Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Richmond (Va.) Reel 991.

Preferred Citation

Manchester (Va.) Journals of the City Assembly, 1901-1910. Richmond (Va.) Reel 991, Local government records collection, Richmond (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These original volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from the City of Richmond.

Reel 991 was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.

Historical Information

Manchester was established as a town by the General Assembly in November 1769. According to this act, "the honorable William Byrd hath lately laid out a parcel of his lands at Rocky Ridge, at the falls of the James River, in the county of Chesterfield, in lots and streets for a town." Directors and trustees were appointed and the town was named Manchester. The town was incorporated on February 27, 1834. On March 20, 1874, a city charter was approved by the General Assembly and the city was divided into 4 wards. Three members from each ward served on the City Council, the main governing body of the city along with the mayor. On April 15, 1910, the city of Manchester was officially annexed to the City of Richmond with the provisos that a free bridge would be constructed to connect Manchester with Richmond and that Manchester would retain a courthouse. Today the area is also known as South Richmond. The town of Manchester was named probably for Manchester Parish in Chesterfield County. The parish in turn was named either for George Montague, fourth duke of Manchester, or for the town of Manchester, England.

Scope and Content

Manchester (Va.) Journals of the City Assembly, 1901-1910, cover the administrative functions of one of the city's two governing bodies. The City Assembly, part of the City of Manchester's City Council, was formed on February 15, 1901 by Virginia's General Assembly. According to the Acts of the Assembly (p. 241), "the administration and government of the city shall be vested in one principal officer, to be styled the mayor; the City Council to be composed of the Board of Alderman, consisting of two members from each ward, and the City Assembly, consisting of three members from each ward." Furthermore, "each board composing the city council shall have one regular meeting during each month and as many special or called meetings as the interests of the city shall require. A majority of the members elected to each board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No ordinances or resolutions shall become a law of the city until adopted by a majority of each board present and voting." The first volume, 1901-1909, deals with city ordinances, reports of various committees and minutes from monthly meetings. This volume has an internal index (A-W) organized alphabetically by subject according to the order in which it appears in the volume. The second volume is 36 pages and covers only the year 1910 up until the City of Manchester's annexation with the City of Richmond. This volume deals with budgets, reports and resolutions. It also has an internal index arranged in a similar manner to the first volume.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Related Material

Additional Richmond City Government Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm" .

A wonderful history of Manchester "Old Manchester and Its Environs, 1769-1910" was published in 1993 by noted local historian, Benjamin B. Weisiger III.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Richmond (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• City councils--Virginia--Manchester.
• Committees--Virginia--Manchester.
• Public records--Virginia--Manchester.

Geographical Names:

• Manchester (Va.)--History--20th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Budgets--Virginia--Manchester.
• Building permits--Virginia--Manchester.
• Journals (accounts)--Virginia--Manchester.
• Local government records--Virginia--Manchester.
• Minutes--Virginia--Manchester.
• Ordinances--Virginia--Manchester.
• Reports--Virginia--Manchester.
• Resolutions (administrative records)--Virginia--Manchester.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Manchester (Va.) City Council.
• Manchester (Va.) Mayor's Court.

Adjunct Descriptive Data