The Minutes and Related Material documents the activities of the Virginia Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Virginia Department of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Advisory Board to the department. The minutes provide the members or staff present, approval of previous minutes, old business, new business, guest in attendance and interpreters' present goals, suggestions and plans are highlighted in these records. There are minutes from later years that are signed and dated by the Chairman of the Advisory Board, Director of the Department and/or the Secretary. Statistical data concerning the cost of operations of the department are among the many topics covered. The data reflects the number of people helped and the many areas of opportunities for assistance. The creation of the Interpreter Service Program monitors and establishes guidelines and standard for interpreters and sets pay guidelines for salaries of interpreters. There is much discussion of the legislative initiatives undertaken by the department for the purposes of increasing funding for projects such as educational programs for the hearing impaired assisting them with parenting, job seeking and leadership skills. There is much documentation in the minutes on the development of Telecommunication Relay Services, a communication system that allows deaf people to receive written text phone messages through a TTY phone device. This series is arranged chronologically by date.

This series provides copies of Executive Orders and Memorandums created during the administrations of various Governors' from William Tuck to James Gilmore III covering many differing topics. Executive Orders are issued by the governor to accomplish specific goals and carry the full force of law. Executive Memorandums provides guidelines to state agencies and reflects the Governor's wishes (without the force of law) and usually expires upon the end of the Governor's terms.

Governor Charles S. Robb created an extensive amount of Executive Orders and Memorandums that reflect the economic period of the early 1980's. There are Executive Orders concerning a state hiring freeze, guidelines controlling employment and the creation of the Governor's Economic Council. The Governor Robb's Executive Policy Memorandum 1-82 requires a review of all existing regulations and the drafting of future policy initiatives.

Governor Gerald L. Balilies Executive Orders and Memorandums highlights continue budget and funding concerns with Executive Order 9 (86) requiring the creation of a commission on funding state programs and Executive Order 12 (86) creation of an advisory board on the economy.

Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder also has an extensive amount of Executive Orders and Memorandums during his administration. During the 1990's many states put pressure on companies doing business with South Africa (due to the country's apartheid policy) requiring companies to divest investments in South Africa. Governor Wilder's Executive Order number 8 (90) require the divestment in firms operating in South Africa.

Governor James S. Gilmore III., instituted Executive Order 4 (98) which declared a state of emergency for Virginians suffering due to severe weather conditions, including a heavy snowstorm that resulted in floods and high wind damage for the Western portion of the state. This was among many orders issued by the Governor in 1998. Some of the orders approved by the Governor were in existence during previous administrations. There is a summary report entitled, "Executive Orders Currently in Effect as of July 1998". The records in this series is arranged chronologically by date and Executive Order and Memoradum number.

The Advisory Board Records gives correspondence, memorandum and reports documenting the activities of the director and acting director for the Virginia Council for the Deaf. Directors of the department during the time period of these records are Lily P. Bess, Fred Yates Jr., Susan Walker-Buckland and Clayton Bowland. Board member records are also included in this series. There is discussion concerning the quality of education for deaf students. The records offer Position Papers describing legislative proposals supported by the council. There is information concerning budgetary plans and outlines for the department. There is documentation of efforts by the Council to inform their constituents and the public about resources available to members of the deaf community.

There are correspondence reflecting the establishment of the teletype centers, designed to operate as a clearing house for messages received and given by the deaf community through TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) equipment to those without TDD devices. TDD devices are electronic equipment that provides text communication through telephone lines enabling the deaf to communicate.

The Advisory Records gives parliamentary procedures for board members to follow when holding meetings and includes resumes, curriculum vita and application forms of individuals seeking appointment to the Advisory Board. This series is arranged chronologically by year.

The Financial and Conflict Disclosure series provides memorandums and directives explaining the Virginia Conflict of Interest Act. This act requires board members to be forthcoming with personal financial interest information that might be considered as having a substantial affect concerning on decisions or actions board members make for the agency. There are samples of blank and completed disclosure statement forms. This series is arranged as received roughly chronolgically by year.

This series features the Subject Files created during the tenures of various Director's of the Virginia Department of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The records provide information on the operation of the department. There are calendars chronicling the planned activities for the Director and Acting Director of the department. There are conference materials and studies on the future direction of the agency and the subsequent impact to the deaf community. The statewide conference "Beyond the Year 2000: Are You Ready?" featured keynote speakers from the agency and experts in the field of communication discussing future employment opportunities for the deaf and others interested in working in this hearing/communications field.

There are request for information from the Governor's office, General Assembly or other state agencies are highlighted in the collection and shows the interaction between every aspect of state government. There is a draft report commissioned by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services prepared by research associates from the Center for Public Policy Research The Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy at the College of William and Mary. The report is a comprehensive study of health care related Boards in the Commonwealth of Virginia and was undertaken as part of a request from the General Assembly Senate Joint Resolution 317, 1997. The General Assembly was attempting to reduce duplication of services and consolidation of missions of various boards. The Subject Files have correspondence from people seeking employment and the City of Richmond's Police Department requesting a "Best Practices Guide" offering instructions for working with the deaf community. There is communications with other states offering comparisons on their administration of deaf policies for their citizens along with request from scholars seeking statistical information for studies about the deaf community. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

This series has one contact sheet featuring board members of the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. An accompanying negative for the contact sheet is also a part of this series. This series is arranged as received.