These are general correspondence files divided into subseries, some according to the type of correspondence (mailgrams/telegrams, interoffice memos, etc.), some by "class" of correspondent (children, Mayors, etc.), and some by purpose of correspondence (employment, thank yous, etc.). Some of the subseries filing was imprecise, in that a given letter might just as well have been filed in one as in another. For example, a letter relating to a problem with the enforcement of parking laws could have been filed with either complaints, issues, or suggestions (or it could have been filed in a subject file for parking!). Arrangement within subseries is chronological.

Much of what is contained in these correspondence files is basically routine. There are, however, many interesting individual letters in a number of the subseries. A discussion of the research possibilities for several of these subseries follows.

Children This subseries contains letters from children, with the Mayor's answers attached. Also included are letters from parents and/or teachers about their children or about school programs. Complaints In addition to showing the types of problems that citizens were concerned enough about to complain to the Mayor, these letters also indicate to some extent how the administration went about resolving those problems. Some of the "letters" are actually files of correspondence back and forth relative to a single complaint. As in several other subseries, Morial's postscripts may indicate information about how the correspondence was handled. Congratulations Most of these are copies of routine congratulations sent out by the Mayor's Office to citizens whose accomplishments had been publicized in the newspapers or otherwise called to the Mayor's attention. The incoming congratulations, however, particularly those for 1978 and 1982 (after the two Morial election campaigns), include "reminders" of what the writers did to assist in the campaign effort. Among the writers are a number of prominent national political figures. Employment Letters from job seekers, including a number of individuals who eventually succeeded in getting jobs with the Morial administration. There is some documentation of the patronage process here, with cover letters from "sponsors" reminding the Mayor of what role the applicant played in an election campaign or other project. Most letters include copies of resumes. Inter-office memorandums Most routine memos were weeded from this file. Many of those retained are marked "confidential" and appear to be written follow-ups to conversations. A high percentage of these documents deal with policy, administrative, and strategic decision making. Invitations Closely related to the Appointments series, in fact they may fill in some gaps in that group of records. Notes and postscipts indicating acceptance or regrets are sometimes interesting. Although most are incoming, there is a small group of outgoing invitations which serve at least as a partial record of "official" mayoral events during the period. Specific items of interest include two letters relating to a party given for Morial in Washington by Roy Cohn (with Marti Schambra as his local contact), in April/May, 1985 as well as the Mayor's letter of invitation to Pope John Paul II to visit the Crescent City, in 1985 (outgoing). Mailgrams/telegrams Both incoming and copies of outgoing. Several from the White House are included. Mayors Letters from mayors of other cities. Included are: Kevin White, Kenneth Gibson, Jane Byrne, Ed Koch, Teddy Kollack (of Jerusalem), Lionel Wilson, Andrew Young, Henry Cisneros, Dan Browne (Lord Mayor of London), Richard Hatcher, Diane Feinstein, Raymond Flynn, Henry Maier, Coleman Young, and Tom Bradley. Personal Filed alphabetically. Mostly letters marked by Morial as personal. Among national "celebrities" represented are: Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, Marion Barry, Charles Robb, Walter &amp Joan Mondale, Ed Koch, Edward Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, Kirk Douglas, Geraldine Ferraro, Samuel Pierce, Harold Washington, Reuben Askew, and Dom DeLuise. Local notables include: Moon Landrieu, Lindy Boggs, Donald Mintz, Stanley Muller, Ruth Ann Menutis, and Marti Schambra. There are also letters from the Morial children, including some interesting political communications from his sons Marc and Jacques. Of special interest is the October 31, 1982 "invitation" from U.S. attorney John Volz to Morial to appear before a federal grand jury. Recommendations Includes copies of letters of recommendation sent by Morial at the request of friends and associates. There may be some documentation of patronage interests included here. Also included are letters to and from congressmen concerning appointments to the military academies, correspondence concerning admission into universities, and some recommendations made to Morial for city jobs. There are also some other types of recommendations, such as requests for leniency in the sentencing of convicted white collar criminals as well as incoming recommendations that he take some specific governmental action. Requests for assistance Includes a wide range of assistance being sought, from the poor looking for financial help, to persons charged with crimes asking for legal help, to contractors looking for help in getting public work, to help in getting tickets to Superbowl games or other events. There are appeals from community groups for city funds or for aid in securing grant funding (including funding from the Wisner Foundation). Thank you Divided into three sub-subseries: gifts, incoming, and letters. The thank you (gifts) letters are mostly copies of routine acknowledgments sent by the Mayor for gifts presented to him on various occasions, including many for Christmas. The gifts are usually identified. In some cases the "gift" was actually some service rendered to the Mayor, including hotel and other service during his travels. The thank you (incoming) letters include fairly routine ones from such well-known figures as Walter Mondale, Alton Ochsner, Patricia Roberts Harris, William H. Sullivan, Jr., A. Bartlett Giamatti, Chris Costner Sizemore, Edward J. DeBartolo, John Brophy, William J. Brennan, Jr., and Zev Bufman. The thank you (letters) group is made up of acknowledgements of letters and other communications received by the Mayor's Office. The letters may have been congratulatory, may have included suggestions or recommendations, or may have included commentary on enclosed clippings from newspapers or magazines. A number of them contain interesting discussions of important issues of the day. In some cases the Mayor's response also includes his view on the matter at hand. Unfiled This subseries includes a number of letters that had been marked for filing, but apparently were put aside and forgotten. Some of them may have been of special importance and were kept in a special file for quick reference, and others may have been so complex as to defy proper disposition. Rather than attempt to file them according to indicated instructions, or to arbitrarily assign them to the categories used throughout this record series, these letters were arranged into a single chronological order. There are some interesting and important materials in this group of documents. Most of the correspondence from the period prior to the Mayor's first inauguration is included, much of it written on Office of Mayoral Transition letterhead. Some of the other individual items noticed during processing are described below: --Harold Gorman's five-page report to the Mayor on the Bureau of Governmental Research study of the Department of Safety and Permits (11/20/78); --a handwritten four-page letter from David Treen asking for Morial's support in the gubernatorial election (9/9/79); --a rambling letter from Milton Stire on the nature of New Orleans politics and his choice of Paul Valteau as his successor in the office of Civil Sheriff (9/1/81); --a copy of the Mayor's letter terminating John Glapion as director of the New Orleans Recreation Department (9/21/81); --a note from William J. Guste enclosing a photocopied letter from Andrew Young with the postscript, "Can't you get Dutch and Jeff together." (3/22/82); --letter from Walter Mondale (4/15/82); --letter, marked "Personal," from Ashton Phelps dealing with Morial's claims of bias in the Times-Picayune's treatment of him in the 1982 election campaign (4/30/82); --correspondence with Margie Davis relative to VIP parking at New Orleans International Airport. Washington, DC Correspondence with various federal officials in DC, including a number of White House letters. Also included are copies sent to the Mayor, FYI, of letters written to the President by several individual. Morial's March 22, 1986 letter to Ronald Reagan, complaining of the president's failure to officially notify City Hall of his visit to New Orleans.