LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MINNEAPOLIS (MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.):

An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Expand/CollapseOVERVIEW

Creator: League of Women Voters of Minneapolis (Minneapolis, Minn.), creator.
Title:League records.
Dates:1919-1991.
Language:Materials in English.
Abstract:Background materials, constitution and bylaws, minutes of directors, membership and financial records, public relations materials, extensive program and special project files, and other records documenting the activities of the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis to educate its membership and the public on public issues and to encourage participation in the political process through precinct caucuses and voting.
Quantity:20.0 cubic feet (24 boxes, including 18 volumes).
Location: See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Expand/CollapseHISTORICAL NOTE

The League of Women Voters of Minneapolis was organized in 1922 as the Fifth District League of Women Voters, in conformity with other local Minnesota leagues organized by congressional district. Its name was changed to the present form in 1947. Its governing structure was modeled closely after those of the national and state leagues, and it pursued on a local level the fundamental mission of the national organization: the political education and motivation of the newly enfranchised women voters.

The Minneapolis league was organized into a number (30-55) of small "discussion units," each of them representing a ward or neighborhood area, and ranging in size from ten to twenty-five members. These groups, after 1921, tended to meet monthly to carry on the basic educational program of the Minneapolis league.

This sketch was taken from historical data filed at the beginning of box 1. Of particular note is a 52-page manuscript (1951) by John Tsuderos on the administrative structure of the Minneapolis league during its first twenty-five years. This narrative was a case study extracted from his larger PhD dissertation.


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Expand/CollapseSCOPE AND CONTENTS

Administrative files

The administration records are fairly complete, except for the board of directors' minutes, which cover only the years 1962-1967. However, the minutes are detailed and also include other records including minutes of committee meetings, membership information, lists of directors, and minutes of one annual meeting (1964). Annual reports (1967-1987) and annual meeting files (1922-1986) are present, along with smaller increments of records on goals and planning, personnel, committees, and the Hennepin County Council of the LWV (minutes 1947-1966). A number of records detail such league activities as foreign visitors to Minneapolis, League Day programs, tours, seminars, and workshops, all illustrating the scope and variety of activities promoted by the league.

Extensive financial records contain information on the league's drives to raise money (1960-1981), sales of a league calendar, benefit performances at the Guthrie and Cricket theaters, tax information, and budget data. They also include trial balances, treasurer's reports and statements, records of receipts and disbursements (1919-1968, 18 volumes), cash books (1951-1970), and contributor lists (1953-1964).

Following are files containing data on membership, publications, and public relations. Included are membership lists and directories, catalogs of league publications, copies of Minneapolis league publications, mailing lists, information on the league's promotional work through the media, speakers' bureau information, news releases, and newspaper clippings.

Program files

Program materials constitute the major portion of the collection. There are a few files with information on program planning and recommendations for national, state, and Minneapolis activities. There are many unit study briefing kits (1969-1986) consisting of printed materials, memoranda, and similar materials on a wide variety of topics including state and city governmental policies, civil rights, education, housing, Indians, juveniles, law enforcement, parks, politics, and many other subjects.

Similar in subject matter are the program subject files, which include correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, interview transcripts, and similar materials, and which are divided into domestic issue and foreign affair issue components. Educational policies receive the largest documentation and include files on collective bargaining and tenure for teachers, school aid programs, and the Minneapolis Public Schools, including school administration, alternative education, special education, and studies and surveys of school issues.

Other extensive program files relate to Hennepin County matters including courts, hospitals, public welfare, and tax structures; to housing, mainly low income housing; to city planning, including urban renewal and zoning, model city and pilot city programs, and neighborhood issues; and to water resources containing consensus reports from various league units and miscellaneous records.

Program files on foreign affairs issues contain information on post-World War II relief programs, foreign aid, immigration policies, and the United Nations.

Special project files

Observer reports. Detailed reports made by league observers who attended many committee, commission, and city council meetings. They reveal information on a variety of topics including city planning, environmental issues, health, housing, human relations, libraries, and parks. Also included are some minutes and financial reports relating to individual subjects.

Minneapolis City Charter studies. Details on the many attempts to amend and revise the charter with regard to rent control, bonding limits, appointment of a city manager, size of city council, city finances, and police and fire department issues. Of particular interest are two folders of information on the Charter Improvement Volunteer Information Committee and the Joint Committee for Charter Review.

Political activities. Extensive files on the Election Returns Project (1965-1985), a league project to collect and tabulate election returns, first for Minneapolis and later for Hennepin County. The files include correspondence with the media, instructions to volunteers, cost information, lists of candidates, and a few election night tallies.

Other political files contain information on campaign spending and finance, candidate meetings arranged by the league, constitutional revision, election judge training programs, precinct caucuses, reapportionment, and voter registration.


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Expand/CollapseARRANGEMENT

These papers are organized into the following sections:

Administrative files
Program files
Special project files


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Expand/CollapseADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

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

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 4194; 13,247; 13,615; 14,895

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn Johnson, July 1994

Catalog ID number: 990017317450104294


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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Expand/CollapseADMINISTRATIVE FILES

LocationBox
151.I.12.10F1Background materials:
History of the League by L. Chalmers, approximately 1935.
"Case history No. 1. Minneapolis League of Women Voters," by John E. Tsuderos, 1951.
Historical background and notes, 1955-1971.
"Let's talk League," undated.
"Career development portfolio," 1981.
Articles of incorporation, constitution, and bylaws, 1920-1982.
Board of Directors. Minutes and related records, 1962-1967. 5 folders.
Includes some minutes of committee meetings (1964-1966), membership information (1964), annual meeting information (1964), and director lists (1969-1982).
Board retreats, 1974-1979.
Suggestions to board members, 1969-1976.
Chairman's letters, 1957-1962.
Chairman's memoranda, 1965-1969.
Goals and strategic planning, 1966-1985.
Long Range Planning Committee, 1968.
Handbooks, 1948-1951.
LocationBox
151.I.12.11B2Action files, 1970-1984. 4 folders.
Annual reports, 1967-1987.
Annual reports to national LWV, 1967-1986. 6 folders.
Annual meeting files, 1922-1970. 4 folders.
LocationBox
151.I.12.12F3Annual meeting files, 1971-1986. 6 folders.
Annual conventions: State and national. Selected records, 1951-1970. 2 folders.
Chicago conference on League structure and procedures, October 1969.
Unit Chairman's materials, 1946-1982.
Committee lists, 1960/1961-1979/1980.
Organization Committee, 1962-1979.
Personnel Committee (including office staff), 1940-1971. 2 folders.
State LWV Committee for Inclusion of Civil Rights Study on State Agenda, 1960-1961.
Hennepin County Council, LWV. Minutes and related records, 1947-1966.
Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues:
Minutes and related records, 1961-1963.
Correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1962-1966. 2 folders.
Study program: Mass transit, 1965-1966.
Program suggestions, 1963-1965.
Publications, 1965-1989.
Handbook, 1963.
Bed and breakfast in Minneapolis project, 1978-1981.
Foreign students program, 1964-1970.
Hope Washburn Award, 1957-1981.
Latin American visitors, 1967-1968.
League Day programs, 1951-1979. 4 folders.
LocationBox
151.I.12.13B4League Week, 1975-1976.
Skits and program ideas, undated and 1969.
Tour: Legislator's Tour of Minneapolis, 1969.
Tours, 1962-1968.
Tour-seminar: "Minneapolis yesterday, today and tomorrow," April-May 1980.
Women's United Nations Rally Committee, Minneapolis, 1956-1980.
Workshop on Hennepin County Government, 1979.
Youth Day at Legislature, 1969.
LocationBox
151.I.12.14F5Correspondence files:
With National LWV, 1919-1964. 12 folders.
With State LWV, 1953-1964. 9 folders.
General correspondence, 1953-1973. 13 folders.
LocationBox
151.I.13.1B6General correspondence, 1974-1984. 24 folders.
LocationBox
151.I.13.2F7Financial records:
Finance drives, 1960-1981. 10 folders.
Finance drives: 50th Anniversary Campaign, 1968-1970.
Finance Advisory Committee. Lists, correspondence, and minutes, 1963-1982. 5 folders.
Fund raising:
Calendar project, 1968-1986.
Cookbook (Minnesota LWV), 1983-1985.
Metropolitan Finance Committee, 1953-1959.
LWV Education Fund, 1969-1981. 4 folders.
Carrie Chapman Catt Memorial Fund, 1948-1957.
Jane Grey Swisshelm Memorial Benefit, 1939.
Fundraising letter from Dorothy S. Riding, National LWV, 1982-1983.
Theater benefits: Guthrie and Cricket Theatres, 1974-1979.
Financing the League study, 1975.
National LWV expansion program:
Correspondence and miscellany, 1936-1949. 2 folders.
Newspaper clippings, 1939-1940.
Income tax returns, 1944-1965.
Tax information, 1936-1968.
LocationBox
151.I.13.3B8Budget information, 1961-1980.
Trial balances, 1978-1979.
Treasurer's monthly reports and statements, 1937-1954. 4 folders.
Unbound ledger sheets, 1970-1977.
Miscellaneous financial records, 1924-1970.
LocationBox
148.C.18.5B9Receipts and disbursements, 1919-April 1951. 8 volumes.
LocationBox
148.C.18.6F10Receipts and disbursements, May 1951-March 1968. 4 volumes.
Cash books, 1951-1970. 4 volumes.
Contributors, 1953-1964. 2 volumes.
LocationBox
151.I.13.4F11Membership records:
Correspondence and miscellany, 1925-1980. 4 folders.
Membership promotion, 1963.
Membership lists, 1965/1966-1966/1967.
Membership directory, 1980.
Publications:
Correspondence and miscellany, 1927-1971. 2 folders.
Catalogs of publications, 1964-1973.
"Minneapolis voter facts." Correspondence and copy of publication, 1966-1976.
"Minneapolis is your business":
Mailing list, 1964.
Correspondence and miscellany, 1955-1981. 6 folders.
LocationBox
151.I.13.5B12Public relations records:
Correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1945-1985. 3 folders.
Radio programs, 1952-1975. 2 folders.
Television program: "In League with Today," 1968-1969.
Speaker's Bureau, 1953-1981/1982.
News releases, 1938-1985. 5 folders.
Newspaper clippings, 1956-1978.

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Expand/CollapsePROGRAM FILES

LocationBox
151.I.13.6F13Program planning:
State LWV, 1936-1981. 8 folders.
National, 1949-1980. 7 folders.
Program making and recommendations, Minneapolis, 1975-1976.
LocationBox
151.I.13.7B14Unit studies briefing kits, 1969-1981. 49 folders.
LocationBox
151.I.13.8F15Unit studies briefing kits, 1982-1986.
LocationBox
151.I.13.9B16Program subject files: Domestic issues:
Air quality, 1971-1981.
Atomic energy:
Miscellany, 1940-1947.
National Committee on Atomic Information, 1946-1947.
Children's issues:
Miscellany, 1981, 1984.
Day care, 1970-1976.
Citizen participation, 1968-1982. 2 folders.
Citizens community centers: Elections, 1969.
Citizenship education-citizen power, 1948-1974.
City budget, 1972-1983.
City coordinator, 1972-1979.
City council interviews, 1984.
City officials study (interviews, including city council members), 1988-1989. 3 folders.
City government: Miscellany, 1961-1981.
Civil rights, 1961-1969.
Civil service:
Correspondence and miscellany, 1936-1981. 3 folders.
Federal legislation, 1937-1943.
Minneapolis Civil Service Commission, 1944-1948.
Collective bargaining, 1937-1942.
Consumer interests, 1934-1939.
Corrections (adult and juvenile), 1974-1975.
Defense production, 1941-1943.
Discrimination, 1964-1972.
Domed stadium cost analysis, 1972.
Economic issues, 1931-1946.
Economic opportunity (including mobilization of economic resources), 1967-1980.
LocationBox
143.B.19.5B17Education/schools:
Collective bargaining and tenure, 1947.
Edina-Morningside School survey, 1964.
The Effective Teacher: Junior League of Minneapolis Report, 1961.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 8910).
School aid formula, 1976.
State aid to schools, 1953-1967.
State School Districts: Reorganization: Independent School Districts, 1949-1958.
Minneapolis Public Schools:
Action file, 1963-1968.
Administrative decentralization, 1975.
Alternative education, 1973-1976.
Bond issue, 1961-1964.
Bond program, 1962.
Education studies:
Parts 1 and 4: Questionnaires for teachers, 1960-1961.
1961.
1965-1966.
1970.
Interviews, 1985.
General survey of schools, 1959-1960.
Girls' athletics, 1960.
Planning process, 1981.
Special Education, 1973-1976.
Teacher's salaries, 1962.
Miscellaneous records, 1953-1985. 3 folders.
Energy issues, 1976-1980.
Environmental issues, 1968-1973.
Equal Rights Amendment, 1975-1982.
Equality of opportunity, 1946-1984. 3 folders.
Ethics in government, 1960-1961.
Fair Employment Practices Commission, 1946-1962.
LocationBox
143.B.19.6F18Family violence (including handguns), 1978, 1983.
Food and drug legislation, 1936, 1938.
Full employment, 1943-1946.
Health/mental health, 1981-1991.
Hennepin County:
Assessment system, 1957-1971.
Courts, 1950-1976.
General Hospital, 1956-1971.
Health coalition, 1971-1974.
Public welfare, 1949-1956.
Tax structure, 1952-1961.
Miscellany, 1937-1976.
Housing:
Greater Minneapolis Interfaith Fair Housing Program, 1963-1964.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority election, 1969-1970.
Low income, 1963-1986.
Miscellany, 1938-1986. 3 folders.
Human relations/Human rights, 1947-1965.
Human resources:
Development, 1964-1970. 3 folders.
Teen pregnancy, 1984-1986. 3 folders.
Miscellany, 1966-1981.
Indian Affairs, 1951-1975. 5 folders.
LocationBox
143.B.19.7B19Indians in Minneapolis, 1964-1971. 2 folders.
Initiative and referendum, 1980.
Judiciary study, 1971-1973.
Juvenile delinquency, 1939-1942.
Juvenile justice study, 1972-1974.
Labor management, 1932-1947.
Land use in Minnesota, 1974.
Law enforcement and justice, 1970-1976.
Legislative compensation/reorganization, 1952-1977.
Libraries (including Minneapolis Public and Hennepin County libraries), 1956-1982. 3 folders.
Liquor Patrol limits, 1962-1972.
Local government: "Once over lightly" newsletters, 1958-1969.
Mayor's Council/Commission on Human Relations, 1946-1965.
Mayor's Task Force on Adolescent Pregnancy, 1986-1987.
Metropolitan Council study, 1976, 1981.
Minnesota Good Roads, Inc., 1956.
Park system study, 1973-1974.
Park system: Minneapolis and regional, 1974-1985.
Pay equity, 1984-1985.
Planning (including urban renewal, zoning, and related files):
General files, 1962-1982. 3 folders.
Agencies, 1963.
Model City elections, 1969-1970.
Neighborhood elections, 1969-1970.
Pilot City, 1969-1970.
Urban renewal unit study, 1968-1969.
Price controls, 1941-1947.
Public health issues, 1937-1949.
LocationBox
143.B.19.8F20Revenue sharing, 1974-1975.
Solid waste/recycling, 1971-1986.
State finance and taxation, 1935-1957.
State government financing, 1962-1977.
State government reorganization, 1968-1970.
State of Minnesota: "Know your State." (Study), 1948.
Taxes:
Minneapolis community tax study, 1953-1962.
Tax Study Committee, 1956-1960.
Unemployment compensation, 1932-1938.
Urban crisis, 1977-1979.
Veterans preference, 1971-1981.
Wartime service, 1941-1943.
Water resources:
Miscellany, 1932-1970. 10 folders.
"Buckets of gold," KSTP-TV program, February 1958.
Consensus reports from units, 1959.
Land and water use seminar, March 1966.
Welfare, 1932-1982. 3 folders.
LocationBox
143.B.19.9B21Women's issues:
"The Single working mother: Can she make it?", 1979-1981.
Women in the labor force, 1960-1963.
Miscellany, 1950-1982.
Program subject files: Foreign issues:
Bretton Woods monetary agreement, 1944-1945.
British loan, 1946.
China relations, 1966-1971.
Disarmament, 1957-1963.
Food for Europe, 1945-1946.
Foreign aid/Development, 1963-1969.
Foreign economic policy, 1963-1967.
Immigration/displaced persons, 1944-1950.
Lend-Lease Act, 1941-1944.
Middle East issues, 1948-1957.
Trade issues, 1960-1973.
Truman Doctrine (aid to Greece and Turkey), 1947.
United Nations, 1957-1977.
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, 1943-1946.
Vietnam, 1965.
Miscellaneous foreign issues, 1943-1968.

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Expand/CollapseSPECIAL PROJECT FILES

LocationBox
143.B.19.9B21Observer reports:
Bipartisan Legislative Committee, 1966-1969.
Board of Estimate and Taxation, 1966-1971.
Board of Public Welfare, 1968-1970. 2 folders.
Cable Television Committee, 1975.
Capital Long-Range Improvement Commission, 1967-1979. 6 folders.
Charter Commission (including Charter and Legislative committees), 1968-1975.
City Council, 1967-1979. 3 folders.
LocationBox
143.B.19.10F22City Planning Commission, 1966-1979.
Committee for Urban Environment, 1970-1979.
Community Development Committee, 1975.
Consumer services, 1976-1978.
Council of Community Councils, 1970.
Energy-Environment Committee, 1979.
Engineering Committee, 1969-1970.
Goals for good government, 1973, 1976, 1980.
Government operations, 1977-1978.
Health and Social Service Committee, 1977-1978.
Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, 1975-1979.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority, 1966-1977.
Human Relations Committee, 1969-1970.
Intergovernmental Relations Committee, 1976-1978.
Library Board, 1966-1978.
Metropolitan Council, 1968-1978.
Minneapolis Age and Opportunity Council (1974-1975) and Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission (1979).
Ordinances and Legislation Committee, 1966-1970.
Park Board, 1965-1979. 2 folders.
Pilot City Committee, 1969.
Transportation and property services, 1976-1977.
Ways and Means, 1968-1979. 2 folders.
Zoning Planning Committee, 1968-1970.
Miscellaneous administrative records, 1968-1969.
Minneapolis City Charter studies:
Miscellaneous records, 1929-1979. 5 folders.
League publications on the Charter: 1 folder.
"Minneapolis Charter problems," 1936.
"What is the matter Minneapolis?," 1940.
"In League with the Charter," 1965.
LocationBox
143.B.19.11B23Amendments:
General files, 1930-1974. 3 folders.
Balanced Charter, 1963.
Bipartisan Committee on Proposed Charger Amendments, 1960.
Bonding limits, 1973.
Rent control, 1981.
Thirteen-Man Council, 1951.
Charter Commission, approximately 1964-approximately 1981.
Charter Convention (proposed), 1958.
Charter Improvement Volunteer Information Committee and Joint Committee for Charter Review:
Miscellaneous records, 1958-1960. 2 folders.
Newspaper clippings, 1959-1960.
Charter: Position statements, 1958-1974.
City manager plan, 1952-1958.
Finance Department proposal, 1955-1967. 2 folders.
Police and Fire Department Amendment, 1962.
Hennepin County governmental study:
Ad hoc and other committees.
Minutes and related records, 1973-1981. 3 folders.
"Hennepin County, growth and expansion of our oldest level of government, A Study by the Hennepin County Leagues of Women Voters," 1975.
Political activities:
Election returns project, 1965-1975. 10 folders.
LocationBox
143.B.19.12F24Election returns project, 1980-1985. 8 folders.
Contracts between Hennepin County and the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis: Covering computer software systems to conduct the election returns project, 1984­, 1986.
Voters service, 1949-1970. 4 folders.
Subject files:
Aldermanic interviews, 1970-1979.
Campaign spending and finance, 1971-1978.
Candidates meetings, 1963-1970. 3 folders.
City election, 1971.
Constitutional revision, 1948-1959.
District of Columbia statehood petition drive, 1970.
Duke University study: "Variable partisan commitment among politically active women," 1967.
Election judge training, 1979-1983.
Election laws, 1955-1975.
Electoral college, 1967-1969.
Precinct caucuses, 1950-1982. 2 folders.
Reapportionment, 1953-1965. 2 folders.
Voter registration (including youth project), 1946-1978.
Voters Guide, Fall 1970.
Voting age, 1969.
Miscellaneous records, 1962-1968.

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Expand/CollapseRELATED MATERIAL

Records of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and other local leagues are also in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

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Expand/CollapseCATALOG 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:
Child welfare -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Children -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
City planning -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
County government -- Minnesota -- Hennepin County.
Educational law and legislation -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Election districts -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Elections -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Environmental policy -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Housing -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Indians of North America -- Minnesota -- Social conditions.
International relations.
Libraries -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Local elections -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Local elections -- Minnesota -- Hennepin County.
Metropolitan areas -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Municipal government -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Hennepin County.
Political participation -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Politics, Practical -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
School board members -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Urban renewal -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Water quality -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Women -- Political activity -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Women -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis -- Societies and clubs.
Women in community organization -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
World War, 1939-1945.
Zoning laws -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Persons:
Chalmers, L., author.
Tsuderos, John E., author.
Organizations:
Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues of Women Voters (Minn.)
Fifth District League of Women Voters (Minn.)
Hennepin County Leagues of Women Voters.
League of Women Voters (U.S.)
League of Women Voters of Minnesota.
Minneapolis Public Library.
Minneapolis Public Schools.
United Nations.
Places:
Hennepin County (Minn.)
Minneapolis (Minn.) -- Charter.
Minneapolis Metropolitan Area (Minn.)
Document Types:
Interviews.
Tax returns.

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