Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Use the microfilm (Misc. reels 2981-2998) instead of the original journals.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Council of State. Records, 1776-1861. Accession 35356, 50864, 50867. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

Transferred prior to 1905 [Acc. 35356, 50864, 50867].

Alternative Form Available

Restricted access: use microfilm [Miscellaneous Reels 2981-2998] for the Journals. The letterbooks and minutes have not been microfilmed.

Biographical Information

The Council of State was established by the constitution adopted on June 29, 1776, to assist the governor in the administration of the government. It had its origin in the earlier Council of colonial Virginia, but was a more powerful check on the authority of the governor. The council members were elected by the General Assembly rather than appointed by the governor as had been the case with the colonial Council. By the middle of the nineteenth century, however, the need for a stronger chief executive had become evident. The new constitution adopted in 1851 made no provision for an advisory council, and on January 15, 1852, the Council of state adjourned for the last time.

Scope and Content

Records, 1776-1852, 1861, including journals, letter books, and minute books of the Virginia Council of State. The records document the daily work of the Council and their advice to the governor. Topics include: warrants issued for the delivery and payment of munitions, issuance of land grants, appointment of inspectors, appointment of sheriffs and justices of the peace for county courts, summoning the General Assembly into session, issuing proclamations on many subjects from high matters of state to more routine subjects, proclaiming the death of the sovereign or declarations of war, issuing commissions for holding courts of vice-admiralty for trying persons accused of piracy or to settle civil cases that arose on the high seas, holding local courts of oyer and terminer for trying enslaved persons accused of crimes, and offering rewards for the capture of suspected criminals. [Virginia Humanities Encyclopedia Virginia- The Governor's Council]

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series: