Sub-series contains bound registers and indexes for the years 1859 to 1934. These are the department's internal finding aid to the Numbered central registry files (R188-39-8-E), the Judges files (R188-41-6-E), the Extradition files (R188-42-8-E) and the Letterbooks of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Justice (R188-37-4-E).
An index exists for every year from 1861 to 1909, but not for the years 1859-1860 and 1868. After 1909, the indexes were grouped together for the periods 1910-1919, 1920-1929, and 1930-1934. The indexes are arranged alphabetically by the names of individuals, by the names of Canadian government departments (e.g. Agriculture, Interior, Marine and Fisheries, Trade and Commerce, etc.) and/or by subject (e.g. Dominion Police, Extradition, Judges, Legislation, Water Lots). Most entries include a brief summary of the document's contents plus a reference to the docket (file) number in the register for that year.
The registers are bound separately for each year from 1859-1860 to 1934, and are interfiled with the Indexes. The entries are in numerical order. Each entry provides the originator's name and address, a brief summary of the document's contents, the date of receipt, the action taken and the date of the reply. Generally, if an entry is stamped "FILE MISSING", it means that the file was missing at the time of the transfer of the indexes and registers to the National Archives (1970). If it is handwritten "KEPT", the file was not transferred to the Archives but was retained by the department. It is possible however that the file has subsequently been transferred to the Archives. Finally, when a file is stamped "DESTROYED", it means that it has been transferred to the National Archives in accordance with a Treasury Board Minute. In reality, it does not mean "destroyed" but "disposed of". Sometimes, a file has been brought forward and integrated with another file on the same subject. Both file numbers are indicated, one in the margin, and the other in the regular file number column. The number of the entry matches the appropriate docket or file number: these files, containing the incoming correspondence, are in the Numbered central registry files sub-series (R188-39-8-E), the Judges files series (R188-41-6-E), or the Extradition files series (R188-42-8-E). The date of reply and the reference to a page number in the letterbook for that year is given in the right most columns. These assist in locating the department's outgoing correspondence in the Letterbook series (R188-37-4-E).
