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The letters in this series are arranged alphabetically, and then chronologically. The bulk of this series dates from 1914 until his death in 1920 and the date span determines the correspondence's topics. It includes correspondence with friends and family in Germany which discuss his views about the war, as well as his interest in related events and political attitudes. Topics include the plight of war-embroiled Europe, treaty implications, American neutrality, the increasing discrimination against German-Americans in New York City, matters of wartime legal and trade interests, and the organization of various relief groups.

There are also letters which depict another side of von Briesen's time and person. The Turnbridge correspondence, for example, highlights von Briesen's dedication in helping the needy and presents the patient, caring and creative side of him. (Turnbridge was a "schizophrenic" elderly woman who relied on von Briesen's correspondence and support.) Among other items of this sort, there are many letters which reveal von Briesen's concern for the poor, the homeless, and orphaned children.

Also worth mentioning are some letters concerning the Legal Aid Society: In a letter to Kennedy Tod in 1916, von Briesen offers the only explanation of his resignation from the Legal Aid Society in the entire collection. In 1919, von Briesen also writes Hughes (his successor as President of the Legal Aid Society) and Leonard McGee (Attorney-in-Chief of the Legal Aid Society). In his letters to the latter, von Briesen reprimands McGee and the organization in general for abandonment of the moral pursuits of the Society.

There are a few publications about the history of Legal Aid in the United States with most of them focusing on New York City and the achievements of Arthur von Briesen. One such book, The Legal Aid Society: 1876-1951 by Harrison Tweed, the husband of von Briesen's daughter Barbara, is introduced by another, earlier author of a piece on the Legal Aid Society, Reginald Heber Smith ( Justice and the Poor).

Two folders entitled "Quirksome Arthur von Briesen" highlights the eccentric, humorous, and creative side of von Briesen. He pokes and chastises his cobbler and tailor as well as himself, orders exotic wines and animals for his lavish Staten Island estate, writes corny and touching poetry to friends and family, in addition to other amusing items.

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This series consists of seven types of material arranged alphabetically which together reveal the Legal Aid Society as it functioned during the last ten years of von Briesen's Presidency. Von Briesen became its President in 1890, although the earlier years of his term are not represented in this collection. The papers in this series are from the office of the President (von Briesen) and therefore should not be considered the complete files of the Legal Aid Society. Von Briesen was, however, interested and dedicated to all aspects of the Society, the welfare of its directors and attorneys in its branch offices, as well as the people it served throughout New York City and beyond.

The Administrative Files hold the papers and correspondence of the Legal Aid Society officers and directors, arranged alphabetically, as well as committee activities and papers, correspondence from the branch offices, and official bulletins and reports. Within these areas, the files are arranged chronologically. The bulk dates of these papers are 1905-1914. The following is important to note: Arthur von Briesen, as President, corresponded with all members of the Society as well as many of its clients. His papers in this series detail everything from committee appointments to resignations, and include individual case work, his work to allay tensions among the Society's other administrators, and public relations work.

The papers of the various officers throughout the years warrant brief description. Some folders list both the name and position held by the person while others are headed with just a name. In most cases this is due to an overlapping of responsibilities and functions. Most of the officers and directors of the Legal Aid Society served on one or more committees and their correspondence with von Briesen demonstrate a large breadth of information.

1. Merrill E. Gates--Attorney-in-Chief from 1907-1909.
2. J. Augustus Johnson--Chairman of the Branch for Seamen and the Chairman of the Immigration Committee. See also committee-work under the heading Immigration Committee.
3. Cornelius Kitchel--Attorney-in-Chief in 1905 serving until 1907. In 1913, he became Secretary. His position was very valuable and ranged from case work to congressional interests
4. Leonard McGee--Attorney-in-Chief beginning in 1910; a January 1912 letter lists attorneys working under him in the various branches.
5. Carl Schurz--(son of the famous 1848 German revolutionary) Vice President of the Society beginning in 1906 and Chairman of the Harlem Branch for some time. Von Briesen's correspondence to Schurz of April 10, 1912, gives the latter an "Inspection of the Seven Offices,"--the only complete reference to the Society in relation to its branch offices.
6. Louis Stoiber--director of the Society almost since its beginning as the Deutscher Rechtsschutzverein. His correspondence to von Briesen was very open and quite frank about the developments and tensions within the Legal Aid Society. His dedication to Legal Aid is almost as unwavering as that of von Briesen's; he virtually began and maintained the Brooklyn Branch with his own funds and many of his papers document this. Stoiber was an outspoken member of the Society as well as a good friend of von Briesen. His letters are heated and at time border on sycophantic.
7. Charles Wiebusch--Chairman of the Harlem Branch in 1905, of the Publication Committee, Secretary, and interim-Treasurer, 1914-1915.
8. Louis Windmüller--Treasurer who died in 1914.

The Press Agent folder (the press agent was affiliated with the Main Office which was maintained by the Attorney-in-Chief) consists of interesting discussion of Legal Aid issues and the importance of their publication. The folders regarding committee work and branch offices require little explanation. The work done by Johnson and the Immigration Committee is noteworthy, however, and at the time greatly appreciated by von Briesen and the New York community at large and especially its immigrants. Johnson wrote a number of articles about "The Problem of Immigration," in which he stressed the importance of the "distribution of these immigrants for the good of the state." The committee (led by Johnson) did extensive work with the railroad systems in the East, making transportation more comfortable, easier and safer for immigrants travelling westward. The Bulletins and Reports folder holds only a few of those that must have circulated during von Briesen's administration.

Materials relating to the Alliance of Legal Aid Societies of America consist of correspondence between Arthur von Briesen and other lawyers and academics across the United States interested in Legal Aid work and the formation of a national alliance of Legal Aid Societies. Through close work with the Legal Aid Society of Chicago, von Briesen became the President of the Alliance of Legal Aid Society's of America, though his date of election is unclear.

The Benefit Events file consists of letters concerning the concerts and performances sponsored by the Legal Aid Society in order to raise money. The Cases file is arranged chronologically. The Financial Files consist of correspondence between the Treasurer (Windmüller) and Arthur von Briesen, financial reports and the fund raising activities of von Briesen. The Printed Material files contain both articles and press releases written by von Briesen and others.

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Only four major cases comprise the legal files of von Briesen and Schrenk and one (Cumaná & Carúpano Pier and Tramway Co.) was handled by von Briesen's son after von Briesen's death. All are patent cases.

The Cumaná & Carúpano Pier and Tramway Company files consist of correspondence between the company and other sources (such as their clients and shareholders). Von Briesen's law firm, Briesen & Knauth (later Briesen & Schrenk) served as counsel to the Cumaná & Carúpano Pier & Tramway Co. which operated lighthouses, piers, and power plants in Venezuela. Most of the correspondence was handled by Otto van Schrenk who also served as a director and officer of the company. Von Briesen seems to have no direct relation to the company; the records continue long after his death, and there is no clear reason for these records to have been in von Briesen's papers. Records relate to income, stock, finances, tax status of the company. Among the items present are annual reports, financial audits, and general correspondence.

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This series is arranged topically by subject, and then chronologically. It contains information on von Briesen's many areas of work and interest, including his efforts to shape legislation, his activities within the German-American community, and his World War I reflections and opinions.

The nature of the legislative interests (federal and state) are various and span a number of years which indicates his devotion and general interest in political affairs and the welfare of America's citizens. Issues include immigration policies, loan shark bills, and domestic patent statutes.

The nature of the international patent and trade issues are just that -- the major issues are the Panama trade zone, Cuban patent rights and patent and trade freedom with Germany and the rest of Europe.

The Carl Holland files detail the dire straits in which post-war Germany found itself. Carl Holland came to the United States trying to develop business transactions to help Germany out of starvation and disaster. Von Briesen corresponded with Holland before the latter came to the United States, and besides trying to establish contacts for Holland, he discussed at length the situation in Germany and that country's relations with other European states and the United States. The coal issue (a central issue due to Germany's loss of Alsace Lorraine) as well as the desperate situation with transportation are discussed in detail.

There are a series of clippings which have to do with the performance of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar on 28 March 1916. Apparently the performance was organized through the German Theater (Deutsches Theater) and von Briesen was its spokesperson. In one of the clippings, he is quoted at length in the Volkszeitung for expressing his feelings towards "Deutschtum" and the hope that the world could continue to be brought together, regardless of nationality, through art and science. The efforts of the German Theater underscore this idea.

The War Issues file contains information on diverse issues and all are intensely debated by von Briesen. Issues discussed include: discrimination against German-Americans in America and particularly New York City; the morality of the Red Cross; von Briesen's response to anti-German propaganda; the legal implications of European treaty obligations; von Briesen's insistence on American neutrality. Newspaper clippings document these issues as well.

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This series consists of an alphabetical arrangement of all the organizations and committees in which von Briesen participated and/or served. The natures of these organizations are varied, ranging from the political and philanthropic to the cultural and ethnic.

The more significant files in this series are the following:

Germanistic Society of America of which Arthur von Briesen was a charter member, Vice President and Directing Attorney. This organization was established through Columbia University in 1907.

National Roosevelt League of New York which von Briesen, and his good friend Carl Schurz led. Von Briesen served on the National Board of Directors and as president. This series contains many of the organization's files and papers, along with its printed materials, written mostly by von Briesen, Schurz and George Viereck. The materials in this file is extensive and valuable for the history of the Roosevelt campaign of 1904. Most of the materials and efforts of the National Roosevelt League were directed to the German-Americans of New York.

The Merchants' Association of New York; in which von Briesen served as Chairman of both the Patent Committee and the Committee on the Protection of Industrial Property. He wrote a number of articles on wartime trade and patent issues. Other issues were the British mail censor and the complete ban on correspondence across enemy lines. The correspondence and papers in this file are extensive and informative.

East Prussian Relief Fund was an organization which interested and engaged von Briesen during the years of the First World War.

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The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent's last name. This series gives a broader understanding of von Briesen and his family, providing information as to particular members' location and activities.

Von Briesen's correspondence with his cousin Ernst Schenk (Schenk was the last name of many of von Briesen's family in Germany) particularly illuminates this point. Much of the correspondence is fact-filled in nature, caused in no small part by the English censors who made for irregular correspondence between the United States and Germany. Ernst's handwriting is difficult to understand, but its pattern, consistency, and near modern fraktur allow for relatively easy deciphering. The letters also reveal von Briesen's reverence and love for his family and mother-country. The letters on the whole tell about the war from both sides as Schenk's letters provide first-hand accounts of post-war Germany's disarray and severe food shortages (which von Briesen alleviated with food shipments) while von Briesen details the English censor and the stature of German-American citizens as "enemies" (or, at best "second-class-citizens").

In an unrelated but humorous matter, in a letter to Stanwood Menken concerning the choice of college for the grandson, von Briesen vehemently chooses Harvard over Princeton. In a letter dated April 10, 1920, there are three pages about why one should NOT go to Princeton.

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This series contains 23 pamphlets, broadsides, and magazines, some in German, which discuss immigration, World War I, post-war Germany, and legal issues.

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