Correspondence and Subject Files of the Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1960-1994, 2004-2006

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services [cite specific date and accession used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Summary

Creator:
LVA
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services [cite specific date and accession used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

Correspondence and subject files of the Commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services document the planning, direction, and implementation of agency programs and are evidence of actions and policy decisions. These records include correspondence, subject files, board and committee meeting records, minutes, memoranda, news clippings, newsletters, and reports.

Biographical / historical:

On March 29, 1877, the General Assembly passed an act creating the Department of Agriculture, Mining, and Manufacturing to compile a geological handbook, analyze soils and fertilizers, dispense information to agriculturists in the state, and distribute seeds provided by the federal government. The Board of Agriculture was established by the General Assembly on March 5, 1888, to manage the department. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Immigration by an act passed on February 25, 1908, and the agency was given the additional mission of promoting the immigration of farmers into the state. On March 27, 1914, the General Assembly made the commissioner of the department a member of the Convict Lime Grinding Board. This board, which supervised the employment of state penitentiary convicts at state lime grinding plants, was abolished by the state government reorganization act passed by the General Assembly on April 18, 1927, and its duties were transferred to the Board of Agriculture and Immigration.

A major shift in focus occurred when, in a statewide referendum held on November 1, 1966, the voters approved a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the General Assembly on March 11 that changed the name of the department to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The governor issued a proclamation of the name change on November 30, 1966, and on March 4, 1971, the General Assembly passed an act codifying the change. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by an act passed by the General Assembly on March 24, 1978.

The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees the department, consists of eleven members, one from each congressional district. Seven of the members must be farmers. The members are appointed by the governor for four-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. The presidents of Virginia State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are ex-officio members of the board. The board is responsible for policy formulation on matters of agricultural and consumer concern.

Acquisition information:

Accession 36853, transferred on 29 September 1999.

Accession 37349, transferred on 26 May 2000.

Accession 43628, transferred on 18 February 2008.

Accession 44118, transferred on 4 February 2009.

Accession 44828, transferred on 24 February 2010.

Processing information:

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

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files

This accession is arranged in no discernable order, though there are several alphabetical sequences throughout.

This accession is arranged in no discernable order, though there are several alphabetical sequences throughout.

This accession is arranged in no discernable order.

This accession is arranged in no discernable order.

This accession is arranged in no discernable order.

Physical description:
216 cu. ft. (216 boxes)