LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MINNESOTA:

An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For details, please see restrictions.

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	League of Women Voters of Minnesota, creator.
	Title:	League of Women Voters of Minnesota records.
	Dates:	1919-2012.
	Abstract:	Records of a non-partisan political organization formed to encourage informed and active participation in government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy.
	Quantity:	59.55 cubic feet (65 boxes, 1 folder in partial box, and 2 items in reserve), 5 master video files: MOV (88.4 GB), 4 user video files: MP4 (3.3 GB), 1 master audio file: WAV (226 MB), and 1 user audio file: MP3 (37.6 MB).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota (LWVM) was organized in October 1919 in meetings called by the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association. Clara Ueland served as its first president, and after a few months she was succeeded by Marguerite Wells.

The Minnesota League worked closely with the National League of Women Voters (LWV), which was organized at the same time, and with local Minnesota Leagues functioning in the congressional districts. The records reflect the intertwining of activities from local to national level, the common objectives sought, and the exchange of information among the various units.

In the early years the League's objective was the political education of the newly enfranchised female voters. Soon, however, the groups broadened their scope to include voter education in general, study of legislation, determining individual legislators' positions on issues, and communication of that information to the local leagues. Among the many areas of interest were social welfare measures, natural resources, pure food and drug measures, disarmament, trade, foreign policy, civil service, the World Court, the United Nations, government organizations, education, public finance, control of atomic energy, and civil rights.

Reflecting the growing interests in environmental and women's issues, the League extended its programs to include these areas, as well as encouraging further participation in the political process by disseminating information on precinct caucuses and political parties, preparing questionnaires and interviews of political candidates, and sponsoring candidate debates on the local and national levels.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Subject files on political and public affairs issues, historical background materials, articles of incorporation, constitution, bylaws, reports, financial records, convention materials, program files, news releases, newspaper clippings, questionnaires and interviews, and related materials documenting the activities of the state league founded in 1919, its local leagues, and their participation in the national League of Women Voters.

The collection documents the League's interest in and activities concerning a wide range of local, national, and international issues, with particular emphasis on women's issues, educational policies, the Minnesota Legislature, and Minnesota constitutional revisions and amendments. The records also document the League's involvement in political activities, including precinct caucuses, dissemination of information on political parties, questionnaires to candidates, and sponsorship of candidate debates.

Foreign policy interests, mainly on the national level, detail the League's interests in international cooperation, economic development and recovery, foreign aid, loyalty-security issues, and the United Nations and UNESCO.

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ARRANGEMENT

These documents are organized into the following sections:


	State Organization Records:
		Historical and Background Materials
		Administrative Records
		Scrapbooks
		Financial Records
		Membership Files
		Correspondence Files
		Publications
		Public Relations
		Conventions, Conferences, Meetings, and Workshops
		Program Files
		Sound and Visual Materials
	Local League Records:
		Organizational Records
		Miscellaneous Materials by Local League
	National Organization Records:
		Organizational Records
		Program Files

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions:

Digitized originals are closed. Access and use requires the curator’s permission.

Access to and use of reserve materials requires the curator's permission.

Please consult reference staff for more information.

Records with confidential information have been redacted.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]League of Women Voters of Minnesota Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 8929; 11,080; 11,401; 12,953; 13,344; 13,399; 14,408; 14,930; 15,485; 15,605; 16,675; 17,021; 17,695

Location of Master Files:

Digital masters of the audiovisual material are maintained on the Society's secure digital collections storage servers and are managed and preserved in accordance with archival best practices.

The original audio reel and videocassettes were disposed after the material was digitally reformatted into MOV and WAV files.

Processing Information:

Legacy Amendment logo

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, June 1994; Lara D. Friedman-Shedlov, April 2000, July 2002; Lynne Leitte, March 2003; Deborah Kahn, April 2004; additions by David B. Peterson, June 2012 and September 2015; additions by Leif Kopietz, February 2020

Digitized by: Minnesota Historical Society, May 2011, October-November 2019

Digital audiovisual transferred from the master audio reel and videocassettes by the Minnesota Historical Society for preservation purposes, (January, 2020).

Digitization of reserve material was made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.

Catalog ID number: 990017314100104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

STATE ORGANIZATION RECORDS

These extensive files contain theses and pamphlets with historical information; articles of incorporation, bylaws, and constitution; minutes of the executive committee; minutes, agendas, and related records of the board of directors; reports; lists of officers; financial records, including memorial funds; scrapbooks containing printed materials, newspaper clippings, and samples of League literature; correspondence files consisting of circular mail issued by the state and national offices; publications, including the Minnesota Voter; public relations files; and files on state conventions and state biennial council meetings. The largest single portion of the section consists of program files, which are arranged alphabetically by topic and cover the whole spectrum of League activities.

Historical and Background Materials


RESTRICTED
Location	Box
306.C.15.1B	1	Theses about and histories of the League, 1926-1969. 7 folders.
			1926
			1938,1940, and undated
			1939
			1946
			1951
			1944 and 1959
			1969
		Approval and criticisms of the League (quotations from various sources), 1921-1965. 3 folders.
			1921-1943
			1925-1940
			1948-1965
		Miscellaneous background materials, 1920-1975.
			Digital version
Location	Box
Unavailable	63	League of Minnesota Voters history and background, 1919-1997.

Administrative Records


RESTRICTED
Location	Box
306.C.15.1B	1	Articles of incorporation, undated.
			Digital version
		Constitutions, undated and 1919-1929.
			Digital version
		Bylaws, 1921-1983. 2 folders.
			1921-1956
			1957-1983
		Executive committee minutes, 1919-1928. 3 folders.
			1919-1926
			1927-1929
			1929-1938
		Board of directors:
			Minutes, 1919-1959. 16 folders.
				1919-1921
				1922-1924
				1924-1926
				1927-1929
				1930-1932
				1932-1935
				1936-1939
				1940-1941
				1942-1944
				1944-1947
				1948
				1949-1950
				1951-1952
				1953-1955
				1956-1957
				1958-1959
Location	Box
306.C.15.2F	2		Minutes, 1960-1965. 5 folders.
				Incomplete for March-December 1965.
				1960-1961
				1962
				1963
				1964
				1965
			Minutes fragments, 1966-1971.
				Digital version
			Minutes, August 11, 1981-March 8, 1983.
				Digital version
			Minutes, agendas, and related records, 1973-August 1989. 12 folders and 4 volumes.
				1973
				1974
				1975
				1976
				1977
				1978
				1979
				1980
				1981
				1982
				1983
				1984
				1984-1985
				1985-1986
				1986-1988
				1988-1989
Location	Box
306.C.15.3B	54		Minutes, agendas, and related records, July-October 1989.
				Digital version
			Minutes, agendas, and related records, May 1998-2007. 8 folders.
				1998
				1999
				2000
				2003-2004
				2003-2005
				2004-2005
				2006
				2007
Location	Box
Unavailable	63		Official minutes, Accession 17,695, April 1, 1965-March 13, 1997. 10 folders.
				Includes a seperate set of Board Directors minutes that were maintained and accessioned seperately from preceeding Board of Directors minutes. The contents, arrangement, and annotations differ from other sets of minutes.
				Each file is arranged in reverse chronological order.
			Board, special committee, and project minutes, 2001-2007, 2013.
Location	Box
306.C.15.3B	54		Board memo and Outlook for work, 1962-1986. 17 folders.
				Fragmentary through March 1969.
				1962-1964
				1965-1966
				1965-1966
				1967-1968
				1969
				1970
				1971
				1972-1973
				1974-1975
				1976-1977
				1978-1979
				1980-1982
				1983
				1984
				1984
				1985
				1986
Location	Box
306.C.15.4F	3		Board memo and Outlook for work, 1987-2001. 15 folders.
				1987
				1988
				1989
				1989
				1990
				1996
				1996
				1997
				1998
				1998
				1999
				1999
				2000
				2000
				2001
			Board memo and Outlook for work: Preparation, 1973-1975.
				Digital version
			Outlook for work, 1971-1988. 2 folders.
				1971-1979
				1979-1988
			Board organization, 1987-1994.
				[0.25 cubic feet empty, letter sized]
				Digital version
Location	Box
306.C.15.5B	4		Board retreats, 1989-2001. 10 folders.
				1989
				1990
				1991
				1992
				1993
				1994
				1995
				1996
				1997
				2001
		Legislative council minutes, 1920-1937. 3 folders.
			1920-1922
			1923-1926
			1928-1937
		Lists of officers, directors, and committee members, 1971, 1994-1999.
			Digital version
		Annual reports to National League of Women Voters, 1943/44-1969/70, 1982, 1999/2001. 14 folders.
			1943-1952
			1953-1959
			1959-1960
			1960-1961
			1961-1962
			1963-1966
			1966-1967
			1967-1968
			1968-1969
			1968-1969
			1969-1970
			1969-1970
			1969-1970
			1982,1999-2001
Location	Box
Unavailable	63	Annual reports to National League of Women Voters, 1978-1981, 1985, 1987-1999, 2003-2007, 2009. 2 folders.
Location	Box
306.C.15.5B	4	Executive secretary reports, 1920-1927/28.
			Digital version
		Building the League: Making Democracy Work building site handouts, 1997.
			Digital version
		Building the League: Nuts and Bolts Tool Kit building site handouts, 1997-1999.
			Digital version
		Officer and director lists, 1919-1983.
			Digital version
		President's packet, 1994-1995.
			[0.25 cubic feet empty, letter sized]
			Digital version
Location	Box
306.C.15.6F	5	President's letter, 1958-1963.
			Fragmentary. This publication replaced Board memo in June 1963.
			Digital version
		State board training session: Correspondence, 1958-1960.
			Digital version
		Resignations from the board, 1940-1964.
			Digital version
		State president's correspondence, 1953-1967.
			Digital version
		Interboard communications and memoranda, 1964-1978.
			Digital version
		Seventy-fifth anniversary, 1995-1996.
			Digital version
		Guidelines, leadership, and policies, 1971-1979.
			Digital version
		Planning reorganization and goals, 1974-1979.
			Digital version
		President's workshop, 1995.
			Digital version
		Regional workshops, 2011.
			Digital version
		State board policies: Correspondence, 1946-1964.
			Digital version
		Consensus (including minutes of committee), 1960-1975.
			Digital version
		State Organization Service, 1955-1968.
			Includes committee minutes and related records.
			Digital version
		Shared staff (with national organization): Correspondence, 1954-1957.
			Digital version
		Visits to Minnesota from national staff members, 1951-1957. 5 folders.
			Folder 1
			Folder 2
			Folder 3
			Folder 4
			Folder 5
		Miscellaneous organization records, 1920-1991.
			[0.4 cubic feet empty, letter sized]
			Digital version
Location	Box
Unavailable	63	75th Anniversary, 1991-2001. 2 folders.
		Miscellaneous administrative records, 1939-2003.
		Minnesota Women's Building, 1986-2007.
		Reserve Mining Silver Bay, 1969-1977.
		Rosters, 1966-1987.
		Publication logs, 1981-1996.
		State and Federal correspondence, 1963-1973.
		50th Anniversary, 1968-1970.

Scrapbooks

RESTRICTED

Location

Box

306.C.15.7B

Printed materials, agendas, meeting minutes, and samples of literature, 1921-1927. 5 volumes.

Location

Box

306.C.15.8F

Printed materials, agendas, meeting minutes, and samples of literature, 1927-1937. 4 volumes.

Location

Box

306.C.15.9B

Printed materials, agendas, meeting minutes, and samples of local and national literature, 1940-1948. 3 volumes.

Location

Box

143.B.16.9B

Samples of printed literature, 1920-1926. 2 volumes.

OPEN FOR USE.

Predominately printed materials and some ephemera that relate to activities at the national level.

Location

Box

143.B.16.10F

Samples of printed literature, 1926-1930. 1 volume.

OPEN FOR USE.

Predominately printed materials and some ephemera that relate to activities at the national level.

Location

Box

Unavailable

The League of Women Voters: A Mighty Political Experiment scrapbooks 1-2, 1980s-1990s. 4 folders.

The scrapbooks were disassembled and rehoused into multiple folders.

Financial Records

Location

Box

143.B.16.11B

Auditor's reports, 1920-1952, 1986-1987. 2 folders.

Budgets, 1948-1983. 7 folders.

Includes budget committee records.

Tax filings with state and federal governments, 1985-1986.

Treasurer's statements, 1920-1967. 3 folders.

Treasurer's reports, 1926-1983. 7 folders.

Pledges, 1932-1978.

Memorial Funds:

Isabel Lawrence, 1929-1931.

National League (Minnesota women honored), 1919-1931.

Jane Grey Swisshelm, 1938-1949.

Clara Ueland, 1927-1961. 2 folders.

Development correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1972-1979. 2 folders.

Development committee: Minutes and related records, 1973-1980.

Metropolitan finance committee: Minutes and related records, 1952-1964.

Fiftieth anniversary campaign (fund raising): Minnesota: Minutes, memoranda, correspondence, and related records, 1967-1970. 3 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.16.12F

Fiftieth anniversary campaign: National: Correspondence, memoranda, and related records, 1967-1973. 6 folders.

Includes sample kit.

Miscellaneous financial records, 1930-1978. 4 folders.

Includes finance committee and chairman.

Membership Files

Location

Box

143.B.16.12F

Members-at-large: Lists and correspondence, 1947-1949.

Minutes, memoranda, and related records, 1929-1983. 2 folders.

Nominating committee: Correspondence, 1947-1979. 2 folders.

Recognition committee meetings, 1946-1948.

Speech transcripts, 1919-1980. 2 folders.

Know your league and Let's talk league booklets, 1950s-1969.

Handbooks, 1951-1959, 1998.

League song sheets, 1932-1942.

Skits, undated, 1930s, 1963-2000. 2 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.12F

General membership files, 1961-2014. 2 folders.

Speeches and testimonials, 1968-2004.

Hope Washburn Award, 1956-2011.

Correspondence Files

Location

Box

143.B.16.12F

Explanatory note, undated.

Circular mail from Minnesota headquarters, 1919-1954. 8 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.16.13B

Correspondence, 1955-1964. 26 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.16.14F

Correspondence, 1970-1973. 10 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.16.15B

Correspondence, 1974-1978. 18 folders.

[0.3 cubic feet empty, letter sized]

Location

Box

143.B.16.16F

Circular mail from national headquarters, May 1940-June 1957. 22 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.1B

Circular mail from national headquarters, July 1957-June 1962. 27 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.2F

Circular mail from national headquarters, July 1963-October 1964. 3 folders.

Other correspondence and miscellaneous records, undated and 1920-1983. 13 folders.

[0.5 cubic feet empty, letter sized]

Location

Reserve 113

Selected correspondence: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, undated. 2 items.

RESTRICTED

Digital version

Location

Box

143.B.17.12F

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1883-2003.

Publications

Printed reports, fliers, newsletters, position papers, catalogs of League publications, and similar material.

Location

Box

143.B.17.3B

Alcohol and tobacco use in Edina, 1997.

Alternative voting systems, 2004.

The Articulate Voter: Correspondence, subscriber lists, and issues, 1946-1955. 2 folders.

Awards presentations, 1996-2001.

Candid candidates: Responses to campaign finance reform survey from candidates, Alternative voting systems, 1999.

Capitol Letter, 1959-2005, 2011. 8 folders.

Capitol Letter: Correspondence concerning subscribers, 1961-1983. 2 folders.

Citizen lobbyist, 1981-1987.

Citizens in action, 1984-2003.

Debates, 1979-2004.

Education fund, 1988-2001.

Elderly, 1989.

Environment, undated and 1989.

Event fliers, 1980-2002.

Facts and Issues, 1962-1980; Project Update, 1956-1967.

Financing public services in Minnesota, 1966.

General election hotline, 1994-2000.

Housing, 1992-1993.

How to make a difference: A citizen's guide to state government, 2001.

How to orient new members, 1982.

Human resources: Minnesota's changing patterns, 1965.

Judicial selection, 1998-2010.

League Lines back issues, 1985-1989.

League O Gram, 1962-1965.

League on the grow, 1985.

League promotional literature, undated and 1994.

Let's talk league, 1973-1975.

Local program guidelines, 2000.

Mental health, 1977-1997.

Minnesota constitution and proposed constitutional convention, 1953-1980.

Minnesota state government spending, 1986.

Minnesota woman suffrage memorial, undated.

Minnesota women's building, circa 1986.

The Minnesota Voter, 1923-1945, 1955-1973. 3 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.6F

The Minnesota Voter, 1974-2005. 4 folders.

The Minnesota Voter: Correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1956-1979. 2 folders.

Raising Minnesota's Leaders: A Collection of Leadership Development Lessons, March 1990.

Monitoring Mental Health Services at the County Level, 1989.

We the people: Skills for democracy curriculum, 1993, circa 1996.

Location

Box

147.C.11.1B

Party designation, 1956-1960.

Pay equity: A monitoring guidebook, 1984.

People's choice cookbook, undated and 1983.

Does not include a copy of the cookbook.

Position papers, legislative testimony, and correspondence with lawmakers, 1968-2000.

Power of 3 campaign, 2005.

Problems of discrimination, 1961.

Reapportionment, 1953-1965.

Reference packet for League research/study committees, 1979.

Road to election day '98, 1996-2000.

Seventy-fifth anniversary, 1994-1995.

Taking charge: A new generation registers to vote, 1985.

The State You're In, 1956, 1958.

Voter guides, 1982-2012.

Water resources, 1984-1985.

We've got the power curriculum, undated.

Will the meeting please come to order, 1980.

You are the government distribution to schools: Correspondence and miscellany, 1958-1969.

Does not include a copy of the booklet.

Catalogs of publications, 1956-1998.

Correspondence and miscellany, 1952-1978. 2 folders.

Samples of League publications, 1956-1960.

Publications by topic:

Children and education, 1959-1987.

Civic engagement and voting, 1950-2013. 2 folders.

Diversity and immigration, 1962-2008.

Economics and environment, 1954-1998.

Location

Box

143.B.17.12F

Government, 1956-2013. 2 folders.

Health, 1987-2002.

Housing and judicial system, 1965-2002.

League, 1966-2009.

Miscellaneous and women, 1962-2000.

Public Relations

Location

Box

147.C.11.1B

Foreign exchange education programs, 1955-1962.

Correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1939-1983. 6 folders.

Includes minutes of the Public relations committee.

Public relations committee: Constitutional revision, 1954-1958. 4 folders.

SEE ALSO box 30 for additional files on constitutional revision.

Location

Box

143.B.17.4F

News releases, 1959-1979, 1982-1986. 3 folders.

Newspaper clippings: League activities, 1924-1971. 4 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.6F

Newspaper clippings: League activities, 1960s-1970s, 2004.

[0.50 cubic feet empty, letter sized]

Location

Box

143.B.17.5B

Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, 1922-1933. 5 volumes.

Public relations press file, 1919-2012.

Location

Box

108.G.18.1B-1

Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, 1929-1947, 1955-1970s. 4 volumes.

Conventions, Conferences, Meetings, and Workshops

Location

Box

143.B.17.7B

Conventions and Conferences:

Included with the convention files for the years 1923 to 1943 are programs and other materials documenting the Institutes on Government and Politics, which were sponsored by the League and the University of Minnesota and held at the same time as the annual conventions. After 1955 state conventions were held in odd-numbered years only, and the biennial council meetings in the even-numbered years.

State organizational meetings: Correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1919-1920. 3 folders.

State convention files:

Includes correspondence, minutes, programs, reports, committee lists, ballots, resolutions, institutes on government and politics sponsored by the League and the University of Minnesota (1923-1943), and similar materials.

1920-1938. 38 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.8F

1939-1977. 33 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.9B

1979-2001. 21 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.10F

State council biennial meetings, 1954-2000. 24 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.11B

Organizational conferences, 1925-1943. 5 folders.

Arranged by congressional district.

President's conferences, 1943-1946. 2 folders.

Area conferences, 1957, 1958. 2 folders.

Leadership and training conference, Spring Hill, 1974.

Minnesota Governor's Pre-White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services, 1978.

Upper Midwest Leadership Conference on National Security, 1983.

Funded Conferences (Focus on Emerging Issues):

Corrections, 1975.

Human Services Reorganization and Realities, 1976.

Health Care Costs: What's the Rx?, 1976-1978.

Is There a Role for the Citizen in Teacher Collective Bargaining?, 1977.

Public Employees and the Citizens, 1977.

The Exploitation of Children, 1978.

World Trade Protectionism: The Present Tug of War, 1978.

Initiative and Referendum: The Citizen and Legislator, 1979.

Current Trends in Education, 1979.

Global Arms Control: Facing Off or Facing Up?, 1979.

Transportation 2000, 1980.

Minnesota and World Trade: Agriculture and More, 1980.

Women and Sport: Past, Present, and Future, 1980.

Location

Box

143.B.17.12F

Workshops:

Legislative, 1950.

Constitutional amendments, 1958.

Legislative, 1958.

Legislative effectiveness, 1960.

Local government, 1961.

Membership, 1961.

Leadership training, 1962-1982.

Public relations, 1962.

Discussion, 1963.

Leadership, 1964.

Legislative, 1964.

Human resources, 1967.

Legislative action, 1968.

Focus on state government, 1973-1976.

Heartland leagues, 1977.

Focus on emerging issues, 1976-1979.

Lobbyists, 1978-1983.

Miscellaneous workshops, 1959-1983.

Meetings:

Neighborhood, 1933-1939.

Legislative observers, 1959, 1961. 2 folders.

Miscellaneous meetings, 1955-1982.

Seminar: Passage to Power: The Political Woman, 1979.

Legislative Day, 1957, 1959. 2 folders.

Seminars, symposiums, and mini-courses, 1963-1979.

Hope Washburn, Legacy Circle, and Debate event materials, 1984-2016.

Miscellaneous event materials, 1966-2016.

Program Files

Topics of major interest include amendments to, and revisions of, the Minnesota constitution and calls for a constitutional convention; education policies; the Equal Rights Amendment, beginning in the 1920s; financing state government; reports on legislative activities by League observers; and the Voters services program, which is documented through extensive files on the League's promotion of precinct caucus attendance, dissemination of information on political parties and procedures, questionnaires to candidates on the national and state level, and files detailing the League's sponsorship of political debates.

Location

Box

306.C.15.10F

General Files:

Program suggestions, 1957.

Digital version

Program making, 1959-1965. 4 folders.

Correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1919-1982. 3 folders.

1919-1929

1930-1948

1953-1982

Printed Programs:

Legislative Program for Action, 1955-2003. 3 folders.

1955-1987

1990-2001

2001-2003

Goals for Good Government: Positions (1967-1969), Positions for Action (1969-1971), and State Programs Index (1977-1979).

Digital version

Subject Files:

Abortion, 1977-1979.

Digital version

Action alerts, 1977-1979.

Digital version

Agriculture, 1999-2004. 7 folders.

Appeals court, 1982-1983. 2 folders.

1982

1982-1983

Assessment of property, 1933-1952.

Digital version

Athletics, 1979-1981.

Digital version

Location

Box

306.D.15.1B

Ballot rotation, names on, 1973-1978.

Digital version

Boundary Waters Canoe Area preservation, 1976-1979.

Digital version

Cable communications, 1975-1979.

Digital version

Campaign financing, 1960-2000. 4 folders.

Children's issues, 1964-1997. 2 folders.

1964-1987

1993-1997

Choice, 1993-2000.

Digital version

Location

Box

Unavailable

Citizens Jury, 1989-1993.

Location

Box

306.D.15.1B

Civil Rights, Minnesota Steering Committee On: Minutes, 1963-1966.

Digital version

Civil service: Correspondence and miscellany, 1933-1959. 7 folders.

Communications committee, 1999-2000.

Digital version

Congressional Action Chair Files:

Notes, clippings and other miscellaneous records, 1967-1972. 5 folders.

Interviews, reports, and correspondence by district: Districts 1-8, 1966-1975. 8 folders.

Location

Box

306.D.15.2F

Mondale, 1966-1973.

Digital version

Humphrey, 1970-1975.

Digital version

McCarthy, 1967-1970.

Digital version

Congressional reform, 1973-1978.

Digital version

Constitutional Amendments:

Sound and Visual Materials

LOCAL LEAGUE RECORDS

Local leagues carried out the League of Women Voters program in many municipalities throughout the state. The records include lists of local presidents and boards; annual reports; agendas; budgets and other financial data; membership information; program planning data; and similar files. Of special interest are minutes, financial reports, newsletters, and other records of the Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues (1961-1980). The Council was composed of representatives from Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties, and was formed to study the economic, social, and physical features of the Metropolitan area and to promote political responsibility through active participation in government and to coordinate activities with other League groups.

There are also consensus reports from the locals containing comments on such issues as education, housing, human resources, and legislative apportionment; information on disbanded leagues (1922-1986); and miscellaneous files with constitutions, correspondence, bylaws, newsletters, and publications produced by individual leagues.

Organizational Records

Location

Box

143.B.18.9B

Lists of presidents, 1947-1984.

Board member lists by individual league: Albert Lea - Worthington, 1969-1976.

Local League Board and local league boards and program, undated and 1978-1983.

Annual reports of local leagues to national and Minnesota offices: Anoka - Worthington, 1962, 1967/68-1969/70.

Local agendas: Albert Lea - Worthington, 1969/70-1970/71.

Proposed budgets: Albert Lea - Worthington, 1969/70-1970/71.

Statistics, 1952-1983.

Includes finances, membership and similar categories.

Workshops, 1957-1963. 3 folders.

Local league bulletins: Correspondence, 1956-1963.

Unit organization, 1958-1968.

Skits, 1952-1965. 2 folders.

Field services to local leagues, 1973-1980. 4 folders.

Suggestions for local league program activities (national organization), 1925-1955.

National Program Recommendations:

First round: Anoka - Winona, 1969.

Second round: Albert Lea - Winona, 1970.

Program: Voters services, 1944-1965. 5 folders.

Special project, 1961-1962, 1967.

Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues, 1972-1999. 2 folders.

Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues and Committee on City Leagues, 1929, 1961-September 1963.

Includes minutes, financial reports, correspondence, and related records.

Location

Box

143.B.18.10F

Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues, September 1963-March 1980. 8 folders.

Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues newsletters, 1962-1977. 3 folders.

Local league studies: Health care: Anoka - Winona, 1980-1981.

Consensus Reports:

Education (Minnesota office): Albert Lea - Winona, 1966.

Housing (Minnesota office): Albert Lea - Worthington, 1965. 2 folders.

Human resources development (national office): Albert Lea - Willmar, 1966. 2 folders.

Legislative apportionment (national office): Albert Lea - Worthington, 1965.

Disbanded Leagues:

Aitkin - Wright County and college leagues, 1940s-1950s. 5 folders.

Alexandria - Blaine, 1960-1998. 8 folders.

Location

Box

147.C.11.6F

Cloquet - Hibbing, 1922-1998. 27 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.18.11B

Houston County - St. Anthony, 1947-2002. 21 folders and 3 volumes.

Location

Box

147.C.11.7B

Scott County - Worthington, 1959-1995. 12 folders.

Location

Box

143.A.16.5B

Local league presidents and other organizational records, 1964-1997.

Miscellaneous Materials by Local League

Files include constitutions, bylaws, correspondence, newsletters, publications, and similar records.

Location

Box

147.C.11.7B

Afton - Austin, 1954-1998. 7 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.18.12F

Austin - Hutchinson, 1924-2003. 24 folders.

Location

Box

143.A.16.5B

Albert Lea-Mendota Heights, 1956-2012. 3 folders.

Minneapolis, 1968-2013. 3 folders.

Minnetonka Eden Prairie Hopkins, St. Louis Park, 1957-2012. 3 folders.

Rochester and Robinsdale, 1962-1999.

Saint Paul, 1958-2004.

Wayzata and Woodbury, 1967-1988.

Location

Box

143.B.18.13B

Hennepin County - Worthington, 1936-1983. 25 folders.

Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1920-1983. 5 folders.

Newspaper clippings: Albert Lea - White Bear Lake, 1961-1962. 3 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.4F

White Bear/North Oaks Chapter Records:

Administrative files:

50th anniversary information, 1969.

75th anniversary information, 1995.

Annual meeting information, 1961-1989, 2001. 2 folders.

Annual reports, 1959-1966, 1976-1982. 2 folders.

Annual reports: Section I, 1976-1987.

Annual reports: Section II, 1967-1982. 2 folders.

Awards, 1978-2001.

Bear Facts newsletter, 1986-1987.

Board member lists, 1963-1989.

Bylaws, 1968-1987.

December dinner, 1969-1985.

Finance/fundraising, 1951-1977.

Historical data, 1963-1983.

Hope Washburn Award, 1967-1986.

Membership handbooks, 1983/1984-1985/1986.

Membership, 1980-1984.

Merger of White Bear/North Oaks and Mahtomedi chapters, 2001.

Minutes, 2000-2002.

Publicity/public relations, 1972-1988, 2010. 7 folders.

Public Relations Award, 1993.

Skits, 1974-2000.

Program/study files:

Advisory boards/projects summary sheets, 1978-1979.

Education: District 621 (Mounds View) studies, 1969-1973.

Education: District 624 (White Bear Lake) studies, 1971-1973.

Election report, 2000.

Government: Initiative, referendum, recall, 1980.

Housing, 1980.

Local programs, 1969-1983.

Manitou Days, 1980-1981.

North Oaks surveys, 1973-1984. 2 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.17.9B

North Oaks surveys, 1960-1995. 2 folders.

Program miscellany, 1953-1994.

Publishing, 1966-1980.

Railroad study, 1980-1981.

Rice Creek Watershed study, 1969-1970.

Source separation (sewer), 1982.

Well testing, 1980.

White Bear Lake city charter, 1962-1979.

White Bear Lake studies, 1961-1980. 4 folders.

Location

142.H.19.8F-2

Publicity scrapbook, 1986-1987. 1 volume.

Location

Box

Unavailable

Publicity Scrapbook of the Birchwood League of Women Voters, 1950s. 1 volume.

Bloomington League of Women Voters scrapbook, 1967-1974. 1 volume.

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NATIONAL ORGANIZATION RECORDS

The organization of these records is similar to those of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, although they are not as extensive. Included are historical background files; bylaws; lists of officers; budget and financial data; conference files; public relations files; and files on national conventions and biennial council meetings. The latter two activities followed the same time pattern as at the state level.

The rest of the section contains the program files, subdivided into two sections: domestic and foreign policy. The program files are similar in content to those found in the state organization records, with additional information on civil rights, women's issues, loyalty-security programs, reorganization of Congress and the Executive Branch, defense issues, displaced persons, foreign economic development and recovery, foreign trade policies, and the United Nations including the Bretton Woods and Dumbarton Oaks conferences and UNESCO.

Organizational Records

Location

Box

143.B.18.14F

Historical and background information, undated and 1918-1952, 1960s-1970s. 8 folders.

Bylaws, 1921-1978. 3 folders.

Lists of officers and committee members and related materials, 1959-1979.

National continuing responsibilities, 1960-1967.

Programs and program planning, 1950-1975.

Unit meetings and organization, 1949, 1953.

Miscellaneous materials, 1948-1970. 2 folders.

Budget and Finance Files:

Budget committee, 1978-1979. 2 folders.

Treasurer's reports and financial statements, 1967-1978.

Newsletters: Finance Letter (1957-1960) and Money Matters (1960-1966).

Miscellaneous materials, 1954-1978.

Published booklets, 1961-1978.

Nominating committee, 1947-1966.

Board reports and miscellaneous records, 1955-1979. 6 folders.

Biennial council meetings, 1949-1953. 3 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.18.15B

Biennial council meetings, 1955-1979, 1995-1999. 12 folders.

Conventions, 1920-1976. 20 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.18.16F

Conventions, 1978, 1992-2000. 7 folders.

Regional conference and state board training conferences, 1953-1969.

Membership information, 1953-1968.

Public Relations:

Miscellaneous records, 1953-1971.

FYI newsletter, 1961-1967.

Publications:

Miscellany, 1952-1971.

Election kit, 1964.

Catalogs, 1959-1978.

Publicity, 1954-1967.

Speeches, 1919-1934.

Handbooks, 1956-1978.

[0.4 cubic feet empty, letter sized]

Program Files

Location

Box

143.B.19.1B

Explanation of the program, 1928-1960. 2 folders.

Program structure, 1952-1963.

Agendas, 1925-1953. 2 folders.

Conferences with national representatives, 1951.

Local and state league activities on the national program, 1957-1959.

Printed program guides, 1972-1978.

Domestic Issues:

Apportionment/reapportionment, 1958-1966.

Civil liberties, 1941-1958.

Development of human resources (Including newsletters), 1964-1970.

Economic opportunity/poverty programs, 1964-1969.

Equalizing Opportunities:

Civil rights, 1944-1947.

District of Columbia home rule, 1942-1970.

Education, 1930-1970.

Legal status of women, including the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, 1911, 1921-1953. 5 folders.

Facts and Issues newsletter, 1967-1972.

Government: National, 1960-1979. 2 folders.

Government: State and local, 1947-1974.

Loyalty-security programs, 1951-1958. 5 folders.

Location

Box

143.B.19.2F

Political accountability rating (PAR): Congressional voting records, 1973-1984.

Presidential election reform (including electoral college), 1964-1977.

Presidential power: Treaty making (Bricker Amendment), 1953-1957.

Reports from the Hill newsletters, 1966-1979.

Social and Economic Welfare:

General files: Welfare, 1942-1981.

Department of Efficiency in Government, 1930-1931.

Food and drug laws, 1919-1938.

Housing, 1937-1969.

Labor, 1932-1947. 2 folders.

Maternity and child welfare, 1924-1937. 2 folders.

Price control, 1941-1951.

Public health, 1930-1940.

Regional economic conference, St. Paul, 1948.

Social insurance, 1931-1945.

Taxes and expenditures, 1920-1961. 4 folders.

Structure of Government:

Budgetary procedures of Congress, 1952-1954.

Civil defense, 1941-1959.

Civil service, 1935-1953. 2 folders.

Conservation, 1945-1955.

Courts, 1930-1947.

Judicial, 1937-1955.

Reorganization of Congress, 1937-1950.

Reorganization of the executive, 1938-1950.

United States Constitution, 1925-1938.

United States Congress: Miscellany, 1954-1977.

Urban Crisis, 1957-1968.

Location

Box

143.B.19.3B

Voters services, 1953-1974. 5 folders.

Voters services: State activities, 1923-1959.

RELATED MATERIALS

Records of various local leagues, including the Minneapolis and St. Paul leagues, are separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

Newsletters of the Minnesota League and its local chapters are separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection.

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CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Apportionment (Election law) -- Minnesota.; Caucuses.; Civil rights -- Government policy.; Civil service reform -- United States.; Congresses and conventions -- Minnesota.; Debates and debating -- Minnesota.; Economic assistance -- Minnesota -- Political aspects.; Education -- Minnesota -- Law and legislation.; Electioneering -- Minnesota.; Elections -- Minnesota.; Electoral college.; Environmental protection -- Minnesota.; Equal rights amendment -- Minnesota.; Foreign trade promotion -- Government policy.; Health -- Minnesota -- Law and legislation.; Housing -- Minnesota -- Law and legislation.; Human rights -- Minnesota.; International agencies.; International cooperation -- Government policy.; Legislation -- Minnesota.; Legislative bodies -- Minnesota.; Local government -- Minnesota.; Political participation -- Minnesota.; Political parties -- Minnesota.; Politics, Practical -- Minnesota.; Public welfare -- Minnesota -- Political aspects.; Taxation -- Minnesota -- Political aspects.; Voter registration -- Minnesota.; Voting -- Minnesota.; Water -- Minnesota -- Pollution.; Water quality -- Minnesota.; Women -- Political activity -- Minnesota.; Women -- Minnesota -- Societies and clubs.

Persons:: Stuhler, Barbara, creator.; Ueland, Clara, 1860-1927, creator.; Wells, Marguerite M. (Marguerite Milton), 1872-1959, creator.

Organizations:: Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues (Minn.).; League of Women Voters of Minnesota. Education Fund, creator.; League of Women Voters of the United States.; Minnesota. Legislature.; Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association.; Unesco.; United Nations.; United States. Congress.; University of Minnesota.

Document Types:: Audio recordings.; Color slides.; Interviews.; Questionnaires.; Video recordings (physical artifacts).

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