The Virginia Independence Bicentennial Preliminary Commission was created by Chapter 698 of the 1966 Acts of Assembly. Pursuant to this, three members were appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the Senate, five by the Speaker from the House of Delegates, and five by the Governor from the State at large.

In 1968, the Act was amended dropping the word "Preliminary" from the Commission's title, and adding two members to the Commission from the State at large. The Governor accordingly named two additional citizens to serve on the Commission.

A second amendment to the Act approved by the General Assembly in 1971 increased the membership of the Commission to eighteen-one additional State Senator, and two additional members from the House of Delegates. This amendment further provided that members in office on January 1, 1971, and those appointed subsequent thereto, would continue in office until December 31, 1983.

A third amendment in 1972 (H.B. 311) authorized the Commission to enter into certain contracts and to form a nonprofit corporation. The purpose of the Commission is to develop and coordinate plans of public and private agencies for commemorating the bicentennial of the War of American Independence.

At the first meeting of the Commission, February 17, 1967, Delegate Lewis A. McMurran, Jr. was elected Chairman; Senator Hunter B. Andrews was elected Vice Chairman at the next meeting, October 20, 1967.

Since 1966, the staff of the Jamestown Foundation has served as secretariat of the Commission. Mr. Parke Rouse, Jr., Executive Director of the Foundation, has served also as acting director of the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission. Mrs. Jacqueline Taylor was appointed Administrative Assistant on July 1, 1971, and on October 23, 1972, was named Assistant Director.

The following report is submitted as called for in Section 7, of the above-mentioned Acts of Assembly, as amended.