Welcome to the Kentucky Secretary of State History Page! This Office has a rich history, and the men and women who have served as Secretary of State are a testament to public service. Here you can learn about:
This account of the Office and its past would not have been possible without the Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Library and Archives and the Margaret I. King Library at the University of Kentucky. Ron Bryant, noted Kentucky historian and author, and family members of past secretaries have brought to life many of the biographies shared here.
Past Secretaries of State and their staffs, through their tremendous contributions to the Commonwealth, are well-deserving of this tribute. Enjoy the treasures that lie within.
From Ron Bryant's "A History of the Office of the Secretary of State":
One of the most important of Kentucky’s constitutional offices is that of Secretary of State. In
Section 91 of the present Constitution, the qualifications, election, and term of office for the state
constitutional officers are enumerated. These officers are to be at least thirty years of age at the
time of their election, and a resident of the state for at least two years.
The first, second, and third Constitutions of the Commonwealth in 1792, 1799, and 1850, did not
provide for the election of a Secretary of State. Instead, the Governor appointed the individual to
serve in this capacity. The fourth, and present Constitution promulgated in 1891, provided that
the office become elective. In 1896, the first elected Secretary of State took office.
Among the duties of the Secretary of State is the requirement to keep a “fair register” of, and
“attest to all official acts of the Governor.” The Secretary is also charged with placing those
documents and minutes before the House of the Kentucky General Assembly. Other duties of the
office include the State Board of Elections. Under the direction of the Secretary, the Board is
responsible for the functioning of the electoral process. The Secretary also oversees the official
registry of foreign and domestic corporations in the Commonwealth.
The Secretary is the keeper of the Great Seal of the Commonwealth. The seal attests to the
validity of official acts of the chief executive of the state, and is used in the certification process
for other official documents pertaining to state government. The seal represents the binding
authority of all government acts. The design of the seal portrays two Kentuckians shaking hands
in friendship signifying the Commonwealth’s motto, “United We Stand Divided We Fall.” In
addition to these duties, the Secretary’s office is where candidates for statewide elections must
file their candidacy papers. The secretary also oversees the Kentucky Land Office that preserves
the state’s land grants, warrants, and surveys.
Historically, the office of Secretary of State is an ancient one. Some of the greatest figures in
history have served in this important position. At the national level, the office of Secretary of
State has been filled by some of the most brilliant individuals in American history. Thomas
Jefferson, James Madison, and Henry Clay have served their nation in this capacity.
In Kentucky, the Secretary of State’s office has been occupied by some of the Commonwealth’s
brightest and best citizens. James Brown (1766-1835) served as the first Secretary. Other
notables include, John J. Crittenden, William Owsley, John Pope, and John Rowan, who held
other high offices at the state and national level. Some of the occupants of the office have found
themselves involved with controversy. Caleb Powers (1869-1932) who served as Secretary from
1899 to 1900 went to prison for his implication in the William Goebel assassination in 1900, but
was later pardoned.
Charles Finley of Whitley County (1865-1941) became Kentucky’s first elected Secretary of
State in 1896. In 1924, Emma Guy Cromwell (1869-1952) became the first woman to be elected
to the office. Since Cromwell’s time, five other women have held the post.
The office of Secretary of State has evolved through the years. It is now one of the most
technologically advanced offices in state government. Due to the innovative approach that the
office has taken toward providing public access via computers to important government
documents, Kentucky continues to be one of the leaders in utilizing technology for the public
good.
One of the greatest uses of technology in the Secretary of State’s office is providing access to the
Enrolled Bills of the General Assembly, as well as access to the Governor’s Journals. The
invaluable historical record of the Kentucky Land Office is available to historians and
researchers online. With justifiable pride, the Secretary of State’s office can say that these land
records have been placed in the hands of the researchers at the touch of a keyboard. The office
has won international acclaim for its work in providing information to the public.
Researchers will find a treasure house of historical and genealogical research among the many
land records pertaining to grants, warrants and surveys. Among these records are surveys done
by Daniel Boone, along with grants and warrants signed by such notables in American history as
Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. Not only can the researcher find the way in which land was
historically distributed in Kentucky, they can also trace migration and economic patterns from
the 1700s through part of the nineteenth century.
The Secretary of State’s office is one of the busiest in Kentucky government. The office receives
hundreds of thousands of Internet hits each year due to the massive amount of information stored
in its collection. These numbers will continue to grow as more information becomes readily
available to the public.