7.10: Commission On Constitutional Revision (Virginia) 1968-1971

Arrangement:

Consists of two feet of papers and records concerning Powell's work as a member of this commission charged with the task of thoroughly revising the 35,000 word 1902 constitution. Included in this series are: general correspondence and memoranda; "public comment" correspondence and memoranda; memoranda from the Commission's executive director, A.E. Dick Howard (additional Howard correspondence concerning the Commission is in the general correspondence subseries of the Personal Papers subgroup); Powell's handwritten meeting notes; subcommittee files; drafts and text of the new constitution; and printed materials and clippings.

The commission worked in subcommittees and Powell, and his fellow State Board of Education member, Colgate Darden, were assigned to the subcommittee on education. It is clear from inspecting these papers, however, that Powell had significant input in several other areas, most notably taxation. (Virginia's pressing need to be able to borrow money more easily was an important force behind undertaking the revision at that time.) In fact, there are few records about education in these papers and none specifically about the work of the education subcommittee. Powell and Darden's work can be seen in the drafts of the constitution in which the State Board of Education is given a greater role in setting standards, and in which cities and counties are required to keep their schools open.

Access and use

Contents