Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Privacy protected and confidential information is restricted from public access for 75 years (Code of Virginia 42.1-78). Financial records: 2.2-3705.1(9); 2.2-3801(2) and personal information - social security numbers (2.2-3801).] It will be necessary for an archivist to review and remove or redact confidential records or information before the records can be used by patrons for research purposes or before any copies can be made. If you are planning to use these records, please contact Archives Reference Services for more details prior to planning your research trip.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Bill of Rights Tour, 1990-1993. [Accession #], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

This collection was transferred by the Library of Virginia in several different accessions in 1995, 1997, and 2004.

Biographical Information

In 1990, Virginia's original, hand scribed copy of the Bill of Rights toured the United States as part of a traveling exhibit to celebrate its 200th anniversary. There are only 14 official copies of the Bill of Rights, one for the federal government and one for each of the original 13 colonies. The exhibit was sponsored by the Phillip Morris Company who collaborated with the Library of Virginia (then the Virginia State Library and Archives) who loaned the Bill of Rights. The tour started in Barre, VT on October 10, 1990 and concluded in Richmond, VA on December 11-15, 1991. The "Grand Finale" included a parade and a ball held at the Jefferson Hotel.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of multiple accessions from the Library of Virginia Office of the State Librarian and Office of the State Archivist relating to the Bill of Rights Tour including: 41491, 35415, 35546, and 34930.

Accession 41491 documents the planning and execution of the tour, as well as the "Grand Finale" of the tour and potential exhibits after the tours conclusion. The records include agreements and memorandums of understanding, insurance policies, conservation evaluations and materials, travel reimbursements and documentation, timetables, promotional materials, memos, correspondence, photographs, and other related materials.

Accession 35415 documents the Bill of Rights tour including the planning of the grand finale reception in Richmond, VA in December 1991. It contains correspondence, notes, newsletters, clippings, pamphlets, photographs, and press releases.

Accession 35546 documents the logistics each stop on the tour. The records include exhibit files, floor plans, employee lists, security files, insurance contracts, leases, reimbursement checks, promotional materials, as well as correspondence and other related materials. It also includes architectural drawings for the exhibition set up, as well as posters for the exhibit.

Accession 34930 documents the planning of the tour as well as potential exhibits after its conclusion. The records include correspondence and notes, tour update newsletters, photographs, newspaper clippings, plans for a Boy Scout patch, as well as a video of the first stop on the tour and the Philadelphia Bicentennial exhibition.

Arrangement

The collections are arranged chronologically.