Communications Office Records of Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder, 1989/1994

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

Background

Scope and content:

Communications Office records, 1989-1994, are housed in 112 boxes and are arranged by series. These records document the activities of the Communications Office during the administration of Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder and include director's correspondence and subject files, Governor's public schedule, media advisories / press releases, newspaper clippings / news summaries, publications featuring Governor Wilder, and trade mission briefing binders.

Biographical / historical:

Lawrence Douglas Wilder was born in Richmond, Va., on January 17, 1931. He graduated from Virginia Union University in 1951 and afterwards was drafted into the Army, where he served in the Korean War from 1952-1953 and received a bronze star. He then attended the Howard University School of Law and graduated in 1959. Douglas Wilder was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1969 as the first African American member since Reconstruction and served in the Senate for five terms. In 1985, he was elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor as the first African American to be elected to statewide office in Virginia. L. Douglas Wilder won the election for Governor of Virginia in 1989 and served from January 13, 1990 to January 14, 1994. He was the first African American to be elected as Governor in United States.

The Office of Communications was responsible for all media relations and announcements. Duties included drafting press releases, responding to press inquiries, compiling daily news summaries, preparing certificates of recognition, releasing the Governor's public schedule, writing speeches, compiling briefings for press conferences and interviews, and working with the National Governors Association. In December 1989, Governor L. Douglas Wilder selected Laura Dillard to serve as Director of Communications. Dillard had formerly served as Governor Wilder's campaign press secretary. She resigned in August 1991, along with her Deputy Dirctor of Communications, Michelle Prosser. After her departure, Glenn Davidson was named Director of Communications. Davidson had previously served as the the Director of the Virginia Liaison Office.

Acquisition information:

Accession 35539 was transferred by Lawrence Douglas Wilder, October 31, 1996.

Accession 35581 was transferred by Lawrence Douglas Wilder, October 21, 1997.

Accession 35586 was transferred by Lawrence Douglas Wilder, November 5, 1997

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Director's Correspondence and Subject Files, 1990-1994;
  • Series II. Media Advisories, 1989-1994;
  • Series III. Governor's Public Schedule, 1990-1993;
  • Series IV. Media Packets, 1991-1992;
  • Series V. Trade Mission Briefing Binders, 1991;
  • Series VI. Newspaper articles about Governor Wilder, 1990-1993;
  • Series VII. Publications featuring Governor Wilder, 1990-1993;
  • Series VIII. Newspaper clippings by Subject, 1989-1991;
  • Series IX. News Summaries, 1990-1994;
Physical description:
39.2 cu. ft. (112 boxes)