Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

U.S. Board of Geographic Names files of the State Archivist, Library of Virginia, [please note specific dates and accessions used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Accession 32688 was transferred by the Office of the State Archivist, March 24, 1986.

Accession 33120 was transferred by the Office of the State Archivist, Feb, 1988.

Accession 44570 was transferred by the Office of the State Archivist, Oct 29, 2009.

Accession 33120 was transferred by the Office of the State Archivist, Apr 26, 2011.

Processing Information

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

Historical Information

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names is a Federal body created in 1890 and established in its present form by Public Law in 1947 to maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government. The Board promulgates official geographic names with locative attributes, as well a principles, policies, and procedures governing the use of domestic names, foreign names, Antarctic names, and undersea feature names.

The original program of names standardization addressed the complex issues of domestic geographic feature names during the surge of exploration, mining, and settlement of western territories after the American Civil War. Inconsistencies and contradictions among many names, spellings, and applications became a serious problem to surveyors, map makers, and scientists who required uniform, non-conflicting geographic nomenclature. President Benjamin Harrison signed an Executive Order establishing the Board and giving it authority to resolve unsettled geographic names questions. Decisions of the Board were accepted as binding by all departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

The Board serves the Federal Government and the public as a central authority to which name problems, name inquiries, name changes, and new name proposals can be directed. In partnership with Federal, State, and local agencies, the Board provides a conduit through which uniform geographic name usage is applied and current names data is promulgated.

The Domestic Names Committee of the U.S. Board of Geographic Names is responsible for standardizing names of places, features, and areas within the United States and its dependent areas. The Domestic Names Committee consists of members and deputies representing the Dept. of the Interior, Dept. of Commerce, Dept. Agriculture, Dept. Defense, and the Dept. of Homeland Security, as well as the United States Postal Service, Government Publishing Office, and the Library of Congress.

The Virginia State Library adopted the name, the Virginia State Library and Archives, in early 1987 to more adequately reflect its mission and purpose today. In July 1, 1994 the name was changed to The Library of Virginia.

Scope and Content

U.S. Board of Geographic Names files of the State Archivist include copies of minutes of the Domestic Names Committee, as well as some correspondence and other documentation related to Virginia place names. Each accession contains files created and maintained by the State Archivist documenting his involvement with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in original order.