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Use microfilm copy, Richmond (Va.) Reel 1001.
Manchester (Va.) Board/Committee Minute Books, 1875-1910 (bulk 1900-1910.) Richmond (Va.) Reel 1001, Local government records collection, Richmond (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
These original volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from the City of Richmond.
Reel 1001 was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.
Manchester was established as a town by the General Assembly in November 1769. According to this act, "the honorable William Byrd hath lately laid out a parcel of his lands at Rocky Ridge, at the falls of the James River, in the county of Chesterfield, in lots and streets for a town." Directors and trustees were appointed and the town was named Manchester. The town was incorporated on February 27, 1834. On March 20, 1874, a city charter was approved by the General Assembly and the city was divided into 4 wards. Three members from each ward served on the City Council, the main governing body of the city along with the mayor. On April 15, 1910, the city of Manchester was officially annexed to the City of Richmond with the provisos that a free bridge would be constructed to connect Manchester with Richmond and that Manchester would retain a courthouse. Today the area is also known as South Richmond. The town of Manchester was named probably for Manchester Parish in Chesterfield County. The parish in turn was named either for George Montague, fourth duke of Manchester, or for the town of Manchester, England.
According to the city's charter, "the city council shall have authority to...appoint such committees, as they deem proper for the regulations of their proceedings and for the convenient transaction of business."
Manchester (Va.) Board/Committee Minute Books, 1875-1900 (bulk 1900-1910), provide an excellent historical overview of how the city functioned according to the mandates of the Mayor's Office and the City Council. The first volume is the Board of Police Commissioners' Minute Book. This volume dates from 1875-1910 and numbers 157 p. The volume deals with the board's rules, regulations and resolutions regarding the city's police force. The second volume is the Board of Fire Commissioners' Minute Book. This volume dates from 1892-1910 and numbers 196 p. This volume deals with with the board's rules, regulations and resolutions regarding the city's fire department. The third volume is composed of various and specialized committees--Light/Electric Light/Water/Clear Water/Fire--comprising the city's Utility Commission. This volume dates from 1902-1910 and numbers 288 p. This volume is comprised of various committee reports and resolutions. The page numbers for the various committee minutes are noted in the front of the volume. For these three volumes, all loose documents found in the volume were filmed at the end of the volume.
The fourth volume is the Health Committee Minute Book. The Health Committee was created by a city ordinance in response to the small pox epidemic. The volume dates from 1900-1910 and numbers 149 p. The volume describes the committee's powers, duties and appropriations. The fifth and last volume is split into three committee minute books--the Ordinance Committee, the Committee on Industries and the Citizens Committee and the Building and Land Committee. The Ordinance Committee Minutes date from 1904 to 1909 and are found on pages 20-64. The Committee on Industries and the Citizens Committee Minutes date from 1907-1909 and are found on pages 149-164. The Building and Land Committee Minutes date from 1905-1910 and are found on pages 12-16 and 200-321. The Ordinance Committee Minute Book covers the city's activities related to the various ordinances enacted by the city. The Committee on Industries and the Citizens Committee Minute Book notes resolutions passed with specific regard given to the city's newspaper industry. The Building and Land Committee Minute Book delves into city contracts awarded and bills approved for repairs to city properties such as the city jail. All committee meetings were held in either the Mayor's Office or the City Council's Chambers.
Arranged chronologically within each volume except for the last volume.
Additional Richmond City Government Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult
A wonderful history of Manchester, "Old Manchester and Its Environs, 1769-1910" was published in 1993 by noted local historian, Benjamin B. Weisiger III and is found in the Library of Virginia's book collection.