Melungeon Research: Plecker Letter #1 to Tennessee

Melungeon Research: Plecker Letter #1 to Tennessee: "NOTE: W.A. Plecker, acting as Virginia's first Registrar of Vital Statistics, was determined to 'mark' all Melungeons as not-white. Here is one of many letters that he wrote to neighboring states seeking information on Melungeon origins; the date shows that even during World War II, Plecker did not ease up in his efforts. The enclosures noted below have not been located but presumably consisted of a list of allegedly 'Melungeon' family-names. An excellent discussion of Plecker's dubious 'legacy' can be found in Pocahontas'People by Helen Rountree.
Commonwealth of Virginia
Department of Health
Richmond
I. C. Riggin, M. D.
Commissioner
Bureau of Vital Statistics
W. A. Plecker, M. D. Registrar
August 5, 1942
Secretary of State,
Nashville, Tennessee.
Dear Sir:
Our bureau is the only one in any State making an intensive study of the population of its citizens by race. "