Series consists of seven letter books containing personal and political correspondence relating to Haggart's career as Postmaster General and as Minister of Railways and Canals. Primarily, the material comprises correspondence pertaining to the functional activities and operations of the Post Office and the Department of Railways and Canals. This includes correspondence dealing with the construction, operation, administration, and maintenance of government-owned post offices, railways, and canals. Also included is Haggart's political correspondence with fellow cabinet ministers, politicians, and personal acquaintances
Letter book 1 (Sept. 1888- Oct. 1889), and Letter book 2 (Oct. 1889- June 1890), both located in Volume 1, contain correspondence dealing with the operational and administrative functions of the Post Office. Topics include Post Office personnel, the establishment and expansion of post offices, contracts, mail delivery service, equipment, enquiries and finance. The letter books also contain political correspondence with cabinet ministers, various provincial and local politicians and personal acquaintances. The correspondence includes several letters written to Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Charles Tupper, Sir John Thompson, Mackenzie Bowell and John Abbott. The correspondence in these early letter books is handwritten, and letters are signed by either Haggart or his secretary, James H. Balderson. Letter book 1 retains a complete nominal index of correspondents, but unfortunately the index for Letter book 2 has been lost.
The remaining five letter books in this series: Letter book [#3] (Jan.- Oct. 1892), Letter book [#4] (Feb.- June 1894), located in Volume 2; Letter book [#5] (June - Nov. 1894), Letter book [#6] (Mar.- July 1895), located in Volume 3; and Letter book [#7] (Mar. - July 1896), located in Volume 4, document the administrative and operational activities of the Department of Railways and Canals. Specifically, the correspondence relates to railway and canal staff, departmental appointments, rail extensions and subsidies, the establishment of railway stations, canal and bridge construction, contracts, railway advertising, customs, finances and general enquiries.
These letter books also contain extensive political correspondence. Many of the letters are addressed to fellow cabinet ministers, including such prominent colleagues as Sir Charles Tupper, Mackenzie Bowell, Sir John Thompson, and John Abbott. There is also correspondence with provincial and local politicians. The political correspondence covers a wide range of topics, including planning for election campaigns, Perth-area political meetings, events and activities, as well as the establishment of voters' lists. Several letters in Letter book [#6] and Letter book [#7] refer to the Manitoba School Question. Letter book [#6] also contains correspondence pertaining to the funeral of Sir John Thompson, and Frederick Bell-Smith's paintings of the event. Letter book [#7] also contains a political pamphlet attacking D'Alton McCarthy.
Letter book [#3] is predominantly handwritten while Letter books [#4] through [#7] are largely typed. Only Letter books [#5] and [#6] retain a portion of their nominal index. The letters are signed by Haggart, his private secretary J.E.W. Currier, or F. Beard, the departmental clerk.