Raphael P. Thian worked in the United States Adjutant General's Office as a clerk from 1861 to 1911. After the Civil War Thian devoted 12 years to researching and documenting the paper records of the Confederate Treasury which were held in the "Rebel Archives" stored in Washington DC. Thian felt that it was of great historical importance to document the Finances of the Confederacy because 'the history of the purse is as important as that of the sword'. It was a monumental undertaking, for which he never received the support or recognition he deserved.

The core of Thian's labor was his 190-page 'Register of the Confederate Debt', which he first published in 1880. This book provided information on all Confederate Government Treasury Notes and Securities. Thian patiently documented every Issue of Treasury Notes, the denominations, the issue dates, the quantities, and the names of the clerks who signed them on behalf of the Register and the Treasurer.

Thian's book was reprinted in 1972, in its original form. It is not an easy document to navigate, but is undoubtedly 'the bible' for collectors of Confederate currency.