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1879

Text

Congress enables the creation of the of the position "Fraud Roll Employee" in the Treasury Department's DIVISION OF SPECIAL AGENTS. Employees of the fraud roll were to detect and prevent fraud of the customs revenue; their credentials classify them as SPECIAL EMPLOYEES OF THE TREASURY. Early documentation and emblems show they were often titled CUSTOMS AGENTS and SPECIAL AGENTS.

Dates
Media Image
Left: Oliver L. Spalding; Right: Earliest known styling for Customs agent badge - circa 1888.
Caption Text
Left: Oliver L. Spalding Special Agent - Detroit in 1885 Customs Agent - Baltimore in 1915; Right: Earliest known styling for Customs agent badge - circa 1888.
Last Modified: Oct 21, 2015