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Department of State Diplomatic Records on Microfilm | U.S.
Statistics Purport Lists for the Department of State Decimal File 1910-1944
The purport lists or lists of documents for the Department of
State decimal file, 1910-1944 with print guide (CD3031 1974A
SSRC-reading room) are a subject index
to the records that form the central files of the State Department. They are
part of General records of the Department of State, Record Group 59 in the
National Archives and Records Administration. This guide contains
a brief description
of the decimal file system and appendices containing lists of subject, country
and consulate numbers, as well as a reel-by-reel list of the 654 reels (mfilm
n.s. 1748). There are three divisions 1910-1929 (reels 1-240); 1930-1939 (reels
241-431); 1940-1944 (reels 432-654)
.
From 1910 to 1963, the Department of State used a decimal classification system
for its central files, assembling and arranging individual documents according
to subject and assigning decimal file numbers. Documents in the decimal file
include instructions, notes between the Department of State and foreign diplomatic
and consular representatives in the United States, memoranda prepared by officials
of the Department and correspondence with officials of other government departments
and with private firms and persons.
Purport lists for several categories of the decimal file are not included in
the microfilm publication. These include those sections relating to passports
and other citizenship matters, immigration to the United States, and visa matters.
Certain categories of routine and administrative records have been destroyed
because they lacked sufficient value to warrant their continue preservation.
The decimal file consists of nine primary classes numbered 0 through 8, each
covering a broad subject area. Within the classes, the subjects were further
identified by a decimal file number followed by a slant mark (/) followed by
another number. Countries were assigned two digit numbers and consulates were
assigned three digit numbers.
The publication Classification of correspondence, prepared by the Division
of Communications and Records, Department of State (adopted August 20, 1910),
4th
edition published in 1939 serves as a guide to these documents and their classification.
The volume includes explanatory notes, country numbers arranged geographically,
country numbers arranged alphabetically, consulate numbers, and the index.
General and miscellaneous
Administration of the US government, including the Department
of State and foreign service
Negotiation, application, and interpretation and extradition treaties
and individual extradition cases
Protection of private and national interests
Negotiation, application and interpretation of treaties on claims
and individual claims cases
International congresses and conferences, multilateral treaties,
and international organizations
Commerce, customs administration, and trade agreements
Political relations of states, including diplomatic and consular
representation and bilateral treaties, conventions, and agreements
Internal affairs of states
Examples from selective files
Class 0. 051.41
0 Subject is of general or miscellaneous nature
51 Concerns the pouch service of the United States
41 Number for Great Britain (pouches exchanged)
Class 1 125.5611
1 Subject is the administration of the US government
25 Concerns an American consular office
561 Office is in Madrid
1 Buildings and premises of the consulate in Madrid
Class 2 211.41
2 Subject is extradition treaties
11 Concerns negotiation of an extradition treaty between the US (11)
41 and Great Britain (41)
Class 3 312.113
3 Protection of US private and national interests;
12 Case death in Mexico (12)
11 National US 11)
Class 4 411.32 Correspondence relating to negotiation, application,
and interpretation of claims treaties, conventions, and
agreements, the smaller country number follows the class number (4)
11.32 United States and Brazil (claimant arranged alphabetically)
Last modified:
June 17, 2008
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