Series I: Subject files, 1919-1929 [bulk 1922-1926].

Containers:

Box Boxes 1-78

Extent:

Extent: 27.3 cu. ft. (78 boxes).

Scope and content:

The Subject files series, 1919-1929 (bulk 1922-1926) is housed in seventy-eight archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series documents correspondence received and sent by Governor Trinkle during his four-year term as governor of Virginia. In addition to correspondence, there are reports, proclamations, telegrams, orders, resolutions, acts, publications, news clippings, invitations, proceedings, financial statements, invoices, and other sundry items. Topics include Agriculture, Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association, Budget appropriations, State Board of Censors, Coal conferences and contracts, Confederate reunions, Deaf and Blind school in Staunton, Education, Gasoline tax, General Assembly sessions, Highways, State Hospitals, Illiteracy Conferences, Judgeships, Monticello Association, Mount Vernon Board of Visitors, National Guard, National Prison Conference, expansion of the Virginia State Office Building, Penitentiary, Southern Exposition, State Board of Education, State Corporation Commission, Virginia Industrial schools, Virginia Military Institute, War Memorial Commission, and Yorktown General Committee, among others.

Included are lists of censored film as well as censorship rules and regulations; coal and railroad strikes; information on the trial of Robert and Larkin Garrett charged with murdering Baptist preacher E.S. Pierce; redecorating of the Governor's Mansion; racial issues at Hampton Institute; request to President Harding for Virginia Highway Department to purchase the U.S. South Richmond Air Depot; and correspondence from Penitentiary inmates including a copy of "The Beacon," an inmate newspaper, and a Special Furniture Bulletin displaying furniture made by inmates. Also included are various proclamations made by the Governor for Armistice day, Mothers day, Thanksgiving, American Education Week, Fire Prevention Week, and Arbor Day, among others. Included are programs from various events the Governor attended; staff appointments and applications for jobs at the Governor's office; and numerous invitations to events.

Included is information on the carving at Stone Mountain, Georgia, including suggestions as to what Confederate generals to put on the monument, brochures, fund raising, Gutzon Borglum's removal, and Trinkle's address at the memorial. Included are State Institutions Special Reports, which contain a variety of information, from the number of veterans at the R.E. Lee Camp Soldiers Home, to the number of students at the Virginia Industrial School for Colored Girls, and information on fisheries and the oyster beds in Virginia. The Rewards folders includes information regarding threats by the KKK and a kidnapping case. Also included are appointments to various boards such as the Censorship Board, State Board of Dairy and Food Commissioners, Commissioner of Fisheries, Forest warden, Highway Commissioners, Industrial Commission, Judges, Labor Commissioner, National Rivers and Harbor Congress, Notaries Public, State Board of Optometry, State Geologist, Superintendents of Public Schools, State Veterinarian, Virginia War History Commission, and West Point appointments.

Of note, are the papers relating to Highways and the United States Good Road Association. Trinkle wanted to reorganize and fund the state highway system through issuing bonds. Trinkle's bond plan was obstructed by Harry Byrd and other Democratic leaders who preferred raising taxes on gasoline to fund the project. A special session of the General Assembly was called in February 1923 and the competing plans were debated, with the gas tax plan winning out in the end and effectively ended Trinkle's political career.

This series was maintained in its original order and is not completely chronological. At some point the pins holding together the incoming and outgoing letters were removed and the archivist did not rearrange the folder items for fear of loosing the relationships between the incoming and outgoing letters.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Access and use

Contents