{"value"=>"<p>The papers in this series include correspondence and three accompanying letter books. The correspondence (Boxes 1-3) consists primarily of Butler's incoming letters, telegrams, and assorted memoranda received at the Treasury Department, 1882-1883. These items are arranged alphabetically and comprise: demands from persons desiring a position at the Treasury; letters of recommendation; requests from Treasury employees for pay increases, promotions, leaves of absence, and other such business-related matters to be handled by Butler; etc. Also included are unique items such as a list of presidential appointees to the Treasury, a list of members and their wages at the Virginia State Treasury Department, a partial list of so-called \"nepotist\" relatives all employed at the United States Treasury, and a copy of a Treasury Department examination. The three letter books (Box 4) are Butler's private records of his written responses to the correspondence received at the Treasury. All the letters in the copybooks are organized by an index and are distributed more or less chronologically (May 1882-March 1884). Both the correspondence and the letterbooks are of particular significance in the manner in which they reveal the spoils system of patronage prevalent during President Chester A. Arthur's administration (1881-1885) before the introduction of the Civil Service Reform Act.</p>"}