This two-box collection contains outgoing and incoming correspondence from Earl Madsen while he served as a Latter-day Saints missionary, during his wife's stay in the hospital, and while attending basic training at Camp Callan in 1943. Madsen's outgoing correspondence during his Latter-day Saints mission (over 150 letters) describes his activities as a missionary, his thoughts about the LDS church, his impressions of Germany, his understanding of the Church in Germany, his feelings about being a missionary, and his struggle with homesickness. Madsen's correspondence to his wife while she stayed in the Holy Cross Hospital discusses his grief concerning her illness, his daily activities and business ventures in Brigham City, and how he misses having her at home. Madsen's correspondence while at basic training discusses his military duties and training, his thoughts on the war, his experience as a Latter-day Saints in the military, and his love for his wife. Overall, Madsen's letters yield the thoughts of a prolific and descriptive writer. His letters are detailed and range from two to eight pages in length.

The bulk of Madsen's incoming correspondence consists of letters from family and friends while serving as a Latter-Day Saints missionary. Incoming correspondence from his mother, Cleo Madsen, comprises a substantial part of his incoming correspondence as a missionary (over 150 letters).

The correspondence in this collection has been organized into outgoing and incoming categories. Outgoing correspondence is organized chronologically and incoming correspondence is organized alphabetically by the sender's surname. Correspondence from senders who wrote numerous letters have been housed in individual folders.