These aliens registration forms appear to be the only complete record series dealing with aliens resident in Australia during the First World War held in the National Archives Melbourne Office.
It is also possible that it is the only series in Victoria dealing with non-British migrants prior to 1940.
The records are arranged alphabetically by bundles according to nationality, within several broader categories:
(a) Aliens registered in all States, alphabetical by country of citizenship;
(b) Aliens registered in the Northern Territory, alphabetical by nationality;
(c) Cancellations of aliens status (registered in the Northern Territory) for:
(i) British born (whites), alphabetical by name;
(ii) British born (colored), alphabetical by ethnic origin, then name;
(iii) Cancellation through death, alphabetical by name;
(d) Cancellations of aliens status (registered in Victoria) for:
(i) Natural born British subjects, alphabetical by name;
(ii) Persons married to British subjects, alphabetical by name;
(iii) Cancellations through death, alphabetical by name;
(e) Uncertain nationalities (registered in Victoria), alphabetical by name.
This arrangement represents an attempt at restoring the original order, which was partly disturbed around the time of transfer to the Archives.
Surviving elements of the original order include the segregation of forms for US American and Dutch white and "colored" persons (in that order).
The use of the term "colored" (spelt as on original record covers) reflects the organisation of the records at the time of creation and is not intended to cause offence.
Forms held in the "colored" categories include persons of Malay or Koepang origin (Dutch) and Philippinos or "Manillamen" (Americans - US), Indonesia having been under Dutch rule until 1949 and the Philippines under US rule from 1898 to 1935.
In categories (a) and (b), individual forms within bundles are arranged alphabetically by name.
To enhance accessibility of information about individuals, essential data on each form has been programmed for entry into RecordSearch.
This will necessitate the separation of forms from their original bundles and the placement of each form in a separate acid free folder.
Control symbols have been devised to reflect the reconstructed arrangement described above, as follows:
(a) COUNTRY/NAME
(b) NT/NATIONALITY/NAME
(c) (i) NT/CANCELLATION/WHITE/NAME
(ii) NT/CANCELLATION/COLORED/ETHNIC GROUP/NAME
(iii) NT/CANCELLATION/DEATH/NAME
(d)(i) VIC/CANCELLATION/BRITISH BORN/NAME
(ii) VIC/CANCELLATION/BRITISH MARRIAGE/NAME
(iii) VIC/CANCELLATION/DEATH/NAME
(e) VIC/UNCERTAIN NATIONALITY/NAME Information that will be captured in the title field consists of those data elements common to all the records: Name, nationality, registration number, date and place of first registration,
e.g. Smith, Frank - Nationality: American - Certificate no.246 issued on 21/6/1917 at Williamstown.
Administrative information
The following data was keyed from the paper documentation:
Form number: CA 11
Transferring department: , Attorney Generals, Commonwealth Investigation Service, Victorian
Date of transfer: 07/01/1957
Archives file number: RWM7/6/9