The Emil Metelmann Papers consist of correspondence written by Metelmann while in England and Pembina County to his mother in Boldebuck, Germany (1880 and 1886). The letters, originally written in German, were translated into English in the early 1930's by Metelmann's nephew Ernst Metelmann, a journalist in Leipzig, Germany. Ernst Metelmann photocopied the translations and sent the copies to Metelmann's children.

Also included in the collection are photocopied translations of the reported agenda from the Metelmann family reunion, which took place in 1937 at Arendsee, Germany, sent by Ernst Metelmann. There are also copies of land documents including the Bathgate Township plat map showing Emil Metelmann's homestead, a receivers receipt he obtained from the land office in Grand Forks, and a homestead certificate. The collection also holds a newspaper article from the Grand Forks Herald and two other articles from the Cavalier Chronicles written about Metelmann and his letters.

Additionally, the collection contains the correspondence of several other members of the Metelmann family, as well as various records from Emil’s childhood and from his time in America. An extensive record of the Metelmann family tree is also included, with not only a copy in the original German, but also notebooks from the translation process, and the final product of a master copy in English.