This series consists of correspondence and memorandums of two Alien Property Custodians, Thomas W. Miller, who served from 1921 until 1925, and Frederick C. Hicks, who served from April 1925 until his death in December of the same year, concerning legislation affecting alien property, trusts and claims, employment with the Office of Alien Property Custodian, and the general business of the Custodian. Included is correspondence with Alanson B. Houghton, United States Ambassador to Germany (1922-25), regarding the claims of German citizens on the Custodian and the alleged application for German citizenship of draft resister Grover Cleveland Bergdoll; correspondence with the Austrian Charge d'Affairs in Washington; correspondence with the British embassy in Washington and the British Public Trustee, P. F. Swain, regarding claims of British and United States citizens on property seized jointly by the Custodian and the Trustee; a letter from Bernard M. Baruch congratulating Frederick C. Hicks on his appointment as Custodian; correspondence between Thomas W. Miller and Senator George H. Moses concerning the sale by the Custodian of the Bosch Megneto Company; a subpoena for the seized records of the Bosch Magneto Company; and memorandums concerning expenses to the Government arising from the suit against the Chemical Foundation for the return of seized patents.
Also included is correspondence of Miller with private citizens, public officials, officers of corporations, lawyers, members of Congress, and job applicants during his tenure as Alien Property Custodian. Correspondents include Robert W. Bonynge, United States Agent before the Mixed Claims Commission; Reed Smoot, chairman of the United States Public Buildings Commission; Professor E. M. Borchard of Yale Law School; and C. M. Huston, Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Included is information on malfeasance in the Corporate Management Division of the Office of Alien Property Custodian, recovery of property of Czechoslovakian citizens, and stock ownership in the United States Steel Corporation. Government agencies with which Miller had correspondence included the United States Civil Service Commission, the United States Shipping Board, and the Veteran's Bureau.
