A Guide to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth executive papers, 1866-1878 Commonwealth, Virginia Secretary of, Executive papers 21569

A Guide to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth executive papers, 1866-1878

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 21569


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Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

© 2011 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Jessie R. Graham

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
21569
Title
Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth executive papers, 1866-1878
Extent
7.2 cubic feet (16 boxes)
Creator
Virginia. 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 executive papers, 1866-1878. Accession 21569, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred by the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, 18 May 1939.

Historical Information

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth has evolved from early colonial times when there existed a Secretary of the Colony. 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 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.

Scope and Content

Contains a variety of material mostly sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth from citizens and other government entities. The records include applications for government employment and service, correspondence related to job inquiries, Eastern Lunatic Asylum, and the disaster at the capitol building in 1870, loyalty oaths for state and local officials, opinions of the Attorney General, petitions for pardons, receipts, recommendations for jobs, reports of the State Penitentiary, and formal resignations. The bulk of the records are applications for government positions such as those for inspectors, public guard members, notaries, magistrates, commissioners, and board members.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of record.

Contents List

Series I. Executive papers , 1866-1878 .
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