This series consists of papers and correspondence kept by William Morris (Billy) Hughes as Attorney-General, mainly during the third Fisher Ministry (September 1914-October 1915). A small number of papers date from the next two months when Hughes was also Prime Minister. One file (item 1) includes earlier papers and relates to his concurrent Presidency of the Waterside Workers Federation.

The files include papers relating to legislation, the Interstate Commission, control of Northern Territory railways, union matters, the proposed establishment of a Commonwealth National Laboratory and federal Chair of Meteorology, deputations and personal representations.

Although the papers have Attorney-General's Department file covers, they were transferred to archival custody by the Prime Minister's Department in December 1955. The original accession title 'Personal papers of Rt Hon W M Hughes' has been amended to better reflect the relationship between the portfolio Hughes held at the time and the records. A single number system to control each file has been imposed by National Archives.

This series registration was revised as part of the Prime Ministers Papers Project (July 2004).