A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 38993, 39659
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 USA Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference) Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference) Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives) URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
Virginia. Secretary of Technology. Correspondence and
subject files, [cite specific date and accession used].
State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia,
Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
Unknown, transferred 10 January 2002 (accession 38993).
Unknown, transferred 4 June 2002 (accession 39659).
In February 1997, the House of Delegates passed a
resolution requestion "the Governor appoint a Technology and
Science Advisor within his Cabinet to advise him with regard
to technological and scientific issues in Virginia and assist
him and executive branch agencies with the potential
reorganization or restructuring of Virginia state government
in response thereto." James S. Gilmore III, a Republican
candidate for Governor, proposed in an April 23, 1997 speech
the creation of a Cabinet-level post for an information
technology officer. After his election as Governor in November
1997, Gilmore kept his campaign promise. On May 21, 1998,
Gilmore issued Executive Order Number Nine, creating the
Office of the Secretary of Technology. The new Secretary's
responsibilities included the "coordinated planning and
effective development of information technology resources" in
Virginia. Gilmore appointed Donald W. Upson, a vice president
of Litton/PRC Inc., an information technology company, and
former senior Republican committee staff member in Washington,
as the first Secretary of Technology. The Secretary of
Technology possessed Cabinet-level status but was not
officially made a permanent member of the Governor's cabinet
until 1999.
The Secretary of Technology is appointed by the governor
and subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The
Secretary is responsible to the governor for the Department of
Information Technology, Department of Technology Planning,
Center for Innovative Technology, and the Virginia Information
Providers Network Authority. Governor Mark R. Warner retained
Donald W. Upson, the first Secretary of Technology, in an
interim capacity through February 2002. George C. Newstrom,
Governor Warner's selection for Secretary of Technology, began
work in March 2002. Newstrom previously worked with EDS, a
global technology services company.
The records of the Secretary of Technology consist of
constituent correspondence to the Governor referred to the
secretary for response, appointment calendars, and
correspondence and subject files. Constituent correspondence
are arranged by tracking numbers assigned by the Governor's
office and date received. Subjects included are general
technology issues, Internet pornography, Internet regulations,
Internet tax and electronic commerce, SPAM and
telecommuting.
Donal W. Upson, Secretary of Technology, wrote responses to
most of these letters and electronic messages. The bulk of
this collection consists of the Secretary's appointment
calendars from June 1998 to January 2002. These records
document the various events the secretary was invited to and
attended. Included are correspondence, faxes, and e-mail
messages to Fionna Matheson, the secretary's scheduler,
coordinating the secretary's schedule and travel. Event
information is also included. Additional correspondence are
arranged by subject. Notable topics include the Center for
Innovative Technology, Governor's Commission on Information
Technology, Council on Information Management, Century Date
Change Initiative (Y2K), Department of Information Technology,
Department of Technology Planning, and various public
relations, activities, and visits by the secretary.