Admiralty and Secretariat. Correspondence and Papers, 1744-1957

Component identifier:

Series ADM 1

Extent:

2043 items

Content Summary:

The documents forming the basis of this Series began as official correspondence directed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, for the information of the Lord Admiral or the Lords Commissioners. In time, this Series developed into a collection of correspondence to, from and within all departments of the Admiralty.

The earliest records in this Series consist of in-letters only but, during the nineteenth century, minutes were increasingly noted on the in-letters. From 1869 special minute sheets were attached to important letters when they were received. Drafts of related out-letters gradually came to be placed with the in-letters as well and, after 1869, copies of related out-letters were placed with the in-letters, so that with the grouping together of papers on a given subject the Series became composed of files of the modern type. The in-letters up to 1839 have been grouped together by type of correspondent.

This Series comprises correspondence and papers in the form of Admiral and other officer's letters, letters from private individuals, companies and organisations. The material filmed selectively by the Australian Joint Copying Project relate to a wide variety of topics such as exploration and surveying, incidents arising from the protection of British political and trading interests, administration of the Navy and its various departments as well as the command of individual ships.

All pieces with the exception of 3824, 5553, 5755, 7513, 7514, 7592, 7610, 7654, 7671, 7730, 7806, 7989, 8003 and 8140, which have been filmed in their entirety by the Australian Joint Copying Project.

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