Certificates of Recognition of Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder,

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:

Certificates of Recognition, 1990-1993, are housed in 11 boxes and arranged chronologically. These records consists of copies of certificates of recognition issued by Governor Wilder to recognize citizens, programs, anniversaries, and events. Certificates of recognition are also used to designate days, weeks and months for special observance in the Commonwealth. Many certificates also include correspondence and background information, including clippings, reference material and press releases. Certificates were pulled from four constituent correspondence series to create this series.

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 Constituent Affairs was first established in 1984 to serve as a liaison between the Governor and the citizens of the Commonwealth. The Office oversees and coordinates responses to all mail sent to the Governor's Office. Constituent Affairs staff determine where and under whose signature the responses should be drafted and direct correspondence to the appropriate person in the administration. The Office also coordinates the issuance of certificates of recognition, answers phone inquiries from constituents and occasionally meets with constituents to resolve problems and handle requests. William R. Browning served as Director of Constituent Affairs during the Wilder Administration.

Acquisition information:

Accession 34142 was transferred by Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder, April 22, 1992.

Accession 34587 was transferred by Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder, January 14, 1994.

Accession 34588 was transferred by Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder, January 14, 1994.

Accession 34589 was transferred by Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder, January 14, 1994.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Certificates of Recognition, 1990-1993;
Physical description:
3.85 cu. ft. (11 boxes)