The director of the Department of Archives and History, or his designee, is authorized to act as agent for any public officer or his successor in office, or in those cases where the office is abolished or no successor is appointed or elected, to recover books, papers, and other office property in the manner provided in Code Sections 45-6-10 and 45-6-11. The director may initiate such action on his own volition and succeeds to all rights and remedies as the successor in office would normally have in the property.