Abel collected autobiographies, known as biograms, of hundreds of followers of Adolf Hitler in 1934 as source material to improve understanding of the Hitler movement. In June 1934 he announced a prize contest designed to induce Hitler's followers to submit their life stories. He posted an announcement at all local headquarters of the Nationalsozialistische deutsche Arbeiter-Partei and in the party press for the "best personal life history of an adherent of the Hitler movement." The contest was open to any person, regardless of sex or age, who was a member of the National Socialist party before January 1, 1933, or who was in sympathy with the movement.

Contestants were asked to give accurate and detailed descriptions of their personal lives, particularly after World War I. Abel wanted them to give special attention to accounts of their family life, education, economic conditions, membership in associations, participation in the Hitler movement, and important experiences, thoughts, and feelings about events and ideas of the post-war period.

Abel received hundreds of manuscripts. They contain data on age, occupation, socioeconomic class, education, employment, membership in various associations, place of residence, marital status, military service in World War I, participation in military activities after World War I, first contacts with the National Socialist movement, the main reason for joining the movement, expressions of anti-Semitism, etc.