Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Replevined Collection of Stolen Local Government Records,1788-1922 [include item information] Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA.

Acquisition Information

These records were transferred by the Office of the State Archivist, Library of Virginia under accession 41209.

Custodial History

This collection of local government records came to the Office of the State Archivist as a result of the legal case, Commonwealth v. Larry Ivan Vass for the theft of documents from the Virginia State Library and Archives between 1969 and 1972.

Processing Information

Executive Papers and other state records removed by Larry Vass have been refiled with their original collections.

Local government records are arrangement and efforts has been made to identify and indicate associate cases; however, the extent of the records has made it difficult to fully incorporate the records with their original records. The goal is to one refile all records with their associated records.

These records were previously divided into 62 records, a record for each locality. In 2025 it was determined that describing the records together allowed for better contextual information and allowed for better internal intellectual control.

Encoded by M. Mason, August 2025

Historical Information

Replevin is a legal remedy through which property is returned after being unlawfully obtained in some manner. Under the Virginia Public Records Act, public records never cease being public records until they are destroyed. Because of this, the Library of Virginia has initiated or facilitated several cases of replevin throughout the years. Larry I. Vass v. Commonwealth of Virginia is one such case.

Larry Vass stole documents from the Virginia State Library and Archives between 1969 and 1972. The Henrico County Circuit Court found Vass guilty in 1973 and the ruling was upheld by the Virginia Supreme Court in 1974.

Scope and Content

Replevined Collection of Stolen Local Government Records, 1788-1922, consists of local government records stolen from the State Library and Archives between 1969-1972. The records are from various localities across the Commonwealth and largely related to chancery causes including bills, answers, decrees,order,notices, and subpoenas. The records also include letters, wills, deeds, land grants, and other court documents.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged

Related Material

See also: The Library of Virginia Replevin Files, 1908-1993 - Series VII: Larry Vass v. Virginia 1911-1913, 1967-1973

Adjunct Descriptive Data