2005, the majority of which were written to- and from- the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection and the donors of the collection. A second folder of correspondence, The Historic Correspondence Folder, contains two birth records handwritten in 1904 and 1933, and letters written Gottfrido Hoffmann from Argentina in 1926, and Ludwig Janke in 1946. The letters in this folder have been translated into English. Also contained within the Correspondence Series are the two folders of the Mittleider Letters. These were written by Adolf Mittleider, a wealthy kulak or farmer in the Caucasus, from 1928 until 1930. These letters discuss societal and economic changes that took place during this period in the Soviet Union which ruined the kulaks' way of life. Mittleider was unable to pay the taxes designed to economically cripple the kulaks and he was sentenced to hard labor. These letters were translated into English by Alice Morgenstern of Munich, Germany.

The Book Materials Series contains materials which relate to the production and publication of the book, Graf-Buck Family Heritage. Present within the series are a book review by Edna Boardman, several cover designs, an early draft of the book, and drafts of commentary written for the book by family members Phyllis K. Bancroft, Patsy Ramberg, and Jerome and Shirley Hust.

Within the Genealogy Series are two folders, each dedicated to the history of the family of Ludwig Buck and John Graf, respectively. Each of these folders contains a family history, prepared by Jay Gage of GRHC in 2003, and also photocopies of handwritten genealogies of the particular families.

The Image Copies Series contains materials related to the images used in Graf-Buck Family Heritage that were present in the collection, outside of the images themselves. Present within this series is one folder of commentary from various family members and GRHC staff concerning the identification of the photographs. Also present within this series is one folder of color and black and white photocopies of the images used in Graf-Buck Family Heritage with handwritten notations used in the identification process.

Contained within the Ephemera Series are three folders of materials. The Announcements Folder consists of a birth announcement for Phillip Westine, and two wedding announcements: Paul and Gertrude (Buck) Westine, and John and Magdalene (Buck) Scher. The Bookmarks Folder contains three bookmarks, one of which is for the Sixtieth Anniversary of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jamestown, North Dakota. The Christmas Cards Folder contains two Christmas cards, one sent to Martha Buck, and another sent by the Arthur Graf family.

Two books are contained within the Books Series. One book is a senior yearbook for the 1929 class of Minot High School, called The Sunflower. The other book is a Sunday School book written for young children. This book was published in 1876 and is printed in German.

The Photographic Images Series forms the crux of the Ludwig and Christina Graf-Buck Collection. It was donated as a separate collection known as the Gertrude Buck Westine Collection by Phillip Westine, but was incorporated into the Graf-Buck Collection, per request of the donors. This collection consists of 409 photographic images: 257 prints and 149 digital images. The images date from the 1860s until the 1980s. The majority of these images are of relatives of the Graf-Buck family or unidentified individuals, but there are also several images of Streeter, North Dakota, including interiors of the Graf and Buck store, school children, and events such as weddings, confirmations, or school plays. This series is housed in three binders and two boxes.

Images numbered 1 to 180 were used in the publication of the book, Graf-Buck Family Heritage. These were kept in the original order as found so as to correspond with the commentary for the photos that was prepared for the book. (This information can be found within the Images Copies Series.) Original copies of photos found in this series were previously labeled as “a and b”. These copies account for the twenty-one images that do not have their own number. Images 181-217 were not used for the book and were processed within the same collection, but with their own schema. The subseries of this portion of the Photographic Images Series were processed thus: Portraits of Individuals, Portraits of Groups, and Buildings.

Some of the identified subjects of the photographs in this series are members of the Buck Family including: Jacob and Katherina Wolfer Wieland, Johann and Margaretha Wolfer Buck, Jacob Weisz and Elizabeth Buck, Ludwig and Christina Graf Buck, John and Katherina Buck Graf and Michael “Mike” Buck. Some members of the Graf Family that are represented include: Wilbert and Lydia Graf Cherryholmes, Jacob and Magdalena Dockter Graf, August Graf, Theo and Fredericka Enzminger Graf, Emma Martha Graf Ruff, and Lydia Graf. Some of the images feature scenes in and around Streeter, North Dakota. These include the Graf and Buck Store, Buck and Enzminger Implement Store of Streeter, Citizens State Bank, and the “second” schoolhouse and Main Street of Streeter. Also present are images of Menno, South Dakota. Depicted within this series are photos of homes, such as those of Theodora Graf and John Graf, Jr. Formats that are represented within the Photographic Images Series of the Graf-Buck Collection are tintypes, cartes de visite, photographic postcards, gelatin silver prints, and color Kodachrome prints. Also present are two 35mm negatives. Note: Photo 165 and 173 have been moved to box 3.

The Religious Certificates Series features six lithographs commemorating confirmations, baptisms, and a marriage for members of the Buck Family. Family members whose certificates are present include: Ludwig, Christina, Arthur, Gertrude, Minnie, Esther, and Martha Buck. Also present are two sets of laminated photocopies of these certificates.

The Subject Files Series of the Buck- Graf collection contains the following folders. Churches in Streeter, North Dakota Folder: One page concerning defunct Lutheran congregations in and around Streeter and Richville, North Dakota. “New Year’s Wish” Folder: One page of a handwritten poem, in German. Prayer Cards Folder: Three German-language prayer cards. Recipes Folders: Photocopies and transcriptions of the recipes followed by the actual recipe cards. “Successful Farming” Folder- Contains the June 1941 cover of “Successful Farming” Magazine, featuring Marie Letnes, a college friend of Martha Buck. Map Folder- Contains a photocopied map of family farms of Saratov, circa 1943.

Contained within the Ludwig and Christina Graf-Buck Collection, the Adolf Graf Special Collection contains correspondence, tax records, newspapers, business papers, and other ephemera collected by Adolf Graf, dating from 1912 to 1936. This grouping of materials was found in a “Hoosier” file folder box, c. 1910. This special collection within the Graf-Buck Collection was processed as follows:

The Correspondence Series consists of letters from 1917-1936. Some of the businesses featured are the First National Bank of Medina, North Dakota; M.N. Ringreide; Carr and Rittgers of Jamestown, North Dakota; Northern and Dakota Trust Company of Fargo, North Dakota; and the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. The Correspondence, Personal Folder contains letters twelve written to Adolf Graf from family and friends. Two of them are in English and date from 1923, and ten written in German, which are undated and were processed into subfolders to maintain their provenance and original order.

The Business Papers Series features receipts, titles, mortgages, and other paperwork concerned with the business affairs of Adolf Graf. These date from 1912 to 1930. Some of the businesses represented within this collection are: Knauf and Knauf of Jamestown, North Dakota, Wanner Abstract Company, and Citizens State Bank. Also present are tax paperwork and income and expense ledgers.

The Adolf Graf Special Collection also contains a Subject Files Series, which features the following folders. Logan County Map Folder- Township map of Logan County, North Dakota. Travel Folder- “North German Lloyd Passenger List” is a passenger list and timetable for the routes of the North German Lloyd Passenger Service for 1911.