This collection contains the speech presenting Walter Mallmann with the Michigan Public Health Association Distinguished Service Award. Also included is the transcript and audio reels of four oral history interviews conducted by Vergil Noble for a history class at Michigan State University. In the first interview Mallmann discussed his family and life growing up in Escanaba. The second interview covers Mallmann's years as a student at Michigan Agricultural College. He talks about his classes, professors, buildings, and the effect of World War I on campus. He also gives a detailed account of the Engineering Building fire in 1916. The third interview included discussion of the sit-down strikes in Lansing, the influenza epidemic during World War I, his work in public health, brucella outbreak at Michigan State, and the college presidents. The final interview covers Mallmann's professional research.

The bulk of the Mallmann papers consists of data, articles, presentations, reports, correspondence and other materials from his bacteriology research. Topics include dishwashing (by hand and machine), sterilization of beverage glasses, bottles, and utensils, personal hygiene, water purity, pollution, and treatment, sewage treatment, drinking fountains, swimming pools, and vending machines. Also included is Mallmann's research on veterinary medicine topics, such as brucella, tuberculosis, and salmonella.