A Guide to the Executive Papers of Governor John G. Pollard, 1922-1935 [bulk 1930-1934] Pollard, John G., Records of Virginia Governor 23344a

A Guide to the Executive Papers of Governor John G. Pollard, 1922-1935 [bulk 1930-1934]

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 23344a


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Processed by: Renee M. Savits

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
23344a
Title
A Guide to the Executive Papers of Governor John G. Pollard, 1922-1935 [bulk 1930-1934]
Extent
72.95 cu. ft. (200 boxes)
Creator
Governor (1930-1934 : Pollard)
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia. Governor (1930-1934 : Pollard). Executive Papers of Governor John G. Pollard, 1922-1935 [bulk 1930-1934]. Accession 23344a, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Accession 23344a transferred from the Office of the Governor, 1946 January and May.

Biographical Information

John Garland Pollard was born in King and Queen County, Virginia, on 4 August 1871, to John Pollard (1839-1911) and Virginia Bagby Pollard (1839-1918). In 1897 Pollard married Grace Phillips and had four children before her death in 1932. In 1933 Pollard married Violet E. MacDougall. Pollard served as attorney general of Virginia from 1914 to 1918 and as Governor of Virginia from 1930 to 1934. Pollard governed during the Great Depression but continued to maintain Virginia's system of balanced budgets, reduced spending, and avoiding tax increases. State relief programs were rejected and no funds were appropriated to match available federal money. To maintain a balanced budget Pollard cut all state employee's earnings, as well as his own, to avoid a deficit. A major drought affected Virginia farmers and during a strike at Dan Rivers Mill the Governor called out the National Guard. In 1933 Prohibition was repealed and an Alcoholic Beverage Control Board was established by the General Assembly. Pollard helped raise money for the creation of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the first state art museum. In his post gubernatorial years, Pollard served as chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington and he also served as president of the board of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Pollard died on 28 April 1937 and was buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

Scope and Content

Governor John Garland Pollard Executive Papers, 1922-1935 (bulk 1930-1934), are organized into six series and housed in two hundred (200) boxes. Series have been designated for I. Correspondence and Subject Files; II. Delegates Appointed; III. Penal Affairs; IV. Financial Records; V. Personal files; and VI. Oversize. These papers mainly consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence during John Garland Pollard's four-year term as governor between 15 January 1930 and 16 January 1934. The largest and most significant series is the Correspondence and Subject files Series. This series provides an in-depth look into the major concerns confronting Pollard as governor.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I. Correspondence and Subject files Series II: Delegates Appointed Series III: Penal Affairs Series IV: Financial Records Series V: Personal files Series VI: Oversize

Contents List

Series I: Correspondence and Subject files , 1928-1934 .
Boxes Boxes 1-157
Extent: 55 cu. ft. (157 boxes).

The Correspondence and Subject files series, 1930-1934 is housed in one hundred and fifty seven (157) archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series documents correspondence received and sent by Governor Pollard during his four-year term as governor of Virginia. In addition to correspondence, there are reports, telegrams, orders, resolutions, publications, news clippings, blueprints, invitations, photographs, financial statements, invoices, and other sundry items. Major events that occurred during Governor Pollard's tenure include the beginning of the Great Depression and the financial issues that affected Virginia; a severe drought that occurred in the country; a strike by the United Textile Workers of American in Danville in 1930; ratification of the 21st Amendment, which repealed prohibition; and the establishment of the Virginia Fine Arts Museum.

Topics include Addresses and Statements, Adjutant General, Agriculture and Immigration, Apple Blossom Festival, Appointments, Art Commission, Attorney General, Budget, Buildings and Grounds, Busts in Rotunda, Conservation and Development, Corporation Commission, Education, Federal Affairs (Civilian Conservation Corps, Emergency Relief, Public Works, Reconstruction Finance Corporation), Fisheries, General Assembly, Highways, Invitations, Judges, Law Enforcement, Motor Vehicles, Penitentiary, Proclamations, Prohibition Department, Purchasing and Printing, Reorganization of State Government, State Art Museum, State Seal, Taxation, Unemployment, George Washington (Bicentennial Birth Commission), and Yorktown Sesqui-centennial Commission.

Included is correspondence, blueprints, and photographs of busts of famous Virginian's to be built and displayed in the Capital rotunda. Also included is correspondence and receipts detailing updates to the Governor's mansion and Capitol Square and office supplies purchased for the Governor's office. Included is information in the Health Commission records about a sleeping sickness test in 1933 performed by prisoners. The Law enforcement records include information on the Bonus Army and Hunger marchers in 1932 and 1933. The Prohibition records include booklets, newspaper articles, and petitions regarding the repeal of Prohibition. The Purchasing and Printing files include information on forfeited cars which were used to illegally transport alcohol.

Of note is information on the trial of George Crawford in 1933, whose defense was led by Charles H. Houston and helped end the exclusion of African Americans from juries. Also included is correspondence and newspaper articles regarding the controversial firing of Richard Chapin Jones from the Office of State Forester. The Federal, Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Applications, includes information on loans to state and local governments and included are applications from various counties. The county applications include relevant information on the counties including number of unemployed, numbers of white and black citizens, and economic conditions in the counties. The General Assembly files relate to the 1930 and 1932 sessions and the 1933 extra session to repeal prohibition.

Of note are the files of the Virginia State Art Museum which contain correspondence, blueprints, and reports on the plans to build the museum. Included is information on the standardization of the Virginia state seal. Also included is correspondence, brochures, photographs, and programs regarding the celebration of the birth of George Washington (Bicentennial Birth Commission) and the Yorktown Sesquicentennial Commission.

This series was maintained in its original order and is not completely chronological. At some point the pins holding together the incoming and outgoing letters were removed and the archivist did not rearrange the folder items for fear of loosing the relationships between the incoming and outgoing letters.

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series II: Delegates Appointed , 1930-1934 .
Boxes Boxes 158-161
Extent: 1.4 cu. ft. (4 boxes).

The Delegates Appointed series, 1930-1934 is housed in four (4) archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically by name of association or conference.

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series III: Penal Affairs , 1930-1934 .
Boxes Boxes 162-187
Extent: 9.1 cu. ft. (26 boxes).

The Penal Affairs series, 1930-1934 is housed in twenty-six (26) archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically by folder title. The series includes clemency files, renditions, requisitions, and pardons. Also included are requests to have constituents right to drive reinstated (most were lost due to drunk driving or for transporting alcohol). Included are arrest warrants, correspondence, court orders, extradition requisitions, pardon applications, petitions, prison records, telegrams, and newspaper clippings.

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series IV: Financial Records , 1930-1934 .
Boxes Boxes 188-194
Extent: 2.85 cu. ft. (7 boxes).

The Financial Records are housed in seven (7) archival boxes and consist of monthly statements by the Comptroller, Annual Reports, Bonds, the Executive Control Fund and Miscellaneous. Of note are the Executive Control Fund accounts, receipts, and statements of expenses for the maintenance of the Governor's House and payroll of Governor's staff, including the Governor's salary. Also included are accounts and receipts for the purchase of oil, newspaper subscriptions, travel reimbursements, and other expenses related to the Governor's Office and Mansion.

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series V: Personal Records , 1930-1934 .
Boxes Boxes 195-196
Extent: .60 cu. ft. (2 boxes).

The Personal records consist of two (2) boxes of records including personal and transitional correspondence (November 1929-January 1930 and January 1934).

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series VI: Oversize , 1930-1934 .
Boxes Boxes 197-200
Extent: 4 cu. ft. (4 boxes).

The Oversize records are housed in four (4) boxes that were removed due to size. Removal notices were placed in the folders from where the items were removed. Each oversize item is listed by its Series and Title from where it originally was located.

Arranged by Series.

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