Joseph Hornung immigrated to Oregon from Germany in 1872. He became keeper of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse in 1884. Papers include emigration and citizenship documents, a certified copy of a marriage return, and appointment documents and a letter related to Hornung's service at the lighthouse.

Papers of the family of Phil Metschan, Oregon state treasurer and owner of the Imperial Hotel in Portland. Materials include diaries, notebooks, correspondence, ephemera, certificates, 1930 election materials, and a scrapbook. Family members represented include Phil Metschan, Phil Metschan, Jr., Marie C. Metschan, Anna Metschan Cattanach, and Lillian and Jesse Evans Flanders.

Papers of and relating to a German-American military architect who traveled overland to Oregon in 1852 and later designed Fort Dalles and other military installations. Collection includes correspondence, a letterpress copybook, pension application materials, and a book of sketches made during the overland journey. Some materials are in German.

Oral history interview with Ambrose M. Seliger conducted by Charles Digregorio on May 26, 1976. Seliger discusses his Hood, Myers, and Seliger family background, and talks about his career as a preschool teacher in Portland, Oregon.

Papers of the Straub family, who lived in Portland, Baker, and Hood River, Oregon. Collection includes an account book, also used as a scrapbook, with obituaries and genealogical information; stock certificates; communion and naturalization certificates; and bills. Much of this collection is in German, with some translations.