Miscellaneous Commission Documents

Jack Spain's papers are related to the Local Government Subcommittee of the Commission on Constitution Revision (1966-1971). Spain served as counsel to the Local Government Committees of the General Assembly. The papers include memoranda, legislative materials, official documents, printed materials, and personal documents. They were received in 5 oversized boxes that were very well organized. The archives maintained the exact organization.

Members of the Local Government Committee were UVA Law Dean Hardy C. Dillard, Judge Albert Bryan Jr., and Jack Spain. They also had law students who helped with research. Those were Michaela (Micki) Regan, research assistant to Spain; Kent Millikan; Richard (Dick) W. Hogan (Law 1969); Raymond B. Pinchbeck; Daniel A. Winterbottom (Law 1969), and Laurence D. Beck. Spain describes the process of the committee: “The study Commission started its process with public hearings, then would meet generally at the Board Head Inn in Charlottesville. The full commission would meet – maybe once a month, and the committees in between. – We exchanged written memoranda among the members, and each committee would make a report in writing before each commission meeting.” [See memo from Jack Spain to Randi Flaherty, September 17, 2021].

The Local Government Subcommittee studied population, valuation in towns and cities, revenue, taxes, local authorities, local debt, local legislation and local autonomy, special legislation, statutory authority, limitations, annexation of territory, rights of utilities, liability of counties, air-rights, planning districts, metropolitan government, powers of Commission on local government, etc.

In addition to the Local Government files there is memoranda and documents from other committees of the Commission for Constitutional Revision, the Hahn Report, public views documents and printed materials.