Sub-Series I: Case Files, 1959-1982.

Case Files includes appeals for assistance made to HAW by individual constituents, institutions (e.g., companies, universities, non-profit organizations, etc.) and municipalities. Generally, these appeals call on HAW to intercede with an authority—most commonly a Federal or state government department/agency—in matters concerning benefits, grants, contracts, jobs, services, visas, loans, etc., in order to bring about a ruling or other result favorable to the correspondent.

The typical case file includes, at a minimum, the original correspondence to HAW stating the matter and a carbon copy of HAW's response. (From 1977 forward, there is often a Correspondence Management System (CMS) Work Order rather than a copy of the response. See Appendix B for a description of CMS.) Cases were typically referred (or "bucked") by HAW's staff to the relevant authority for comment; the original response from the authority to HAW is commonly in the case file. Many cases involve multiple pieces of correspondence or supporting documentation, and these are in the files. Such documentation includes a wide range of materials including, but not limited to, photographs, maps, blueprints, applications, court filings, and certifications. In many instances, HAW's staff documented their actions on behalf of a case, and these notes are in the files. A few cases rose to the level of HAW (or a NJ Congressperson in the House) introducing a private bill on behalf of the correspondent.

For individual constituents, the most extensive files concern cases related to the military (e.g., base reassignments, living/service conditions, requests for leave, medical conditions, etc.), immigration/visas, and social welfare programs (e.g., veterans benefits, social security payments, housing, health care, etc.). The cases provide insight into constituents' perspectives on the commonplace difficulties of their lives, the extent of their hopes and expectations of support from their government in addressing these difficulties, and the often quite different perspective of government officials. For institutions and municipalities, including small businesses and local non-profits, the files often include rich documentation about both the specific program for which funding was sought and background on the institution itself. The scope of Case Files is detailed further by category of case type in the section immediately preceding the container list below.