Series I: Correspondence and Subject files, 1928-1934.

Containers:

Box Boxes 1-157

Extent:

Extent: 55 cu. ft. (157 boxes).

Scope and content:

The Correspondence and Subject files series, 1930-1934 is housed in one hundred and fifty seven (157) archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series documents correspondence received and sent by Governor Pollard during his four-year term as governor of Virginia. In addition to correspondence, there are reports, telegrams, orders, resolutions, publications, news clippings, blueprints, invitations, photographs, financial statements, invoices, and other sundry items. Major events that occurred during Governor Pollard's tenure include the beginning of the Great Depression and the financial issues that affected Virginia; a severe drought that occurred in the country; a strike by the United Textile Workers of American in Danville in 1930; ratification of the 21st Amendment, which repealed prohibition; and the establishment of the Virginia Fine Arts Museum.

Topics include Addresses and Statements, Adjutant General, Agriculture and Immigration, Apple Blossom Festival, Appointments, Art Commission, Attorney General, Budget, Buildings and Grounds, Busts in Rotunda, Conservation and Development, Corporation Commission, Education, Federal Affairs (Civilian Conservation Corps, Emergency Relief, Public Works, Reconstruction Finance Corporation), Fisheries, General Assembly, Highways, Invitations, Judges, Law Enforcement, Motor Vehicles, Penitentiary, Proclamations, Prohibition Department, Purchasing and Printing, Reorganization of State Government, State Art Museum, State Seal, Taxation, Unemployment, George Washington (Bicentennial Birth Commission), and Yorktown Sesqui-centennial Commission.

Included is correspondence, blueprints, and photographs of busts of famous Virginian's to be built and displayed in the Capital rotunda. Also included is correspondence and receipts detailing updates to the Governor's mansion and Capitol Square and office supplies purchased for the Governor's office. Included is information in the Health Commission records about a sleeping sickness test in 1933 performed by prisoners. The Law enforcement records include information on the Bonus Army and Hunger marchers in 1932 and 1933. The Prohibition records include booklets, newspaper articles, and petitions regarding the repeal of Prohibition. The Purchasing and Printing files include information on forfeited cars which were used to illegally transport alcohol.

Of note is information on the trial of George Crawford in 1933, whose defense was led by Charles H. Houston and helped end the exclusion of African Americans from juries. Also included is correspondence and newspaper articles regarding the controversial firing of Richard Chapin Jones from the Office of State Forester. The Federal, Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Applications, includes information on loans to state and local governments and included are applications from various counties. The county applications include relevant information on the counties including number of unemployed, numbers of white and black citizens, and economic conditions in the counties. The General Assembly files relate to the 1930 and 1932 sessions and the 1933 extra session to repeal prohibition.

Of note are the files of the Virginia State Art Museum which contain correspondence, blueprints, and reports on the plans to build the museum. Included is information on the standardization of the Virginia state seal. Also included is correspondence, brochures, photographs, and programs regarding the celebration of the birth of George Washington (Bicentennial Birth Commission) and the Yorktown Sesquicentennial Commission.

This series was maintained in its original order and is not completely chronological. At some point the pins holding together the incoming and outgoing letters were removed and the archivist did not rearrange the folder items for fear of loosing the relationships between the incoming and outgoing letters.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Access and use

Contents