Guide to Federal Records

Records of the Solicitor of the Treasury


(Record Group 206)
1791-1934
770 cu. ft.

Table of Contents

  • 206.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
  • 206.2 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE SOLICITOR OF THE TREASURY AND PREDECESSORS 1801-1934 763 lin. ft.
  • 206.3 LEGAL OPINIONS AND BRIEFS 1820-1933 20 lin. ft.
  • 206.4 CASE FILES AND OTHER RECORDS RELATING TO SUITS 1791-1929 110 lin. ft.
  • 206.5 REPORTS ON LITIGATION 1821-1934 229 lin. ft.
  • 206.6 MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS 1791-1934 8 lin. ft.

206.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Established: In the Department of the Treasury by an act of May 29, 1830 (4 Stat. 414), which changed the name of the Agent of the Treasury.

Predecessor Agencies:

  • Comptroller of the Treasury (1789-1817)
  • First Comptroller of the Treasury (1817-20)
  • Agent of the Treasury (1820-30)

Transfers: To the Department of Justice by an act of June 22, 1870 (16 Stat. 162); to the Department of the Treasury by EO 6166, June 10, 1933, which assigned litigation functions and supervision of court officers to the Department of Justice.

Functions: Supervised all legal proceedings involving the collection of debts due the United States. Established regulations to guide customs collectors. Issued distress warrants against delinquent revenue collectors or receivers of public money. Examined Treasury officers' official bonds and related legal documents. Served as legal adviser to the department. Administered lands acquired by the United States in payment for debts.

Abolished: By an act of May 10, 1934 (48 Stat. 759).

Successor Agencies: Office of the General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.

Finding Aids: George S. Ulibarri, comp., Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Solicitor of the Treasury, PI 171 (1968).

Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Solicitor of the Treasury in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government.

Top of Page

206.2 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE SOLICITOR OF THE TREASURY AND
PREDECESSORS
1801-1934
763 lin. ft.

History: Comptroller of the Treasury established by the act creating the Department of the Treasury (1 Stat. 66), September 2, 1789, to superintend the public accounts, supervise the collection of revenues, and direct legal proceedings against delinquent debtors. Functions transferred to First Comptroller of the Treasury by an act of March 3, 1817 (3 Stat. 367), and to the Agent of the Treasury by an act of May 15, 1820 (3 Stat. 592). SEE 206.1.

Textual Records: Letters sent, 1820-1934. Miscellaneous letters sent, 1830-70. Indexes and registers to letters sent, 1836-1934, and letters referred, 1831-36, 1866-75. Letters received from the President, 1833-95; the Secretary of the Treasury, 1822-96; the Attorney General, 1822-98; U.S. district attorneys, marshals, and clerks, 1801-1908; officers in judicial districts concerning customs suits, 1865-91; the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, 1896-1910; Treasury special agents, 1858- 95, and revenue agents, 1862-69, concerning investigations; and coordinate Treasury officials and officials of other agencies, 1815-95. Miscellaneous letters received, 1803-95. Indexes and registers to letters received, 1845-1910. Numerical case files, 1896-1934 (265 ft.), consisting of most letters received after 1895 and including copies of letters sent after 1910; with indexes.

Top of Page

206.3 LEGAL OPINIONS AND BRIEFS
1820-1933
20 lin. ft.

Textual Records: Opinions prepared by the Solicitor in response to requests from government officials, 1841-70. Copies of opinions, 1921-22. Digest of opinions, 1880-1912. Card digest of opinions included in the numerical case files, 1913-27. Opinions of the Solicitor of the Department of Labor, 1915; Attorney General, 1820-31; and Assistant Attorney General for the Post Office Department, 1892-1903. Indexes to sources cited in opinions, 1911-33. Briefs with accompanying memorandums concerning such subjects as liability of sureties, bonds, contracts, deposits by disbursing officers, and distress warrants, 1903-32.

Top of Page

206.4 CASE FILES AND OTHER RECORDS RELATING TO SUITS
1791-1929
110 lin. ft.

Textual Records: Case files and suit papers, 1805-1926 (86 ft.), concerning such matters as banking regulations, 1836-48; customs laws, 1845-91; cases that were compromised, 1869-1926; lands conveyed to the United States, 1829- 80; postal officials in default, 1839-70; and other defaulters and federal officials against whom balances were found, 1830-1900. Registers and indexes documenting the progress of suits in which the Solicitor had an interest, including cases involving recovery of U.S. property; suppression of opium smuggling; and enforcement of postal regulations and such statutes as the Pure Food and Drug Act, the Safety Appliance Acts, and the Twenty-Eight Hour Act, 1791-1929.

Top of Page

206.5 REPORTS ON LITIGATION
1821-1934
229 lin. ft.

Textual Records: Status reports on suits to recover debts due the United States, civil suits after 1830 in which the United States had an interest, and criminal prosecutions, received by the Agent of the Treasury and the Solicitor from district attorneys, 1821- 1921 (125 ft.); clerks of court, 1821-1929 (90 ft.); marshals, 1821-85; collectors of customs, 1839-45; and Bureau of Customs officials, 1932-34.

Top of Page

206.6 MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
1791-1934
8 lin. ft.

Textual Records: Circulars, 1830-35. Transmittal letters, 1899- 1900, 1905-6. Warrants of distress, 1817-60. Record of deposits made to the U.S. Treasurer's credit as a result of suits, 1831- 48. Lists of debts due the United States, 1855-66. Lists of bonds, 1838-45. Registers of bonds, 1897-1924, 1932-34. Records of salary payments, 1848-57, 1868-70, 1876. Powers of attorney, 1897-1911. District attorneys' and court clerks' accounts, 1853- 57. Lawbooks, 1791, 1817.


Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


Top of Page

Guide to Federal Records >

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272