Series A consists of RFB's general correspondence and subject files from his nine consecutive terms of office in the House of Representatives.

As the inventory clearly shows, RFB's correspondence increased dramatically in the course of these 18 years. One and a half boxes contain general correspondence files from 1895 to 1906. It takes three boxes to hold 1910's correspondence. By 1914, correspondence files are divided into monthly sections which require approximately two boxes each.

The earliest documents in this series concern mostly local and state political matters directly or indirectly related to RFB's political career. There is some Spanish American War material, most notably the exchange of letters between RFB and Louisiana Governor Murphy J. Foster on the subject of RFB's offered resignation. There are petitions from Louisiana volunteers who seek discharge.

Later documents include many routine constituent requests (See "agricultural requests" in subject files), patronage matters (See particularly "post office" in subject files), and also political material.

Robert carried some of his personal correspondence from his House years into his Senate files. See Series B, subject files, "personal" for some correspondence dated 1906. RFB's household changed location from Washington to New Iberia during congressional recesses and Robert's bouts with recurring illnesses, often creating disruptions in correspondence. November 1914 and January 1915 are two periods in Series A with an unnaturally small amount of correspondence, probably caused by misplaced files during these travels. All of Series A is available on microfilm.