Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is restricted for 75 years (2085) due to privacy protected information. COV 2.2-3706; 16.1-305; 2.2-3801; 42.1-78

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2001-2013. Accession 51134, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Virginia Secretary of Administration on January 23, 2014.

Historical Information

Robert F. McDonnell was elected 71st governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in November 2009 and inaugurated on 16 January 2010. He served until 11 January 2014. Janet Vestal Kelly (formerly Janet Polarek until 2012) served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth throughout McDonnell's tenure. She had previously served as the Chief Operations Officer during his gubernatorial campaign and as a staff member while McDonnell served as Attorney General.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth has evolved from early colonial times when there existed a Secretary of the Colony. The Office became a gubernatorial appointment subsequent to a 1958 Act of the Assembly. The Secretary of the previous hit Commonwealth next hit is under the jurisdiction of the Governor's Office. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor for a term of four years. Currently the Secretary of the Commonwealth is responsible for gubernatorial appointments, clemency and restoration of civil rights requests and extraditions. Other responsibilities include authenticating and certifying the records of the courts and of any state agency.

Scope and Content

This collection consists primarily of correspondence from petitioners requesting either a pardon, clemency, or the restoration of rights. It also includes supporting documentation from petitioners, as well as correspondence between agencies and the Parole Board.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into two series: