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The Henry L. Valentine papers, 1970-1989, is a collection of materials used by Valentine during his tenure on the Richmond City Council and as Vice Mayor of Richmond. The papers provide insight into the administrative duties of local government in the Richmond area during the 1970s and 1980s. The materials which cover Valentine's tenure during the years 1977-1978 are of particular note due to the demographic shift of the City Council to include its first-ever Black majority of members. This collection provides a unique look into a local politician's agenda and actions during a time of pivotal changes in the representation of Black citizens of Richmond, VA.

The materials cover the period 1942 to 1976 with the majority of the collection focusing on the period 1969-1975. Primarily notes, briefs, motions, replies and questions, the documents reflect the scope of the annexation trials of the 1970s of the City of Richmond. A large portion of the materials are not dated and others, because of the interdependency of the multiple trials described above, are as easily placed in one series as another. Documentation that may be of interest aside from the trial proceedings include; comparative population studies, master plans, financial reports for the City of Richmond, school board budgets and reports, and city budgets.