A Guide to the Executive Letter Books of the Virginia Office of the Governor, 1780-1906

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 access restrictions.

Terms of access:

Use microfilm (Miscellaneous Reels 2999-3015, 6191-6200).

Preferred citation:

Executive Letter Books of the Virginia Office of the Governor, [cite specific date, Governor and accession used]. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
50 volumes; 2.1 cu. ft. (6 boxes)
Creator:
Virginia. Office of the Governor
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Executive Letter Books of the Virginia Office of the Governor, [cite specific date, Governor and accession used]. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Executive letter books, 1780-1906, are comprised of copies of outgoing letters of Virginia Governors. Most volumes include an index of correspondents.

Includes letter books for 1780-1864, 1874-1881, 1890-1893, and 1902-1906, and for the following governors: Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, David Jameson, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Randolph, Beverly Randolph, Henry Lee, James Monroe, John Page, William H. Cabell, John Tyler, George W. Smith, James Barbour, Wilson Cary Nicholas, James Pleasants, John Floyd, Littleton W. Tazewell, David Campbell, James McDowell, William Smith, Henry A. Wise and John Letcher; Francis Pierpont, James L. Kemper, Frederick Holliday, Philip McKinney, and Andrew J. Montague.

Includes letter books for the following governors: Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, David Jameson, Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Randolph, Beverly Randolph, Henry Lee, James Monroe, John Page, William H. Cabell, John Tyler, George W. Smith, James Barbour, Wilson Cary Nicholas, James Pleasants, John Floyd, Littleton W. Tazewell, David Campbell, James McDowell, William Smith, Henry A. Wise and John Letcher.

Letter book, 1780 July-Sept 13, (Thomas Jefferson) is available as a negative photostat (19786) and a typewritten transcription (13868). Original is at the British Museum.

Letter book, 1781 Aug 22 - Nov 29 (Thomas Nelson; David Jameson) also includes a handwritten transcript of the original.

Includes handwritten transcriptions of Executive letter books, 1780-1856.

Includes Governor Holliday's Executive Letter Book, 1878-1881, as well as an Executive Letter Book, 1879-1881, devoted to the Yorktown Centennial Celebration, that includes correspondence, proceedings, and resolutions.

Biographical / historical:

During the colonial period of Virginia's history the governor, as an appointee of the Crown, was the colony's principal representative and upholder of royal authority. Although his powers were limited somewhat by the Council and by the laws passed by the House of Burgesses, the governor still had the authority to prorogue, adjourn, or dissolve the legislature, to confirm or veto its acts, to preside as the chief jurist of the colony, to command the provincial military forces, and to appoint many of the subordinate officers of government.

Most of these powers, excepting the military and appointive, were swept away by the American Revolution. The several revolutionary conventions assumed the executive role in 1774 and 1775 until the Committee of Safety was created in July 1775 to function in that capacity. The constitution adopted in 1776 made the governor subordinate to the legislative branch, elected by the General Assembly and circumscribed by a Council of State appointed by the assembly.

It was not until the constitution of 1851 was adopted that the power of the governor was strengthened appreciably. The Council of State was abolished, and the governor was popularly elected. In subsequent years his authority was consolidated and expanded to statute, and his veto power was restored. The state government reorganization act passed by the General Assembly on April 18, 1927, firmly established the governor as the chief administrative officer of a government composed of departments, the directors of which serve at the pleasure of the governor. In addition, the organization of the governor's staff has increased in size and complexity until it has become virtually a department itself: the Office of the Governor, encompassing both the chief executive and his staff.

Acquisition information:
No acquisition information available.
Arrangement:

These volumes are arranged chronologically.