Outward Letter Books - Engineer's Office

Full description

System of Arrangement/Control

Series : sequential arrangement by alphabetical character on all volumes, except the last (?)

Contents : chronological by date of despatch with alphabetical index arranged under recipient's name

Indexes : alphabetical by recipient's name (in some volumes only)

Range of Control Symbols

Series : A - H (?)

Series in Custody : A - H

Indexes : A - Z

Series consists of the Outward Letter Books of the Engineer of the Melbourne Tramways Trust (VA 2692). The contents in custody range from 1884, when the Trust began, to 1892. Letter books from 1892 until the Trust's demise in 1915 are not extant.

Outward letter books are bound official copies of all correspondence despatched. All correspondence in this series was issued from the Engineer's Office and is signed by the incumbent. Matters dealt with include:

- maintenance and construction of tramways
- employment of technical staff
- equipment purchases and use
- inspection of works and reports
- administration of engine houses and car depots
- letters to Chairman and Trust members.

The correspondence is arranged chronologically by date of despatch. Except for volumes A and G, each volume has an alphabetical index arranged under recipient's name which gives folio number references to that particular volume. From volume B onwards and with increasing frequency the indexes also contain summary details of the contents of each letter.