A Guide to the Correspondence and Subject Files of the Virginia Secretary of Transportation, 1977-1985 Transportation, Virginia Secretary of, Correspondence and Subject Files 32591

A Guide to the Correspondence and Subject Files of the Virginia Secretary of Transportation, 1977-1985

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 32591


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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/

© 2012 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Erin Faison

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
32591
Title
Correspondence and Subject Files of the Virginia Secretary of Transportation, 1977-1985
Extent
19 cu. ft.
Creator
Virginia. Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Correspondence and Subject Files of the Virginia Secretary of Transportation, 1977-1985. Accession 32591, State Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

This collection was transferred by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, 19 December 1985.

Custodial History

This collection was transferred by the Secretary of Transportation and Public Saftey, but the contents were collected durring a transition period and encompass both Secretary of Transoprtation and Secretary of Transporation and Public Safety Records. The collection has been filed under the Secretary of Transportation since the bulk of materials are relative to transportation.

Processing Information

This collection has been processed using minimal processing standards: the originial arrangement has been maintained, the container list is brief and simple, and the records have not been refoldered and fastners have not been removed.

Material found loose in boxes was foldered and given a title determined by the archivist. In cases where folder titles were inaccurate, the titles have been corrected to more adequately describe material.

Biographical Information

The Secretary of Transportation is a member of the Governor's Cabinet, they are selected by the governor, and subject to the approval of the General Assembly. The Secretary is responsible to the governor for the Department of Transportation, Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Department of Aviation, Department of Motor Vehicles, Virginia Port Authority and the Motor Vehicle Dealers Board. Their responsibilities include developing and implementing Virginia's transportation programs, including policies, financial oversight for six agencies and major projects.

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety was responsible for the following departments: Dept. of Transportation, Dept. of Aviation, Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Dept. of Emergency Services, Dept. of Fire Programs, Dept. of Military Affairs, Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Dept. of Correctional Education, Dept. of Corrections, Dept. of Youth Services, Dept. of Criminal Justice Services, Dept. of State Police and the Virginia Parole Board.

In 1972, Governor Linwood Holton proposed to the General Assembly a restructuring of state agencies into six major departments each headed by a secretary to be appointed by the governor. On April 8, 1972 the Department of Transportation and Public Safety was created, by an act passed by the General Assembly. The Office has undergone a series of administrative reorganizations since its creation. On April 12, 1976, the Legislature established separate secretariats for transportation and for public safety, effective July 1, 1976. From July 1, 1984- 1990 the two entities would again be combined under one secretariat. On February 22, 1990 the two were again separated, and have remained so.

The individuals who served as Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety were: Wayne A. Whitham (1976-1978), George M. Walters (1978-1982), Andrew B. Forgarty (1982-1984), John G. Milliken (1990-1993), Robert Martinez (1994-1998), Shirley Ybarra (1998-2002), Whittington W. Clement (2002-2005), Pierce R. Homer (2005-2010), Sean T. Connaughton (2010-1012).

The individuals who served as Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety were: Wayne A. Whitham (1972-1976), Franklin E. White (1984-1985), Andrew B. Fogarty (1985-1986) and Vivian E. Watts (1986-1990).

The first Secretary of Transportation (and Public Safety) was, Wayne A. Whitham, a member of the Winchester City Council. Whitham was reappointed by Governor-elect Miles E. Godwin, Jr., in December 1973 and by Governor-elect John N. Dalton in December 1977. Whitham suffered a heart attack in August 1978 and resigned in December 1978. On June 7, 1984, Whitham died in Richmond, Virginia.

George M. Walters, a former top executive of the Reynolds Metals Corporation, to succeed Whitham as Secretary of Transportation. Walters served until the end of Dalton's term in January 1982. Governor-elect Charles S. Robb, the first Democrat to be elected governor since 1965, did not retain any of Dalton's cabinet secretaries. Robb appointed Andrew B. Fogarty, Dalton's assistant secretary for financial policy, as Secretary of Transportation.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of files relating to Virginia's highways, roads, ports, rail lines, and airports. Correspondents include the Governor's Office, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Corrections and Office of Emergency Services. There is also correspondence with U.S. Representative Frank R. Wolf (R - 10th District) conserning a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and a stop as far south as Springfield, Virginia.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files

Contents List

Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files , 1977-1985 .
Boxes 1-19
Extent: 19 cu. ft. (19 boxes).

This collection maintains the agency's original filing order, the first ten boxes are arranged alphabetically (generally) and the following nine are arranged by corresondant.

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