Secretary of StateVermont State Archives
Secretary of StateThe purpose of this guide is to provide a summary of the holdings at the Vermont State Archives. It is a work in process; new links to descriptions of our records will be added.
Agencies and Departments:
Attorney General:
John J. Easton, Jr. (1981-1985).
Boards and Commissions:
These are primarily records from special focus boards and commissions that no longer exist, though there are some ongoing series. See the Governors' records for related records on Boards and Commissions.
Constitution:
Various records on the Vermont Constitution, proposals of amendment and referenda, 1777 to present. For Council of Censors see publications list.
Corporations:
Primary source for active corporations is our Business Registry Division. The Archives does hold some Articles of Association (1892-1958) and our An Index to Private Corporations (see publications list) identifies special corporate acts prior to 1913.
Election Records:
Records reflect Secretary of State's role as chief election officer and include returns of vote, referenda, campaign finance reports, campaign material, and other election material from 18th-Century to present. Vermont Elections: 1789-1989 (see publications list) is a compilation of some of the Archives election material. The Secretary of State records contain material on the conduct of elections. (See also Historical Campaign Finance Database).
Governors' Records:
The official correspondence of governors includes scattered 18th- and 19th-Century gubernatorial records and most 20th-Century governors. Pre-Civil War records of Governors are scattered throughout the Manuscript Vermont State Papers. The location of all governor's records can be found in A Guide to the Papers of Vermont Governors (see publications list).
Legislative Records:
Legislative Committee minutes (1917 to present), original acts (18th-Century to present) and miscellaneous records including photographs, studies, and the records of a few individual legislators. See the Manuscript Vermont State Papers for early legislative records.
Lieutenant Governor:
The Archives hold a couple special studies by Lieutenant Governors, as well as the records of Lieutenant Governor Peter P. Smith, 1983-1987..
Manuscript Vermont State Papers:
18th- and 19th-Century government records (mostly pre-1840), including legislative records, grand lists, petitions, some court records, and federal documents. The Nye Index is a name and subject index referencing the manuscripts and provides a useful tool for genealogists.
Municipal Charters:
Includes copies of original land grant charters and special charters for cities, incorporated villages, solid waste districts, towns with special charters and other municipal entities. Vermont Municipalities: An Index to their Charters and Special Acts (see publications list ) is a useful resource.
Photographs:
The Archives holds photographic collections from several government agencies as well as the Houston Photograph Collection (a private studio whose staff photographed numerous government activities and public officials, circa 1920-1965).
Public Buildings/State Property:
The Archives holds all deeds, leases and conveyances in which the State of Vermont is a party, with the exception of highway rights of way. Plans and other records relating to a few state buildings are also held by the Archives.
Secretary of State Records:
The Archives holds Secretary of State records from 1949 to the present, as well as scattered earlier records. The Secretary's role as chief election officer is reflected in the Election Records.
Stevens Collection:
Henry Stevens, Sr. was a major collector of 18th- and 19th-Century documents. He was responsible for collecting the Manuscript Vermont State Papers, the original core of the Archives. Other Stevens Collections at the Archives include transcripts of public and private documents pertaining to 18th-Century Vermont history, and original 18th- and 19th-Century court records, legislative records, surveys, custom house records, and the papers of notable Vermonters including Ethan, Ira, and Levi Allen. A Guide to the Stevens Collection is available at the Archives. (See publications list).
Surveys, Maps, Lotting Plans:
Includes records of the Surveyors General as well as other material relating to Vermont surveys. The Surveyors General records consist of 18th- and early 19th-Century town boundary surveys and lotting plans for Vermont towns (1762-1835); the records can be accessed through the Index to the Papers of the Surveyors-General (see publications list).
Another way of accessing our collections is through ARCCAT, an online catalog of Vermont archives and manuscripts from the holdings of repositories including the State Archives, Vermont Historical Society, Sheldon Museum, Special Collections at the University of Vermont, and the Archives of Barre at the Aldrich Library. ARCCAT is also an ongoing project; about 10% of the State Archives collections are cataloged.