A Guide to the Correspondence and Subject Files of the Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1960-1994, 2004-2006 36853, 37349, 43628, 44118, 44828

A Guide to the Correspondence and Subject Files of the Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1960-1994, 2004-2006

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 36853, 37349, 43628, 44118, 44828


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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/

2016 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Staff

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
36853, 37349, 43628, 44118, 44828
Title
Correspondence and Subject Files of the Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1960-1994, 2004-2006
Extent
216 cu. ft. (216 boxes)
Creator
LVA
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services [cite specific date and accession used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Acquisition Information

Accession 36853, transferred on 29 September 1999.

Accession 37349, transferred on 26 May 2000.

Accession 43628, transferred on 18 February 2008.

Accession 44118, transferred on 4 February 2009.

Accession 44828, transferred on 24 February 2010.

Processing Information

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

Historical Information

On March 29, 1877, the General Assembly passed an act creating the Department of Agriculture, Mining, and Manufacturing to compile a geological handbook, analyze soils and fertilizers, dispense information to agriculturists in the state, and distribute seeds provided by the federal government. The Board of Agriculture was established by the General Assembly on March 5, 1888, to manage the department. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Immigration by an act passed on February 25, 1908, and the agency was given the additional mission of promoting the immigration of farmers into the state. On March 27, 1914, the General Assembly made the commissioner of the department a member of the Convict Lime Grinding Board. This board, which supervised the employment of state penitentiary convicts at state lime grinding plants, was abolished by the state government reorganization act passed by the General Assembly on April 18, 1927, and its duties were transferred to the Board of Agriculture and Immigration.

A major shift in focus occurred when, in a statewide referendum held on November 1, 1966, the voters approved a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the General Assembly on March 11 that changed the name of the department to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The governor issued a proclamation of the name change on November 30, 1966, and on March 4, 1971, the General Assembly passed an act codifying the change. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by an act passed by the General Assembly on March 24, 1978.

The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees the department, consists of eleven members, one from each congressional district. Seven of the members must be farmers. The members are appointed by the governor for four-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. The presidents of Virginia State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are ex-officio members of the board. The board is responsible for policy formulation on matters of agricultural and consumer concern.

Scope and Content

Correspondence and subject files of the Commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services document the planning, direction, and implementation of agency programs and are evidence of actions and policy decisions. These records include correspondence, subject files, board and committee meeting records, minutes, memoranda, news clippings, newsletters, and reports.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files

Contents List

Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files , 1984-1994, 2006 .
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