A Guide to the Virginia Attorney General's correspondence and letter books, 1898-1920 Attorney General's correspondence and letter books, Virginia, A Guide to the, 1898-1920
44018
A Collection in the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 44018
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 Attorney General's correspondence and letter books, 1898-1920. Accession 44018, State government records collection,
The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
Original transfer information is unavailable. This collection was retroactively accessioned.
The Office of the Attorney General originated in medieval England. While representing the king in his courts, the Attorney
General gradually assumed the role of legal advisor to the government and all its agencies. In Virginia, the first Attorney
General was commissioned in 1643. The Declaration of Independence in 1776 ended the Attorney General's connection with royal
authority, but the state constitution adopted that year continued the office under the auspices of the General Assembly. The
constitution adopted in 1851 provided for the popular election of the Attorney General, rendering him independent of all three
branches of government. The Attorney General is elected to a four-year term in office and is eligible for reelection.
Contains incoming correspondence files and outgoing letter books from the administrations of Attorneys General Andrew J. Montague,
William A. Anderson, and Samuel W. Williams.
Contains mostly incoming letters to the Virginia Attorney General, as well as a limited number of outgoing letters. The correspondence
files span the administrations of Attorneys General, Andrew J. Montague (1898-1902), William A. Anderson (1902-1910), Samuel
W. Williams (1910-1914), John G. Pollard (1914-1918), and John R. Saunders (1918-1934). Very little of the correspondence
dates from the Pollard and Saunders administrations. The correspondence is comprised of requests for official opinions on
a variety of legal matters including voting rights, property disputes, and criminal prosecution. Some communication between
the Attorney General, the Governor, Commonwealth's Attorneys, and other state agency officials can be found here. However,
most of the correspondence is in the form of letters from private lawyers and citizens with specific questions about various
aspects of Virginia law. Located at the end of this collection are folders of cancelled checks, miscellaneous documents and
subject files. Several notable subject files relate to a state case against the Jamestown Jockey Club for illegal gambling
on horse races.
Arranged chronologically by year, and then by letter of the alphabet. However, there is no particular arrangement of the
correspondence within the folder or folders for each letter.
Box 1
Folder 1
1898 S-Y .
Box 1
Folder 2
1899 A .
Box 1
Folder 3
1899 B .
Box 1
Folder 4
1899 B .
Box 1
Folder 5
1899 C .
Box 1
Folder 6
1899 C .
Box 1
Folder 7
1899 D .
Box 1
Folder 8
1899 E .
Box 1
Folder 9
1899 F .
Box 1
Folder 10
1899 G .
Box 1
Folder 11
1899 G .
Box 1
Folder 12
1899 H .
Box 1
Folder 13
1899 H .
Box 1
Folder 14
1899 I-J .
Box 1
Folder 15
1899 K-L .
Box 1
Folder 16
1899 M .
Box 1
Folder 17
1899 M .
Box 1
Folder 18
1899 N-O .
Box 1
Folder 19
1899 P .
Box 1
Folder 20
1899 R .
Box 2
Folder 1
1899 S .
Box 2
Folder 2
1899 S .
Box 2
Folder 3
1899 T-V .
Box 2
Folder 4
1899 W .
Box 2
Folder 5
1899 W .
Box 2
Folder 6
1899 Y .
Box 2
Folder 7
1900 A .
Box 2
Folder 8
1900 B .
Box 2
Folder 9
1900 B .
Box 2
Folder 10
1900 B .
Box 2
Folder 11
1900 C .
Box 2
Folder 12
1900 C .
Box 2
Folder 13
1900 D .
Box 2
Folder 14
1900 E .
Box 2
Folder 15
1900 F .
Box 2
Folder 16
1900 G .
Box 2
Folder 17
1900 H .
Box 2
Folder 18
1900 H .
Box 2
Folder 19
1900 I-J .
Box 2
Folder 20
1900 K .
Box 3
Folder 1
1900 L .
Box 3
Folder 2
1900 M .
Box 3
Folder 3
1900 M .
Box 3
Folder 4
1900 N .
Box 3
Folder 5
1900 O .
Box 3
Folder 6
1900 P .
Box 3
Folder 7
1900 Q .
Box 3
Folder 8
1900 R .
Box 3
Folder 9
1900 R .
Box 3
Folder 10
1900 S .
Box 3
Folder 11
1900 S .
Box 3
Folder 12
1900 T-V .
Box 3
Folder 13
1900 W .
Box 3
Folder 14
1900 W .
Box 3
Folder 15
1900 Y-Z .
Box 3
Folder 16
1901 A .
Box 3
Folder 17
1901 B .
Box 3
Folder 18
1901 B .
Box 3
Folder 19
1901 C .
Box 3
Folder 20
1901 C .
Box 3
Folder 21
1901 D .
Box 3
Folder 22
1901 E .
Box 4
Folder 1
1901 F .
Box 4
Folder 2
1901 G .
Box 4
Folder 3
1901 H .
Box 4
Folder 4
1901 I-J .
Box 4
Folder 5
1901 K .
Box 4
Folder 6
1901 L .
Box 4
Folder 7
1901 M .
Box 4
Folder 8
1901 M .
Box 4
Folder 9
1901 N-O .
Box 4
Folder 10
1901 P .
Box 4
Folder 11
1901 Q-R .
Box 4
Folder 12
1901 S .
Box 4
Folder 13
1901 T-V .
Box 4
Folder 14
1901 W .
Box 4
Folder 15
1901 Y .
Box 4
Folder 16
1902 A .
Box 4
Folder 17
1902 B .
Box 4
Folder 18
1902 B .
Box 4
Folder 19
1902 B .
Box 4
Folder 20
1902 C .
Box 4
Folder 21
1902 C .
Box 4
Folder 22
1902 C .
Box 4
Folder 23
1902 C .
Box 5
Folder 1
1902 D .
Box 5
Folder 2
1902 D .
Box 5
Folder 3
1902 E .
Box 5
Folder 4
1902 F .
Box 5
Folder 5
1902 G .
Box 5
Folder 6
1902 G .
Box 5
Folder 7
1902 H .
Box 5
Folder 8
1902 H .
Box 5
Folder 9
1902 I-J .
Box 5
Folder 10
1902 K .
Box 5
Folder 11
1902 L .
Box 5
Folder 12
1902 L .
Box 5
Folder 13
1902 M .
Box 5
Folder 14
1902 M .
Box 5
Folder 15
1902 M .
Box 5
Folder 16
1902 N .
Box 5
Folder 17
1902 O .
Box 5
Folder 18
1902 P .
Box 5
Folder 19
1902 P .
Box 6
Folder 1
1902 Q-R .
Box 6
Folder 2
1902 S .
Box 6
Folder 3
1902 S .
Box 6
Folder 4
1902 T .
Box 6
Folder 5
1902 W .
Box 6
Folder 6
1902 W .
Box 6
Folder 7
1902 V .
Box 6
Folder 8
1902 Y-Z .
Box 6
Folder 9
1903 A .
Box 6
Folder 10
1903 B .
Box 6
Folder 11
1903 B .
Box 6
Folder 12
1903 B .
Box 6
Folder 13
1903 C .
Box 6
Folder 14
1903 C .
Box 6
Folder 15
1903 C .
Box 6
Folder 16
1903 C .
Box 6
Folder 17
1903 D .
Box 6
Folder 18
1903 E .
Box 7
Folder 1
1903 F .
Box 7
Folder 2
1903 G .
Box 7
Folder 3
1903 G .
Box 7
Folder 4
1903 H .
Box 7
Folder 5
1903 H .
Box 7
Folder 6
1903 J .
Box 7
Folder 7
1903 K .
Box 7
Folder 8
1903 L .
Box 7
Folder 9
1903 M .
Box 7
Folder 10
1903 M .
Box 7
Folder 11
1903 M .
Box 7
Folder 12
1903 N-O .
Box 7
Folder 13
1903 P .
Box 7
Folder 14
1903 P .
Box 7
Folder 15
1903 Q .
Box 7
Folder 16
1903 R .
Box 7
Folder 17
1903 S .
Box 7
Folder 18
1903 S .
Box 8
Folder 1
1903 T .
Box 8
Folder 2
1903 V .
Box 8
Folder 3
1903 W .
Box 8
Folder 4
1903 W .
Box 8
Folder 5
1903 W .
Box 8
Folder 6
1903 Y-Z .
Box 8
Folder 7
1904 A .
Box 8
Folder 8
1904 A .
Box 8
Folder 9
1904 B .
Box 8
Folder 10
1904 B .
Box 8
Folder 11
1904 B .
Box 8
Folder 12
1904 B .
Box 8
Folder 13
1904 B .
Box 8
Folder 14
1904 C .
Box 8
Folder 15
1904 C .
Box 8
Folder 16
1904 C .
Box 8
Folder 17
1904 C .
Box 9
Folder 1
1904 D .
Box 9
Folder 2
1904 E .
Box 9
Folder 3
1904 F .
Box 9
Folder 4
1904 G .
Box 9
Folder 5
1904 G .
Box 9
Folder 6
1904 G .
Box 9
Folder 7
1904 H .
Box 9
Folder 8
1904 H .
Box 9
Folder 9
1904 H .
Box 9
Folder 10
1904 I .
Box 9
Folder 11
1904 J .
Box 9
Folder 12
1904 J .
Box 9
Folder 13
1904 K .
Box 9
Folder 14
1904 L .
Box 9
Folder 15
1904 L .
Box 9
Folder 16
1904 M .
Box 9
Folder 17
1904 M .
Box 10
Folder 1
1904 M .
Box 10
Folder 2
1904 M .
Box 10
Folder 3
1904 N .
Box 10
Folder 4
1904 O .
Box 10
Folder 5
1904 P .
Box 10
Folder 6
1904 P .
Box 10
Folder 7
1904 Q .
Box 10
Folder 8
1904 R .
Box 10
Folder 9
1904 R .
Box 10
Folder 10
1904 S .
Box 10
Folder 11
1904 S .
Box 10
Folder 12
1904 T .
Box 10
Folder 13
1904 T .
Box 10
Folder 14
1904 U-V .
Box 10
Folder 15
1904 W .
Box 10
Folder 16
1904 W .
Box 10
Folder 17
1904 W .
Box 10
Folder 18
1904 W .
Box 10
Folder 19
1904 Y .
Box 11
Folder 1
1905 A .
Box 11
Folder 2
1905 A .
Box 11
Folder 3
1905 B .
Box 11
Folder 4
1905 B .
Box 11
Folder 5
1905 B .
Box 11
Folder 6
1905 C .
Box 11
Folder 7
1905 C .
Box 11
Folder 8
1905 C .
Box 11
Folder 9
1905 D .
Box 11
Folder 10
1905 E .
Box 11
Folder 11
1905 F .
Box 11
Folder 12
1905 G .
Box 11
Folder 13
1905 G .
Box 11
Folder 14
1905 H .
Box 11
Folder 15
1905 H .
Box 11
Folder 16
1905 H .
Box 11
Folder 17
1905 I .
Box 11
Folder 18
1905 J .
Box 12
Folder 1
1905 K .
Box 12
Folder 2
1905 L .
Box 12
Folder 3
1905 M .
Box 12
Folder 4
1905 M .
Box 12
Folder 5
1905 M .
Box 12
Folder 6
1905 N .
Box 12
Folder 7
1905 O .
Box 12
Folder 8
1905 P .
Box 12
Folder 9
1905 P .
Box 12
Folder 10
1905 P .
Box 12
Folder 11
1905 Q .
Box 12
Folder 12
1905 R .
Box 12
Folder 13
1905 S .
Box 12
Folder 14
1905 S .
Box 12
Folder 15
1905 S .
Box 12
Folder 16
1905 T .
Box 12
Folder 17
1905 T .
Box 13
Folder 1
1905 U-V .
Box 13
Folder 2
1905 W .
Box 13
Folder 3
1905 W .
Box 13
Folder 4
1905 W .
Box 13
Folder 5
1905 Y .
Box 13
Folder 6
1906 A .
Box 13
Folder 7
1906 B .
Box 13
Folder 8
1906 B .
Box 13
Folder 9
1906 B .
Box 13
Folder 10
1906 C .
Box 13
Folder 11
1906 C .
Box 13
Folder 12
1906 C .
Box 13
Folder 13
1906 C .
Box 13
Folder 14
1906 D .
Box 13
Folder 15
1906 E .
Box 13
Folder 16
1906 E .
Box 13
Folder 17
1906 F .
Box 14
Folder 1
1906 G .
Box 14
Folder 2
1906 G .
Box 14
Folder 3
1906 H .
Box 14
Folder 4
1906 H .
Box 14
Folder 5
1906 I .
Box 14
Folder 6
1906 J .
Box 14
Folder 7
1906 K .
Box 14
Folder 8
1906 L .
Box 14
Folder 9
1906 L .
Box 14
Folder 10
1906 M .
Box 14
Folder 11
1906 M .
Box 14
Folder 12
1906 M .
Box 14
Folder 13
1906 M .
Box 14
Folder 14
1906 N .
Box 14
Folder 15
1906 O .
Box 14
Folder 16
1906 P .
Box 14
Folder 17
1906 P .
Box 15
Folder 1
1906 R .
Box 15
Folder 2
1906 R .
Box 15
Folder 3
1906 S .
Box 15
Folder 4
1906 S .
Box 15
Folder 5
1906 S .
Box 15
Folder 6
1906 S .
Box 15
Folder 7
1906 T .
Box 15
Folder 8
1906 U-V .
Box 15
Folder 9
1906 W .
Box 15
Folder 10
1906 W .
Box 15
Folder 11
1906 W .
Box 15
Folder 12
1906 Y-Z; unknown .
Box 15
Folder 13
1907 A .
Box 15
Folder 14
1907 B .
Box 15
Folder 15
1907 B .
Box 15
Folder 16
1907 B .
Box 15
Folder 17
1907 B .
Box 16
Folder 1
1907 C .
Box 16
Folder 2
1907 C .
Box 16
Folder 3
1907 C .
Box 16
Folder 4
1907 D .
Box 16
Folder 5
1907 E .
Box 16
Folder 6
1907 E .
Box 16
Folder 7
1907 E .
Box 16
Folder 8
1907 F .
Box 16
Folder 9
1907 G .
Box 16
Folder 10
1907 G .
Box 16
Folder 11
1907 H .
Box 16
Folder 12
1907 H .
Box 16
Folder 13
1907 H .
Box 16
Folder 14
1907 H .
Box 16
Folder 15
1907 H .
Box 16
Folder 16
1907 I .
Box 16
Folder 17
1907 J .
Box 17
Folder 1
1907 K .
Box 17
Folder 2
1907 L .
Box 17
Folder 3
1907 M .
Box 17
Folder 4
1907 M .
Box 17
Folder 5
1907 M .
Box 17
Folder 6
1907 M .
Box 17
Folder 7
1907 M .
Box 17
Folder 8
1907 N-O .
Box 17
Folder 9
1907 P .
Box 17
Folder 10
1907 P .
Box 17
Folder 11
1907 Q-R .
Box 17
Folder 12
1907 S .
Box 17
Folder 13
1907 S .
Box 17
Folder 14
1907 S .
Box 17
Folder 15
1907 S .
Box 17
Folder 16
1907 S .
Box 17
Folder 17
1970 T .
Box 17
Folder 18
1907 T .
Box 18
Folder 1
1907 V .
Box 18
Folder 2
1907 W .
Box 18
Folder 3
1907 W .
Box 18
Folder 4
1907 W .
Box 18
Folder 5
1907 W .
Box 18
Folder 6
1907 Y-Z .
Box 18
Folder 7
1908 A .
Box 18
Folder 8
1908 B .
Box 18
Folder 9
1908 B .
Box 18
Folder 10
1908 B .
Box 18
Folder 11
1908 B .
Box 18
Folder 12
1908 C .
Box 18
Folder 13
1908 C .
Box 18
Folder 14
1908 D .
Box 18
Folder 15
1908 D .
Box 18
Folder 16
1908 E .
Box 18
Folder 17
1908 E .
Box 19
Folder 1
1908 F .
Box 19
Folder 2
1908 G .
Box 19
Folder 3
1908 H .
Box 19
Folder 4
1908 H .
Box 19
Folder 5
1908 H .
Box 19
Folder 6
1908 H .
Box 19
Folder 7
1908 I-J .
Box 19
Folder 8
1908 K .
Box 19
Folder 9
1908 L .
Box 19
Folder 10
1908 L .
Box 19
Folder 11
1908 M .
Box 19
Folder 12
1908 M .
Box 19
Folder 13
1908 M .
Box 19
Folder 14
1908 M .
Box 19
Folder 15
1908 N .
Box 19
Folder 16
1908 O .
Box 20
Folder 1
1908 P .
Box 20
Folder 2
1908 P .
Box 20
Folder 3
1908 R .
Box 20
Folder 4
1908 R .
Box 20
Folder 5
1908 S .
Box 20
Folder 6
1908 S .
Box 20
Folder 7
1908 S .
Box 20
Folder 8
1908 T .
Box 20
Folder 9
1908 T .
Box 20
Folder 10
1908 T .
Box 20
Folder 11
1908 W .
Box 20
Folder 12
1908 W .
Box 20
Folder 13
1908 W .
Box 20
Folder 14
1908 W .
Box 20
Folder 15
1908 Y-Z .
Box 21
Folder 1
1909 A .
Box 21
Folder 2
1909 B .
Box 21
Folder 3
1909 B .
Box 21
Folder 4
1909 B .
Box 21
Folder 5
1909 C .
Box 21
Folder 6
1909 C .
Box 21
Folder 7
1909 D .
Box 21
Folder 8
1909 D .
Box 21
Folder 9
1909 E .
Box 21
Folder 10
1909 E .
Box 21
Folder 11
1909 F .
Box 21
Folder 12
1909 G .
Box 21
Folder 13
1909 H .
Box 21
Folder 14
1909 H .
Box 21
Folder 15
1909 H .
Box 21
Folder 16
1909 J .
Box 21
Folder 17
1909 K .
Box 22
Folder 1
1909 L .
Box 22
Folder 2
1909 L .
Box 22
Folder 3
1909 M .
Box 22
Folder 4
1909 M .
Box 22
Folder 5
1909 M .
Box 22
Folder 6
1909 N .
Box 22
Folder 7
1909 O .
Box 22
Folder 8
1909 P .
Box 22
Folder 9
1909 P .
Box 22
Folder 10
1909 R .
Box 22
Folder 11
1909 S .
Box 22
Folder 12
1909 S .
Box 22
Folder 13
1909 S .
Box 22
Folder 14
1909 T .
Box 22
Folder 15
1909 T .
Box 22
Folder 16
1909 U-V .
Box 23
Folder 1
1909 W .
Box 23
Folder 2
1909 W .
Box 23
Folder 3
1909 W .
Box 23
Folder 4
1909 W .
Box 23
Folder 5
1909 Y .
Box 23
Folder 6
1910 B .
Box 23
Folder 7
1910 D-E .
Box 23
Folder 8
1910 H-L .
Box 23
Folder 9
1910 M .
Box 23
Folder 10
1910 O-S .
Box 23
Folder 11
1910 T-W .
Box 23
Folder 12
1911 .
Box 23
Folder 13
1912 .
Box 23
Folder 14
1913 A-C .
Box 23
Folder 15
1913 D-H .
Box 23
Folder 16
1913 K-L .
Box 23
Folder 17
1913 M-R .
Box 23
Folder 18
1913 S .
Box 23
Folder 19
1913 T .
Box 23
Folder 20
1913 W-Y .
Box 23
Folder 21
Cancelled checks,
1911-1912 .
Box 24
Folder 1
Commonwealth vs Jamestown Jockey Club,
1911 .
Box 24
Folder 2
Commonwealth vs Jamestown Jockey Club,
1912-1916 .
Box 24
Folder 3
Commonwealth vs Jamestown Jockey Club (court papers),
1911 .
Box 24
Folder 4
Commonwealth vs Jamestown Jockey Club (court papers),
1911 .
Box 24
Folder 5
Commonwealth vs Jamestown Jockey Club (court papers),
1911 .
Box 23
Folder 22
Miscellaneous documents and opinions,
1902-1912; undated .
Box 24
Folder 6
Portrait of Mrs. Elvira B. Taylor,
1917-1920 .
Box 24
Folder 7
W.H. Robertson, Special Commissioner vs Commonwealth,
1919-1920 .
Letter books contain only outgoing correspondence written by the Attorney General. The books span the administrations of Attorneys
General Andrew J. Montague (1898-1902) and William A. Anderson (1902-1910). Most of the letters answer questions posed by
citizens and government entities regarding topics such as the Code of Virginia, the validity of taxes and local ordinances,
and constutional law. Some letters also pertain to specific court cases.