A Guide to the Executive Papers of Governor John G. Pollard, 1922-1935 [bulk 1930-1934]

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

Summary

Extent:
72.95 cu. ft. (200 boxes)
Creator:
Governor (1930-1934 : Pollard)
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Governor John Garland Pollard Executive Papers, 1922-1935 (bulk 1930-1934), are organized into six series and housed in two hundred (200) boxes. Series have been designated for I. Correspondence and Subject Files; II. Delegates Appointed; III. Penal Affairs; IV. Financial Records; V. Personal files; and VI. Oversize. These papers mainly consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence during John Garland Pollard's four-year term as governor between 15 January 1930 and 16 January 1934. The largest and most significant series is the Correspondence and Subject files Series. This series provides an in-depth look into the major concerns confronting Pollard as governor.

Biographical / historical:

John Garland Pollard was born in King and Queen County, Virginia, on 4 August 1871, to John Pollard (1839-1911) and Virginia Bagby Pollard (1839-1918). In 1897 Pollard married Grace Phillips and had four children before her death in 1932. In 1933 Pollard married Violet E. MacDougall. Pollard served as attorney general of Virginia from 1914 to 1918 and as Governor of Virginia from 1930 to 1934. Pollard governed during the Great Depression but continued to maintain Virginia's system of balanced budgets, reduced spending, and avoiding tax increases. State relief programs were rejected and no funds were appropriated to match available federal money. To maintain a balanced budget Pollard cut all state employee's earnings, as well as his own, to avoid a deficit. A major drought affected Virginia farmers and during a strike at Dan Rivers Mill the Governor called out the National Guard. In 1933 Prohibition was repealed and an Alcoholic Beverage Control Board was established by the General Assembly. Pollard helped raise money for the creation of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the first state art museum. In his post gubernatorial years, Pollard served as chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington and he also served as president of the board of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Pollard died on 28 April 1937 and was buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Accession 23344a transferred from the Office of the Governor, 1946 January and May.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Correspondence and Subject files
  • Series II: Delegates Appointed
  • Series III: Penal Affairs
  • Series IV: Financial Records
  • Series V: Personal files
  • Series VI: Oversize