Registrar's Correspondence Files [Dockets], 1886 to 1960

Correspondence files covering administration of all aspects of the University's operations.

The series consists of registered correspondence files (dockets) that were commenced in 1886 using an annual/sequential numbering system which act as identifiers.

The dockets include communications on a range of matters both internally from staff, students, faculties/departments and non-academic bodies and externally from aspiring students, related educational bodies, private companies and all levels of government. A new docket cover would be assigned an identifier, a correspondent and subject on receipt or creation of a relevant record. All subsequent messages specific to the topic would be appended in the order received. Where carbon copies of outgoing correspondence were created, this too was retained on the docket, and other annotations providing direction to relevant records such as the University Council or particular faculty committee minutes were also added where deemed necessary.

The dockets are controlled by an index card system that was established in the 1920s and retrospectively applied to existing dockets.

Included as a 2013 inscription on the Australian Memory of the World Register - Inscription Number #40.