Guide To The Material In The National Archives 1940

"This important guide will assist the researcher in locating within the National Archives those records created during, or directly related to, the pre-Federal era of US history the period before the Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789. The documents described include those of the Continental and Confederation Congresses, the Constitutional Convention, and the Continental Army and Navy; Revolutionary War era diplomatic, fiscal, and judicial records; records pertaining to commerce, Indian affairs, and postal and customs operations; and records relating to pension, bounty-land, and other claims arising out of military and civilian activities. The volume also contains a comprehensive name and subject index."--Archives.gov.

Each article treats a single agency and stands by itself. First the title of the agency in capital letters, in an inverted form if necessary to bring out the key words. The name of the superior, if one existed, follows immediately. As a rule the title or titles are used are the ones under which the unit functioned at the height of its activity during the war period. Earlier or later titles are usually mentioned in the article. The text of the article is divided into three parts: 1. History, 2 functions, and 3. records.