Missouri State Archives
Finding Aid 5.2
Office of Secretary of State
Commissions
GOVERNORS PROCLAMATIONS, 1893-
Abstract: Proclamations (1893-2006) made by the governor of the state of Missouri and filed with the secretary of state.
Extent: 20.4 cubic ft. (51 Hollinger boxes)
Physical Description: Paper
Location: MSA Stacks 10A/6/7-9 and 10B/6/1-2
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Access Restrictions: No special restrictions.
Publication Restrictions: Copyright is in the public domain. Items reproduced for publication should carry the credit line: Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives.
Preferred Citation: [Item], [date]; Governors' Proclamations, 1893- ; Commissions; Office of Secretary of State, Record Group 5; Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.
Acquisition Information: Agency transfer. Various accessions, including 1997-0022, 2000-0168, 2002-0042, 2004-0067, 2004-0143, 2004-0212, 2005-0107, 2007-0094.
Processing Information: Processing done by various staff members. Partially refoldered in 2002. Accession 2002-0042 was processed by Mary Kay Coker on June 27, 2002; 2004-0067, 2004-0143, and 2004-0212 on August 31, 2004; 2005-0107 on June 27, 2005; 2007-0094 on July 6, 2007.
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Proclamations are gubernatorial decrees that are generally ceremonial in nature, primarily for days of observance or commemoration of people or events, although they can also be substantive, such as offering rewards for fugitives or calling special elections. They are called out specifically in Article IV, Section 9, of the Missouri State Constitution, namely that on extraordinary occasions the governor "may convene the general assembly by proclamation, wherein he shall state specifically each matter on which action is deemed necessary."
Although proclamations existed in Missouri long before 1893, when this series begins, the ones here are those filed and signed by the secretary of state. These are the official versions, fulfilling the secretary of state's role of "authenticating all official acts of the governor, except the approval of laws" (10 CSR 30-1). For proclamations prior to 1893, see the multi-volume set published by The State Historical Society of Missouri called The Messages and Proclamations of the Governors of the State of Missouri.
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
Bibliography
The Messages and Proclamations of the Governors of the State of Missouri, Vols. I - XX (Columbia, MO: The State Historical Society of Missouri, 1922-1965).
Other Finding Aids
Some proclamations may be found in the finding aids for Record Group 3, Office of Governor. In early years, prior to 1893, these proclamations may be originals. In later years, they are more likely to be copies of the official version held by the secretary of state.
Related Material
See series Governor's Proclamations Concerning Elections (1946-1984) and Governor's Proclamations Concerning Senatorial Districts (1881-1931). Both are closed series, the former generally superseded by the ongoing series Writs of Election or found in the regular proclamation series. Information on senatorial districts may be found in the series Records of the Reapportionment Commissions. Although proclamations convening special sessions usually call out all matters to be considered, sometimes the proclamation will deal with the topic only generally and the details will be found in the series Special Messages from the Governor.
GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATIONS, 1893-
Extent: 20.4 cubic ft. (51 Hollinger boxes)
Arrangement: Chronological either by date signed or date filed
Scope and Content
The proclamations found within this series are those signed by (or affixed with the signature of) the governor, signed and filed with the secretary of state, and affixed or impressed with the official state seal. Occasionally the original is missing and only a copy or draft remains in the file. Although there is a separate series designated as proclamations concerning elections, there are nonetheless many scattered among this regular series of proclamations.
Before the turn of the 20th century, the great majority of governor's proclamations in this series offered rewards for the arrest of fugitives. A number of the wanted were described as colored. Although the crime most often cited was murder, other crimes included ravishment, bigamy, forgery, embezzlement, voting violations, assault, train and bank robbery, horse stealing, lynching, death resulting from abortion, and arson. Early rewards, up to about 1913, may have supporting documentation, such as letters from prosecuting attorneys, copies of indictments, newspaper clippings, reward notices, or applications for the reward. Because rewards expired after only a year, there may be several renewals for the same criminal in successive years. The number of these rewards offered diminishes around the time of World War I and ceases entirely by World War II.
Other early proclamations set up quarantines for contagious livestock or declare a day of observance such as Thanksgiving. A few also asked the public to help relieve the suffering of victims of natural disasters, such as "cloud bursts," floods, and cyclones. Historical events are often noted, such as wars and the depressions. After World War II, the proclamations become generally more ceremonial, with the great majority proclaiming periods of observation, from "Ragweed Control Month" to "Barbershop Harmony Week" to "Miss Missouri Day." However, there are still substantive proclamations involving special elections, special sessions, and labor disputes in public utilities. In 1967-68, there are several oversize proclamations designating regional planning commissions.
A gap in the series exists from February through December of 1977, with only one proclamation from January of that year. However, copies exist in the records of Governor Joseph P. Teasdale (Record Group 3.48).
| Location | Box | Folders | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10A/6/7 | 1 | 1 - 42 | January 1893 - April 1897 |
| 10A/6/7 | 2 | 1 - 32 | May 1897 - June 1900 |
| 10A/6/7 | 3 | 1 - 33 | July 1900 - December 1903 |
| 10A/6/7 | 4 | 1 - 36 | January 1904 - December 1906 |
| 10A/6/7 | 5 | 1 - 38 | January 1907 - May 1910 |
| 10A/6/7 | 6 | 1 - 68 | July 1910 - June 1917 |
| 10A/6/7 | 7 | 1 - 80 | July 1918 - November 1925 |
| 10A/6/7 | 8 | 1 - 95 | January 1926 - August 1938 |
| 10A/6/7 | 9 | 1 - 54 | September 1938 - December 1943 |
| 10A/6/7 | 10 | 1 - 73 | January 1944 - December 1950 |
| 10A/6/8 | 11 | 1 - 59 | January 1951 - December 1955 |
| 10A/6/8 | 12 | 1 - 40 | January 1956 - April 1959 |
| 10A/6/8 | 13 | 1 - 44 | January 1963 - June 1966 |
| 10A/6/8 | 14 | 1 - 41 | January 1904 - December 1906 |
| 10A/6/8 | 15 | 1 - 42 | July 1966 - December 1969 |
| 10A/6/8 | 16 | 1 - 42 | January 1970 - June 1973 |
| 10A/6/8 | 17 | 1 - 26 | July 1973 - August 1975 |
| 10A/6/8 | 18 | 1 - 22 | September 1975 - January 1977
(Gap from February - December 1977, see Record Group 3.48) January 1978 - May 1978 |
| 10A/6/8 | 19 | 1 - 18 | June 1978 - November 1979 |
| 10A/6/8 | 20 | 1 - 13 | December 1979 - December 1980 |
| 10A/6/8 | 21 | 1 - 16 | January 1981 - April 1982 |
| 10A/6/8 | 22 | 1 - 12 | May 1982 - April 1983 |
| 10A/6/9 | 23 | 1 - 12 | May 1983 - April 1984 |
| 10A/6/9 | 24 | 1 - 12 | May 1984 - April 1985 |
| 10A/6/9 | 25 | 1 - 14 | May 1985 - June 1986 |
| 10A/6/9 | 26 | 1 - 12 | July 1986 - June 1987 |
| 10A/6/9 | 27 | 1 - 14 | July 1987 - August 1988 |
| 10A/6/9 | 28 | 1 - 14 | September 1988 - October 1989 |
| 10A/6/9 | 29 | 1 - 14 | November 1989 - December 1990 |
| 10A/6/9 | 30 | 1 - 16 | January 1991 - April 1992 |
| 10A/6/9 | 31 | 1 - 15 | May 1992 - July 1993 |
| 10A/6/9 | 32 | 1 - 7 | August 1993 - April 1994 |
| 10A/6/9 | 33 | 1 - 7 | May 1994 - December 1994 |
| 10A/6/9 | 34 | 1 - 7 | January 1995 - August 1995 |
| 10B/6/1 | 35 | 1 - 7 | September 1995 - April 1996 |
| 10B/6/1 | 36 | 1 - 7 | May 1996 - December 1996 |
| 10B/6/1 | 37 | 1 - 7 | January 1997 - July 1997 |
| 10B/6/1 | 38 | 1 - 7 | August 1997 - March 1998 |
| 10B/6/1 | 39 | 1 - 7 | April 1998 - October 1998 |
| 10B/6/1 | 40 | 1 - 9 | November 1998 - July 1999 |
| 10B/6/1 | 41 | 1 - 9 | August 1999 - April 2000 |
| 10B/6/1 | 42 | 1 - 8 | May 2000 - December 2000 |
| 10B/6/1 | 43 | 1 - 8 | January 2001 August 2001 |
| 10B/6/1 | 44 | 1 - 7 | September 2001 February 2002 |
| 10B/6/1 | 45 | 1 - 6 | March 2002 July 2002 |
| 10B/6/1 | 46 | 1 - 7 | August 2002 February 2003 |
| 10B/6/2 | 47 | 1 - 7 | March 2003 August 2003 |
| 10B/6/2 | 48 | 1 - 8 | September 2003 April 2004 |
| 10B/6/2 | 49 | 1 - 8 | May 2004 December 2004 |
| 10B/6/2 | 50 | 1 - 12 | January 2005 December 2005 |
| 10B/6/2 | 51 | 1 - 12 | January 2006 December 2006 |