Executive Records

Official Acts of the Governor of West Virginia and Other Records

Many of the responsibilities of the Secretary of State today have come from new duties assigned by the West Virginia Legislature over the years. The role of keeper of the Governor's official papers is one of the oldest duties dating from the beginning of the State, and a traditional role of the office in most states.

The provision of West Virginia Code, Chapter 5, relating to the general powers and duties of the Governor, Secretary of State and other officials comes from Virginia, where it was adopted in 1860, and carried over into the Code of West Virginia on the formation of the state in 1863.

Original signed copies of specific types of formal documents executed by the Governor and countersigned by the Secretary of State are filed here. In addition, the Executive Records section has taken on the role of repository of certain other legal documents, often as a result of specific legislation.