Records of the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2010-2014

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

Creator:
Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Secretary of the Commonwealth records, 2010-2013, consist of 15 archival boxes, divided into six series. Series have been designated for Correspondence, Invitations, Executive orders and directives, Proclamations, Special Projects and Weekly reports. These records document the work of the Secretary of the Commonwealth during the McDonnell administration and were created or collected, 2010-2014 Jan, though some documents in this collection pre-date this time period.

Biographical / historical:

Robert F. McDonnell was elected 71st governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in November 2009 and inaugurated on 16 January 2010. He served until 11 January 2014. Janet Vestal Kelly (formerly Janet Polarek until 2012) served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth throughout McDonnell's tenure. She had previously served as the Chief Operations Officer during his gubernatorial campaign and as a staff member while McDonnell served as Attorney General.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth has evolved from early colonial times when there existed a Secretary of the Colony. The Office became a gubernatorial appointment subsequent to a 1958 Act of the Assembly. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is under the jurisdiction of the Governor's Office. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor for a term of four years. Currently the Secretary of the Commonwealth is responsible for gubernatorial appointments, clemency and restoration of civil rights requests and extraditions. Other responsibilities include authenticating and certifying the records of the courts and of any state agency.

Acquisition information:
Transferred from the Virginia Secretary of Administration on January 23, 2014.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Correspondence, 2010-2013;
  • Series II. Invitations, 2010-2014;
  • Series III. Executive orders and directives, 2010-2013;
  • Series IV. Proclamations, 2010-2013;
  • Series V. Special projects and subject files, 2010-2013;
  • Series VI. Weekly reports, 2010-2011.
Physical description:
5.25 cubic feet (15 Boxes)