Minutes and Meeting Files of the Virginia State Board of Health, 1896-2003

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:

The are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Minutes and Meeting Files of the Virginia State Board of Health, 1896-2003. [Cite specific accession], State records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Creator:
Virginia State Board of Health
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Minutes and Meeting Files of the Virginia State Board of Health, 1896-2003. [Cite specific accession], State records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Contains minutes and files pertaining to the meetings and other activities of the Virginia State Board of Health. This collection contains both bound and loose minutes, as well as agendas, administrative material, reports, and regulations regarding public health matters.

Biographical / historical:

The Medical Society of Virginia, formed in 1870, sponsored a bill to create a State Board of Health and Vital Statistics to supervise sanitation matters and to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. This bill was enacted into law by the General Assembly on February 13, 1872, but no funding was provided the Board, which functioned intermittently until 1896. The General Assembly passed an act on March 3, 1896, establishing and funding the Board of Health. An act passed on March 7, 1900, created local boards of health in every country and city and gave the State Board authority over them.

The position of Commissioner of Health was established as the executive officer of the Board of Health by an act of the General Assembly passed on March 14, 1908. The State Government Reorganization Act passed by the General Assembly on April 18, 1927, created the Department of Health under the aegis of the State Board of Health. The Department serves as the administrative arm of the Board of Health under the supervision of the State Health Commissioner and is responsible to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources.

The mission of the State Board of Health is to "provide leadership in planning and policy development for the Commonwealth and the Virginia Department of Health to implement a coordinated, prevention-oriented program that promotes and protects the health of all Virginians. In addition, the Board serves as the primary advocate and representative of the citizens of the Commonwealth in achieving optimal health." The goals of the Board include prevention and control of chronic disease, reduction of disparities in health care, improvement of the state's public health infrastructure, and improvement in the health and well-being of all Virginians. The Board of Health's core functions are to review and promulgate regulations, advise the Governor on health-related issues, formulate policy, advocate health care reform, and to advance quality of life through improved health.

Acquisition information:

Accession 34146 transferred by Robert Triebley, Commissioner's Office, Department of Health, 1500 East Main Street, Room 214, Richmond, Virginia, 5 May 1992.

Accession 43045 transferred by Douglas Harris, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, 10th floor, Richmond, Virginia, 11 January 2007.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Minutes, 1896-2001
  • Series II. Meeting Files, 1985-2003
Physical description:
14.9 cubic feet and 9 volumes