Exploring the clientele of an accounting firm in early twentieth century America

An examination of Haskins and Sells' engagement letters for the period from 1901 to 1903 exposes the history of one of the oldest national accounting firms with American-born partners. The early twentieth century engagement letters of Haskins and Sells (now Deloitte) provide evidence of the demand for accounting services, the types of clients serviced, the types of services provided, and the need for audited (certified) work during this era. The engagement letters also provide evidence of the developing jurisdiction of professional accountants and the shift in the primary audit objective from fraud detection to an assurance of the quality of reported financial condition and earnings.