Sessional papers from the colonies

Division within CO

1660-1966

Contains sessional papers from colonial governments relating to legislative and administrative business undertaken within colonies in question.

Sessional papers produced by colonial governments tend to be of three types: records of the Legislative Council, the Executive Council and the administration reports of the local government departments.

The records of the Legislative Council are bound volumes of agenda and minutes of meetings. They give dates of council meetings, the names of members present and statements of resolutions taken. They also include transcripts of addresses, the names of those elected to the council, oaths of allegiance by officials, enactments and movements for the reading of bills, estimates for scrutiny and approval, petitions received and draft ordinances.

The records of the Executive Council give similar details, but also contain transcripts of letters received and details of subsequent actions. They also record proclamations, drafts of proposed ordinances and approval of various estimates and contracts.

The administration reports provide detailed descriptive and statistical information on almost every aspect of colonial rule. This information refers to regional and central matters. Among the subjects covered are: the economy and public revenue; the judiciary and police; communications; population; public works; public health; agriculture and meteorological observations. The reports include many statistical tables, graphs, plans and maps.

Central and Southern Africa
• Basutoland CO 646
• Cape Colony CO 51
• Griqualand West CO 108
• Natal CO 181
• North Rhodesia CO 799
• Nyasaland CO 626
• Orange Free State CO 661
• Orange River Colony CO 599
• Rhodesia CO 468
• Southern Rhodesia CO 603
• Transvaal CO 293
• Union of South Africa CO 633

East Africa
• East Africa High Commission CO 942
• Kenya CO 544
• Somaliland CO 830
• Tanganyika CO 736
• Uganda CO 685
• Zanzibar CO 688

West Africa
• Gambia CO 89
• Gold Coast CO 99
• Lagos CO 149
• Nigeria CO 657
• Sierra Leone CO 270
• Southern Nigeria CO 592

Asia
• British North Borneo (Sabah) CO 648
• Brunei CO 824
• Ceylon CO 57
• Federated Malay States CO 576
• Federation of Malaya CO 941
• Hong Kong CO 131
• Johore CO 715
• Kedah and Perlis CO 716
• Kelantan CO 827
• Labuan CO 434
• Malacca CO 944
• Negri Sembilan, Sungei Ujong and Jelebu CO 435
• Pahang CO 437
• Perak CO 438
• Sarawak CO 802
• Selangor CO 439
• Singapore CO 940
• Straits Settlements CO 275
• Sungei Ujong CO 474
• Trengganu CO 840

Atlantic
• Falkland Islands CO 80
• St Helena and Dependencies CO 250

Australia and New Zealand
• Australia (General) CO 433
• Commonwealth of Australia CO 562
• New South Wales CO 204
• New Zealand CO 211
• Queensland CO 236
• South Australia CO 15
• Tasmania CO 282
• Victoria CO 311
• Western Australia CO 20

Europe
• Heligoland CO 121

Indian Ocean
• Mauritius CO 170
• Seychelles CO 440

Mediterranean
• Cyprus CO 69
• Gibraltar CO 832
• Malta CO 161

Middle East
• Aden CO 846
• Iraq CO 696
• Palestine CO 814

North America
• Alberta CO 643
• Canada CO 45
• British Columbia CO 62
• Manitoba CO 165
• New Brunswick CO 191
• Newfoundland CO 197
• Northwest Territories CO 215
• Nova Scotia and Cape Breton CO 220
• Ontario CO 223
• Prince Edward Island CO 229
• Quebec CO 233
• Saskatchewan CO 606
• Vancouver Island CO 307

Western Pacific
• British New Guinea (Papua) CO 436
• British Solomon Islands Protectorate CO 856
• Fiji CO 85
• Gilbert & Ellice Islands (Tuvalu, Kiribati) CO 860
• New Hebrides (Vanuatu) CO 983
• Tonga CO 861

West Indies
• Anguilla CO 241
• Antigua CO 9
• Bahamas CO 26
• Barbados CO 31
• Bermuda CO 40
• British Guiana CO 114
• British Honduras CO 126
• Cayman Islands CO 857
• Dominica CO 74
• Grenada CO 104
• Jamaica CO 140
• Leeward Islands CO 155
• Montserrat CO 177
• Nevis CO 186, CO 241
• St Christopher (St Kitts) CO 241
• St Lucia CO 256
• St Vincent CO 263
• Tobago CO 288
• Trinidad CO 298
• Turks and Caicos Islands CO 303
• Virgin Islands CO 316

Many of the volumes contain contents lists.

For later sessional papers see Records created or inherited by the Dominions Office, and of the Commonwealth Relations and Foreign and Commonwealth Offices,

Public Record(s)

English

103 series

Topics

Asia

Caribbean

Europe and Russia

Maps and plans

Australia and Pacific

Construction industries

Official publications

Americas

Middle East

Farming

Africa

Sessional papers were produced by most colonial governments. Under colonial regulations instituted in 1837, the proceedings of the houses of assembly and legislative councils, with copies of acts passed and lists of members, were sent twice a year to the Colonial Office in London. The regulations clarified procedure, but some sessional papers had been produced before this date.