Catalogue description Foreign Office: Registry: Day Books

Following the introduction of a new registration and paper keeping system to the Foreign Office in 1906, there were almost immediately noticed difficulties in the docketing system and delays in passing papers to departments and in producing previous papers. The increase in documentation during the First World War resulted in a virtual breakdown of the system, and prompted its review, undertaken in 1917 by the Foreign Office librarian. His recommendations were implemented in 1920, and lead, among other things, to the creation of day books.

Incoming correspondence was received by the Opening Branch which placed it in a docket sheet, and passed it to the appropriate section of Archives Branch, where the registration number was allocated before the correspondence was passed to the appropriate section clerk. Among other things, the clerk made a précis of the contents of the correspondence, which was typed and four copies made, one of which was pasted up in the appropriate In Day Book, in the order of the registry numbers allocated by the Opening Branch. There were separate day books for each country or subject branch.

Outgoing correspondence, once completed, was similarly dealt with, two summaries of the outgoing correspondence being made of which one was pasted up in the relevant Out Day Book, again in registry number order. The Day Books were passed to the Foreign Office Library when they were two years old.