A Guide to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth correspondence, 1891-1911 Commonwealth, Virginia Secretary of the, Correspondence 38174

A Guide to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth correspondence, 1891-1911

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 38174


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Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
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Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
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© 2010 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Jessie R. Graham

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
38174
Title
Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth correspondence, 1891-1911
Extent
12.35 cu. ft. (13 boxes)
Creator
Virginia. Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth correspondence, 1891-1911. Accession 38174, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Acquisition Information

Transfer information is unavailable. Accessioned 6 June 2001.

Historical Information

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth evolved from the position of the Secretary of the Colony during colonial times. Thomas Nelson held the position of the first Secretary of Virginia in 1776. Early Secretaries were elected by the public. An Act of the General Assembly in 1920 changed the election to a joint vote of the General Assembly. In a 1930 act of the General Assembly, the duties of the Secretary were redefined with the Secretary of the Commonwealth serving as the ex officio secretary of the Governor, as custodian of many official State records, and as keeper of the Greater and Lesser Seals of the Commonwealth. The office of the Secretary has gradually acquired other functions, such as: service of out-of-state civil process; appointment and regulation of notaries public; and registration and oversight of lobbyists. The Office became a gubernational appointment subsequent to a 1958 Act of the Assembly. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is under the jurisdiction of the Governor's Office and is appointed by the Governor for a term of four years.

Scope and Content

Contains incoming and outgoing correspondence of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth during the tenure of Secretaries J.T. Lawless and D.Q. Eggleston. Also included are letters to and from the clerk of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, J.G. Hankins.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I. Secretary's Correspondence, 1894-1909 Series II. Clerk's Correspondence, 1891-1911

Contents List

Series I. Secretary's Correspondence , 1894-1909 .
Extent: 10.15 cu. ft.

Contains the official correspondence of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. This series is divided into two subseries: General Correspondence and Subject Correspondence.

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Series II. Clerk's Correspondence , 1891-1911 .
Extent: 2.2 cu. ft.

Contains the official and personal correspondence of the clerk to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, J.G. Hankins. Mr. Hankins served as clerk or in some capacity in the office of the secretary under Secretaries of the Commonwealth H.W. Flournoy, J.T. Lawless, and D.Q Eggleston. This series is divided into two subseries: General Correspondence and Subject Correspondence.

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