The Secretary of the Archives and Records Commission in person, or through a deputy authorized by him, shall have the right of access to all public records and archives of this state, except those records and archives classified as confidential by act of the Legislature, with a view of securing their safety and preservation and determining their administrative or legal value. On behalf of the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Library the Attorney General may replevin any public records or archives illegally removed which were formerly part of the records or files of any public office of the Territory or of the State of Oklahoma.