VPRS 7457 Correspondence Files

The records in the P1 consignment of this series are estray records which were identified, registered and processed as part of the Public Record Office's 1993 stock-take project. The majority of the files were created by the Chief Secretary's Department (VA 475) were transferred to the Department of Property and Services (VA 430) when the functions to which the files relate were transferred to that department. The functions were Public Records, which transferred in 1978, Births, Deaths and Marriages and the Electoral Office which transferred in 1979 when the Chief Secretary's Department was abolished.The files are both "official" files created in the Chief Secretary's Department registry, identified by official file covers and notations, and "unofficial" files. It is not known whether the unofficial files, which are generally plain manila folders containing papers, were parts of official files or were added after they were transferred to DPS and PRO administration. The only list contemporary with the original 1978 transfer does not specify any insertions or parts belonging to the official files listed.Almost all of the official files have been rubber stamped in two ways. Firstly they bear a stamp and writing that indicates that new files with new file titles were created, presumably by DPS. Secondly, most file covers are stamped or have written on them with the word "filmed". It appears that DPS incorporated the old files into their new filing system, which was an annual single number filing system. In some instances papers were removed from the old files and added to the new files. Some examples of this may be found in files in VPRS 2553 General Correspondence (1978-1979) of DPS. The department also commenced the practice of microfilming all correspondence and produced microfiche for each file, which is indicated by the word "filmed" on the covers of files in this series.