Administrative history:
Most of the files on individuals relate to the writers of begging letters or to the promoters of spurious charitable appeals. Some of the files on individuals do, however, relate to charitable appeals which were entirely bona fide. The cases of people writing begging letters were investigated by the C.O.S. district committee for the area in which they were living, who would assist them if they considered they were deserving of help. Only files on notorious writers of begging letters were retained by the Central Enquiry Department.
