Where are the original records for the Virginia Patent Series and the Old Kentucky Patent Series housed?
As the Virginia patents affect Kentucky land title and it was imperative the documents be available for research, possible litigation, etc., the legislatures of both states agreed to transfer land patent records to Frankfort shortly after Kentucky’s statehood. (Signatures on assignments on Warrants and Surveys feature signatures that could be challenged for authenticity.) From 1792 until 1898, the Register of the Land Office was a constitutional officer who oversaw the land patent files and directed the issuance of Kentucky land patents. In 1898 the Register’s office was abolished; duties were transferred to the Auditor of Public Accounts. In 1934 a governmental reorganization assigned the Land Office duties to the Kentucky Secretary of State. In 1974, Secretary of State Ken Harper entered into a contract with the Kentucky Historical Society for the research, lamination and preservation of all Kentucky land patent files.
