The William Orthman World War II Collection is comprised of 340 black-and-white photographs and a small amount of textual materials documenting the World War II China-Burma-India Theater from 1945-1946. The materials were likely collected by William Orthman during his service as Public Relations Officer, especially as many of the photographs are stamped for press release or publication.

Series I, Photographs, forms the bulk of the collection. It is comprised of 340 black-and-white photographs primarily documenting the China-Burma-India Theater at the tail end of World War II. The photographs range in size, from 2x3" to 8x10", and are a mix of casual snapshots and more professional, posed images. Many photographs include captions and/or stamps. Most of the stamps are from the United States Army Air Forces. Duplication occurs.

The images broadly depict military personnel, including officers; activities, such as military bands and sports teams; buildings and equipment, including military jeeps and an image of a "RAWIN" [radar wind targets] device; and aircraft, including Douglas C-54 Skymaster, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Stinson L-5 Sentinel, and North American P-51 Mustang. Aircraft are shown in flight and on the ground and many images have obscured views of the various planes. Some units and individuals are identified, such as the 681st Army Air Force Band, the 884th Signal Company, General Chiang Kai-Shek and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, Lt. Col. Nimmo G. Thyson, and members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC). Several images depict liberated prisoners-of-war from Mukden, also known as Camp Hoten, Manchuria and Shamshupio Camp, Kowloon, China. There is one image of an Allied cemetery at Mukden. Supply drops, war-damaged buildings and roads, and military training activities, especially related to mechanical and engineering training of Chinese troops, are also featured. Additionally, various locations featuring civilians and city scenes in China, including Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Kiangwan, in addition to Calcutta, India, and Casablanca, Morocco are depicted.

Series II, Textual materials, includes a 1946 officer roster and a small amount of correspondence from Orthman to his wife detailing life in Shanghai, China at the end of the war, some of which have been censored. Some of the letters appear to be partial only and do not include dates. There is also a folder, originally labeled as "Home Front Cartoons," that includes two small booklets, Three Cheers Shanghai, printed in Shanghai and featuring cartoon characters of the GI experience, and Ding How, which includes rhymes and songs about WWII interspersed with cartoon drawings. Additionally, a couple of assorted clippings about the war and a map are present.