Virginia. Treasurer's Office

Acts of the General Assembly passed in 1819, 1821, and 1825 provided for "clearing and improving the navigation of the James River and for uniting the eastern and western waters, by the James and Kanawha Rivers, and for other purposes." These acts underscored the economic necessity of improving the waterways for commerce.

From the description of Transfer of stock book of the James River Company, July 22, 1823-March 11, 1846. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122632160

From the description of Transfer of stock books for James River and Kanawha Company, April 1, 1825-March 31, 1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86147400

An act of the General Assembly, approved March 30, 1871, provided for the funding and payment of the public debt which was proportioned between Virginia and West Virginia, by authorizing direct payment of West Virginia's share to the holders of stocks, bonds or interest certificates except the five per centum dollar bonds and sterling bonds. The intent was to facilitate reduction of the debt and the restoration of the credit debt. These coupon bonds were payable to order.

From the description of Register of coupon bonds, July 1, 1871. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122555256

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 20, 1892, provided for the settlement of the public debt of Virginia not funded under the act of February 14, 1882, known as the Riddleberger bill. The commissioners of the sinking fund were empowered to create "listable" registered and coupon bonds to satisfy the debt.

From the description of Registers of coupon bonds, June 7, 1893 - January 14, 1949. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122601621

From the description of Registers of coupons, January 1, 1892 - July 1, 1920. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86104864

An act of the General Assembly, approved March 30, 1871, provided for the funding and payment of the public debt which was proportioned between Virginia and West Virginia, by authorizing direct payment of West Virginia's share to the holders of stocks, bonds or interest certificates except the five per centum dollar bonds and sterling bonds. The intent was to facilitate reduction of the debt and the restoration of the credit of Virginia by providing for prompt payment of the interest on her proportion of the debt.

From the description of Registers of coupons, January 1, 1872 - February 20, 1892. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122611546

From the description of Registers of certificates, July 5, 1871-January 12, 1921. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122624483

On 28 January 1802 the General Assembly passed an act concerning the payment of the public debt. Before a warrant was issued to pay the interest on a certificate of debt due from the state, the owner or holder of the certificate deposited the certificate with the treasurer. The treasurer issued a receipt specifying the value of the certificate and distinguishing the principal from the interest. The receipt then was presented by the owner to the auditor, who issued a new certificate for the principal and a warrant for the interest. Unless they were deposited with the treasurer, the original certificate would be void after 1802.

From the description of Registered certificates, 1802-1809. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122624282

The volumes record treasury notes issued under an act passed by the General Assembly on March 18, 1856, authorizing the issuance of treasury notes. The first volume also includes a register of the treasury notes issued under an ordinance of the Convention of 1861 (June 21 - July 15, 1861).

From the description of Registers of treasury notes, April 29, 1856 - July 30, 1861. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122624475

This volume records coupon bonds issued under an act passed by the General Assembly on March 30, 1871, and amended on March 7, 1872.

From the description of Register of coupon bonds, July 1, 1872. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122368105

During its session begun in November 1781 the General Assembly passed an act to call in paper currency and replace it with loan office specie certificates of equal value. The treasurer received the old currency, issued the owner new loan office certificates, and registered the certificates with the auditor of public accounts. The principal was due on or before 1 December 1790; the interest was paid annually.

From the description of List of specie certificates issued by the treasurer in lieu of paper, 1782-1787. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122394741

This volume records stock certificates issued by authority of an act passed by the General Assembly on March 2, 1866, to fund the interest on the public debt.

From the description of Register of stocks, June 9, 1866 - November 28, 1873. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122368104

This volume records state stock issued under an act passed by the General Assembly on March 18, 1856, to regulate the issuance of certificates of registered stock in lieu of coupon bonds.

From the description of Register of stocks, August 12, 1857 - November 23, 1873. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86162641

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 20, 1892, provided for the settlement of the public debt of Virginia not funded under the act of February 14, 1882, known as the Riddleberger bill. The commissioners of the sinking fund were empowered to created "listable" registered and coupon bonds to satisfy the debt.

From the description of Registers of coupon bonds, January 1, 1892 - October 20, 1926. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122646914

An act of the General Assembly, approved March 30, 1871, provided for the funding and payment of the public debt which was proportioned between Virginia and West Virginia, by authorizing direct payment of West Virginia's share to the holders of stocks, bonds or interest certificates except the five per centum dollar bonds and sterling bonds. The intent was to facilitate reduction of the debt and the restoration of the credit of Virginia by providing for prompt payment of the interest on her proportion of the debt. These coupon bonds were payable to bearer.

From the description of Registers of coupon bonds, July 1, 1871 - April 28, 1884. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122538646

An act of the General Assembly, approved March 28, 1879, provided a plan of settlement of the public debt, giving the governor the authority to create registered and coupon bonds which were exempt from taxation. The bonds were divided into two classes: class I included all tax-receivable coupon bonds, and all registered bonds and fractional certificates convertible into tax-receivable coupon bonds, under the act approved March 30, 1871; class II included all bonds funded under the act of March 30, 1871, amended March 7, 1872, and also two-thirds of the face value on all unfunded bonds, including sterling bonds.

From the description of Registers of coupons, January 1, 1880 - February 20, 1892. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122700664

From the description of Registers of certificates, July 7, 1879 - March 15, 1880. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86104865

From the description of Registers of coupon bonds, January 1, 1879 - July 12, 1881. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122646916

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 1882, ascertained and declared Virginia's share of the debt created before and actually existing at the time of the partition of her territory and resources, and provided for the issuance of bonds and the payment of interest on them. These bonds were named for the sponsor of the enabling legislation, Harrison H. Riddleberger.

From the description of Registers of coupons, January 1, 1883 - July 1, 1920. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122538349

From the description of Registers of coupon bonds, July 1, 1882 - May 14, 1934. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122640223

During its session begun in November 1781 the General Assembly passed an act to call in paper currency and replace it with loan office specie certificates of equal value. The treasurer received the old currency, issued the owner new loan office certificates with the auditor of public accounts. The principal was due on or before December 1790; the interest was paid annually.

From the description of Paper money receipts, 1782-1789. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122487800

Following the secession of Virginia from the Union, a pro-Union government was formed in Wheeling. When the state of West Virginia was created in 1863, this so called "restored" government of Virginia moved to Alexandria. At the end of May 1865 the restored government returned to Richmond. Francis H. Pierpont was governor and Warren W. Wing was treasurer under this government.

From the description of Restored government journal, June 20, 1863-September 30, 1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122487943

An act of the General Assembly, approved March 30, 1871, provided for the funding and payment of the public debt which was proportioned between Virginia and West Virginia, by authorizing direct payment of West Virginia's share to the holders of stocks, bonds or interest certificates except the five per centum dollar bonds and sterling bonds. The intent was to facilitate reduction of the debt and the restoration of the credit of Virginia by providing for prompt payment of the interest on her proportion of debt.

From the description of Register of certificates issued for interest accrued on sterling 5 per cent bonds, November 22, 1871 - December 18, 1877. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122624478

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 1882, ascertained and declared Virginia's share of the debt created before and actually existing at the time of the partition of her territory and resources, and provided for the issuance of bonds and the payment of interest on them. This was known as the Riddleberger bill.

From the description of Registers of certificates, September 25, 1882-November 12, 1931. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86172262

Joseph H. Shepherd was a clerk in the treasurer's office who embezzled almost $38,000 between 1894 and 1900 by writing fraudulent checks.

From the description of List of fraudulant [sic] checks drawn by the Hon. Joseph H. Shepherd, August 24, 1894-April 6, 1920. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122496535

Acts passed by the General Assembly in 1786 and 1787 permitted the treasurer to accept tobacco receipts from public warehouses in lieu of cash for taxes. The tobacco thus acquired was later sold and the funds were deposited in the treasury.

From the description of General fund ledger, tobacco received in payment of taxes, November 27, 1788-November 23, 1789. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86147388

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 1882, ascertained and declared Virginia's share of the debt created before and actually existing at the time of the partition of her territory and resources, and provided for the issuance of bonds and the payment of interest on them. These bonds were named for the sponsor of the enabling legislation, Harrison H. Riddleberger.

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 20, 1892, provided for the settlement of the public debt of Virginia not funded under the act of February 14, 1882, known as the Riddleberger bill. The commissioners of the sinking fund were empowered to create "listable" registered and coupon bonds to satisfy the debt.

From the description of Coupon register, January 1, 1921 - July 1, 1932. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122611548

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 1882, ascertained and declared Virginia's share of the debt created before and actually existing at the time of the partition of her territory and resources, and provided for the issuance of bonds and the payment of interest on them. This was known as the Riddleberger bill.

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 20, 1892, provided for the settlement of the public debt of Virginia not funded under the act of February 14, 1882, known as the Riddleberger bill. The commissioners of the sinking fund were empowered to create "listable" registered and coupon bonds to satisfy the debt.

From the description of Virginia century registered bond account, January 3, 1922 - March 30, 1928. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86104862

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 1882, ascertained and declared Virginia's share of the debt created before and actually existing at the time of the partition of her territory and resources, and provided for the issuance of bonds and the payment of interest on them. This was known as the Riddleberger bill.

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 20, 1892, provided for the settlement of the public debt of Virginia not funded under the act of February 14, 1882, known as the Riddleberger bill. The commissioners of the sinking fund were empowered to create "listable" registered and coupon bonds to satisfy the debt.

From the description of Warrants on coupon interest accounts, July 1, 1886 - June 30, 1915. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86104863

From 1691 to 1776, the Treasurer's Office was a powerful, independent agency. Following the adoption of the state constitution in May 1776, the treasurer has served as a fiscal agent subsidiary to the auditor of public accounts, then to the second auditor, as well, and finally, since March 1, 1928, to their successor, the comptroller. The treasurer kept separate books and sat on the board of directors for three significant funds: the Literary Fund (1811), the Internal Improvement Fund (1816), and the Sinking Fund (1835).

The office of treasurer was created to collect all the revenues raised from duties on skins, furs, and foreign liquors to support the College of William and Mary. From 1691 until 1723, the speaker of the House of Burgesses was appointed treasurer. The offices of speaker and treasurer were separated in 1766. In October 1776 the General Assembly established the auditor as the primary fiscal agent and in October 1778 specified the treasurer's subservient status to the auditor.

The treasurer received and disbursed state money on warrants from the first or second auditor after the latter office was created in 1823 and kept accounts in books which he compared yearly with those of the two auditors. His basic duties remained unchanged from 1792 until March 1, 1928, when the Byrd plan for reorganizing state government went into effect.

On April 18, 1927 the Reorganization Act of 1927 created the Dept. of Finance, which included the Division of the Treasury, was created. The Office of Comptroller was created to perform the functions formerly exercised by the first and second auditors. The treasurer's basic duties still remained unchanged, but he now answered to the comptroller. A significant change required the comptroller to audit each claim to determine its validity before he authorized the treasurer to make payment. In addition, these two officers were designated Commissioners of the Sinking Fund and, along with the governor, members of the Finance Board. A 1928 amendment to the Reorganization Act of 1927 required the treasurer to make daily reports of all receipts to the comptroller, and to take custody of all bonds and certificates of the state debt.

The Treasurer is now a gubernatorial appointment. A 1948 Act of the General Assembly changed the Division of Treasury to the Department of Treasury. The 1950 revision of the Code of Virginia stipulated that a treasury board was to replace both the Finance Board and the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund. The treasurer, comptroller, and state tax commissioner were designated as members of this board. They were responsible for supervising all investments of state funds, for designating state depositories, for managing the Sinking Fund, and for any other matters which might be conferred upon them by law.

In 1972 the General Assembly passed an act to establish a governor's cabinet composed of administrative secretaries, and the Dept. of Treasury was placed under the Secretary of Finance control. From 1973 until 1984the Dept. of Treasury was placed under the Secretary of Administration and Finance. In 1984 it was placed under the Secretary of Finance.

From the description of Agency history. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145408942

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 1882, ascertained and declared Virginia's share of the debt created before and actually existing at the time of the partition of her territory and resources, and provided for the issuance of bonds and the payment of interest on them. This was known as the Riddleberger bill.

An act of the General Assembly, approved February 20, 1892, provided for the settlement of the public debt of Virginia not funded under the act of February 14, 1882, known as the Riddleberger bill. The commissioners of the sinking fund were empowered to create "listable" registered and coupon bonds to satisfy the debt.

From the description of Register of cancelled coupon bonds, n.d. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86172261