VPRS 5035 Registers of Inwards Correspondence (1887-1939); Registers of Outwards Correspondence (1928-1939) (also known as Inwards Letter Books and Outwards Letter Book)

Successive Instructions to Clerks of Courts specified the creation of Registers of letters and other communications, both inwards and outwards to be kept according to a specified format. By the issue of the 1939 Instructions, these registers were referred to as Letter Books.For inwards correspondence, these instructions specified that unless the item was marked to be returned, it should be endorsed, after registration, with the date and the name of the writer, and numbered with a current number (to be recorded also in the register) and filed in consecutive order, a short prcis of the subject matter having been first endorsed therein.Inwards registers recorded the date of receipt, from whom, the date and subject of the letter and how the letter was disposed of (ie dealt with).The Instructions also specified that in cases of importance (a term which was not defined), copies of communications outwards should be written in the (outward) letter register. By 1939 this instruction had been refined to read that all outwards correspondence should be entered in the outward letter books and that copies of communications outwards should be kept in the Office for cases of importance.Outwards registers recorded the date of despatch, to whom sent, subject detail and postage costs.

《致法院书记员的系列指令》明确要求，需按照指定格式设立收、发两类信函及其他往来文件的登记簿。1939年版指令发布后，此类登记簿被统一称为“信函簿”。
针对收函类往来文件，指令规定：除非文件标注需退回，否则应在登记后加注批注，注明收函日期与发件人姓名，分配连续编号（该编号亦需同步登记入册）后按顺序归档；且需先在登记簿中批注文件主题的简短摘要。收函登记簿需记录收函日期、发件方、信函日期、主题及处置情况（即具体处理方式）。
该指令同时规定，对于重要事项（该术语未作明确定义），发函往来文件的副本需登记至（发函）信函登记簿。至1939年，该条款经修订后明确：所有发函类往来文件均需登记至发函信函簿，且重要事项的发函副本需留存于办公室。发函登记簿需记录发件日期、收件方、主题详情及邮资成本。