League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1920-1993

Overview of the Collection

Creator
League of Women Voters of Seattle
Title
League of Women Voters of Seattle records
Dates
1920-1993 (inclusive)
Quantity
approximately 16 cubic feet (21 boxes)
Collection Number
1004
Summary
Correspondence, reports, ephemera, newsletters, meeting minutes, publications, and other records of the League of Women Voters of Seattle, which works to encourage understanding of and participation in government and public policy issues
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The convention was held just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle. The original intent of the organization -- to serve for five years as a resource center for newly franchised women, and then disband -- was expanded to "promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government" by means of a permanent volunteer organization.

The League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters. It encouraged them to use their new power to participate in shaping public policy. The League is an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy. It is also a nonpartisan organization. League founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance would protect the fledgling organization from becoming mired in the party politics of the day. However, League members were encouraged to be political themselves, by educating citizens about, and lobbying for, government and social reform legislation.

The League is still nonpartisan today, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public.

The mission statement of the Seattle chapter reads: "The League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy."

Source: http://lwv.org/history http://www.seattlelwv.org/about

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, committee files, reports, ephemera, newsletters, meeting minutes, financial records, publications, and other records of the League of Women Voters of Seattle.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 9 accessions.

  • Accession No. 1004-001, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1920-1978
  • Accession No. 1004-008, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1962-1974
  • Accession No. 1004-009, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1966-1979
  • Accession No. 1004-010, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1978-1983
  • Accession No. 1004-011, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1966-1983
  • Accession No. 1004-012, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1969-1981
  • Accession No. 1004-013, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1975-1984
  • Accession No. 1004-014, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1984-1993
  • Accession No. 1004-015, League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1929-1987

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 1004-001: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1920-1978 (bulk 1949-1978)Return to Top

7.00 cubic feet (7 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, committee and subject files, reports, ephemera.

Historical and organization information may be found in folders 1/1-5. An overview of the issues with which the Seattle League has been involved can be gained from the League's newsletter, The Seattle Voter, in folders 6/23-7/9. PROGRAM PLANNING for local current agenda, 1957-76 in folders 2/14-17 also provides background information.

The February 1980 holdings of the Seattle League of Women Voters, ten accessions between 1929-1978, were integrated and then subgrouped according to organizational activities. The exception is the newsletters, which were placed in the final boxes to facilitate annual additions. Of special interest are the reports prepared by various League committees. The Fiscal Issues Committee Subgroup includes a study of the Washington system of taxation and expenditure of revenues for the year 1961. The City Planning Committee Subgroup contains a study of Seattle's Urban Renewal Program, 1961, and an introduction to the Seattle city agencies responsible for planning, 1965. The School Study Committee Subgroup provides a study of the decentralization of Seattle schools and a study of the school administration for the years 1962-67; while the Human Resources Development Committee Subgroup provides an evaluation of local policies and programs effecting equality of opportunity in education, housing and employment, 1965-66.

Other series include minutes, financial records, and related papers.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by LWV, 10/10/1968.

Container(s) Description Dates
Series 1: League of Women Voters, Seattle - General
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 1004-001
Bylaws
1934-1972
1/2 1004-001
Handbook
1952-1969
1/3-4 1004-001
Members
1929-1972
1/5 1004-001
Committee Roster
1956-1972
1/6-14 1004-001
General Correspondence
1957-1967
1/15 1004-001
Interoffice Correspondence
1936-1966
1/16-17 1004-001
Annual Meeting minutes
1949-1975
1/18-2/4 1004-001
Board of Directors minutes
1921-1973
2/5 1004-001
Financial Records
1934-1948
2/6-8 1004-001
Annual Reports
1949-1968
2/9 1004-001
Consensus - Reports
1965-1974
2/10-11 1004-001
Reports from Units
1963-1967
2/12 1004-001
Miscellaneous Reports
1948-1972
2/13 1004-001
Speeches and Writings
1963-1972
2/14-17 1004-001
Program Planning
1957-1976
2/18 1004-001
News Releases
1957-1965
2/19 1004-001
Publication Lists
1963-1972
2/20-22 1004-001
Clippings
1965-1968
2/23 1004-001
Air Pollution
1952-1955
2/24 1004-001
Columbia River Basin
1959-1965
2/25 1004-001
Duke University Study
1967-1968
2/26 1004-001
Fluoridation
1952-1953
2/27-28 1004-001
Individual Liberties
1955-1957
2/29 1004-001
International Trade
1955-1957
3/1 1004-001
Japanese Women
1963
3/2 1004-001
Middle East Crisis
1954-1956
3/3 1004-001
Released Time for Religious Instruction
1938-1953
3/4 1004-001
Solid Waste Disposal
1971-1972
3/5 1004-001
Transport at ion
1956-1974
3/6-9 1004-001
United Nations
1951-1963
6/23 1004-001
Newsletter: League of Women Voters Reports
1964
6/24 1004-001
Newsletter: League of Women Voters Viewpoint
1964-1966
6/25-7/9 1004-001
Seattle Voter newsletter
1945-1978
Series 2: League of Women Voters, Seattle, City Government Committee
Box/Folder Accession
3/10 1004-001
Outgoing Letters
1963-1964
3/11 1004-001
General Correspondence
1965-1966
3/12-15 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters
1959-1974
3/16 1004-001
Reports - Others
1966-1967
3/17 1004-001
Questionnaires
1962-1963
Series 3: League of Women Voters, Seattle, City Planning Committee
Box/Folder Accession
3/18 1004-001
Organization
1964
3/19 1004-001
General Correspondence
1962-1967
3/20 1004-001
Minutes
1964
3/21-27 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters
1961-1972
4/1 1004-001
Reports - Others
4/2 1004-001
Speeches and Writings
1962-1967
4/3 1004-001
Conferences and Conventions
1967
4/4-5 1004-001
Surveys and Questionnaires
1964
4/6 1004-001
Clippings
1960-1964
4/7 1004-001
Ephemera
1962-1964
4/8 1004-001
Capital Improvements Program
1957-1963
4/9 1004-001
Citizens Planning Council
1964
4/10 1004-001
Minneapolis Housing and Redevelopment Authority
1962
4/11 1004-001
Planning Commission, Seattle
1963-1964
4/12 1004-001
Seattle's Comprehensive Plan
1959-1962
Series 4: League of Women Voters, Seattle, County Government Committee
Box/Folder Accession
4/13 1004-001
General Correspondence
1963-1964
4/14-15 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1955-1973
4/16 1004-001
Reports - Others
1963-1968
4/17 1004-001
Questionnaire
1973
4/18 1004-001
Clippings
1966
Series 5: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Crime Prevention Committee
Box/Folder Accession
4/19 1004-001
Related Papers
1969-1970
Series 6: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Fiscal Issues Committee
Box/Folder Accession
4/20 1004-001
Organization
1920
4/21 1004-001
General Correspondence
1967
4/22-24 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1950-1968
4/25-26 1004-001
Reports - Others
1948-1968
4/27 1004-001
Clippings
1949-1954
4/28 1004-001
Ephemera
Series 7: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Foreign Economic Policy Committee
Box/Folder Accession
4/29 1004-001
Organization
1963
4/30 1004-001
General Correspondence
1963
4/31 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1958-1959
4/32 1004-001
Reports - Others
1954
Series 8: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Human Resources Development Committee
Box/Folder Accession
4/33 1004-001
Organization
1964-1967
4/34 1004-001
General Correspondence
1964-1969
4/35 1004-001
Minutes and Agenda
1965
4/36-39 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1964-1967
5/1-2 1004-001
Reports - Others
1963-1966
5/3 1004-001
Legislation
1961-1964
5/4 1004-001
Notes
1965
5/5 1004-001
Interviews
1965-1967
5/6 1004-001
Ephemera
1964-1965
5/7 1004-001
School for Community Action
1966-1967
Series 9: League of Women Voters, Seattle, League Effectiveness Committee
Box/Folder Accession
5/8 1004-001
Related Papers
1969-1970
Series 10: League of Women Voters, Seattle, League Observer Corps
Box/Folder Accession
5/9 1004-001
Related Papers
1961-1966
Series 11: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Metro Committee
Box/Folder Accession
5/10 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1956-1965
5/11 1004-001
Reports - Others
1958-1962
Series 12: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Port of Seattle Committee
Box/Folder Accession
5/12 1004-001
Related Papers
1960
Series 13: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Redistricting and Reapportionment Committee
Box/Folder Accession
5/13 1004-001
General Correspondence
1955-1961
5/14 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1955-1961
5/15 1004-001
Reports - Others
1954
5/16 1004-001
Legislation
1957-1961
5/17 1004-001
Maps and Charts
1956-1961
Series 14: League of Women Voters, Seattle, School Study Committee
Box/Folder Accession
5/18 1004-001
General Correspondence
1960-1967
5/19 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1953-1974
5/20 1004-001
Reports - Others
1954-1963
5/21 1004-001
Legislation
1953-1956
Series 15: League of Women Voters, Seattle, State Government Committee
Box/Folder Accession
5/22-23 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1947-1975
5/24 1004-001
Reports - Others
1952
Series 16: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Voter Services Committee
Box/Folder Accession
5/25 1004-001
Organization
1960-1966
5/26-27 1004-001
General Correspondence
1960-1968
5/28-29 1004-001
Reports
1957-1978
5/30-31 1004-001
News Releases
1956-1967
5/32 1004-001
Questionnaires
1956-1967
5/33 1004-001
Ephemera
1956-1967
5/34 1004-001
Election Procedures
1952
Series 17: League of Women Voters, Seattle, Water Resources Committee
Box/Folder Accession
6/1 1004-001
Reports - League of Women Voters, Seattle
1956-1968
6/2 1004-001
Reports - Others
1960
6/3 1004-001
Ephemera
1957-1968
Series 18: League of Women Voters, King County Council
Box/Folder Accession
6/4 1004-001
Organization
1964-1966
6/5 1004-001
General Correspondence
1962-1966
6/6 1004-001
Minutes
1960-1967
6/7 1004-001
Reports
1966
Series 19: League of Women Voters, Washington
Box/Folder Accession
6/8 1004-001
Financial Records
1954-1963
6/9-10 1004-001
Reports
1957-1967
6/11 1004-001
Conferences and Conventions
1952-1966
6/12 1004-001
Facts and Issues newsletter
1964-1975
6/13 1004-001
Legislative Newsletter
1961-1975
Series 20: League of Women Voters, United States
Box/Folder Accession
6/14 1004-001
Interoffice Correspondence
1965-1967
6/15 1004-001
Financial Records
1965-1966
6/16 1004-001
Program
1952-1954
6/17-18 1004-001
Reports
1966-1967
6/19-20 1004-001
League of Women Voters 50th Anniversary Convention
1970
6/21 1004-001
27th Convention, Denver
1966
6/22 1004-001
Education Fund
1968-1970

Accession No. 1004-008: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1962-1974Return to Top

1.65 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, reports, newsletters.

Bulk of material relates to environmental quality study, 1969-1972. Some State and Puget Sound League material.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by LWV, 6/20/1980.

Accession No. 1004-009: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1966-1979Return to Top

2.0 cubic feet (3 boxes)

Scope and Content: Minutes of annual meetings, 1970-1974; minutes of Board, 1969-1976; correspondence, reports, other related files, 1966-1979.

Although typewritten minutes of annual meetings are present, there are also tape recordings of the annual meetings which League of Women Voters saved as a verbatim record.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by LWV, 8/11/1983.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1-2 1004-009
Correspondence
1966-1979
2 1004-009
Minutes of Annual Meetings
1970-1974
2 1004-009
Tape Recordings of Annual Meetings
1970-1977
2 1004-009
Proceedings of Annual Meetings
1969-1979
2 1004-009
Annual Reports
1969-1973
2 1004-009
Financial Records
1969-1973
2 1004-009
News Releases
1969-1973
2 1004-009
Newsletter - Seattle Voter
1969-1975
2-3 1004-009
Unit Recordings (reports from units of consensus of opinion in reply to League questionnaires)
1969-1979
3 1004-009
Color Slides - "Mrs. Harlin Edwards campaigns for City Council"
1960, 1964
3 1004-009
Child care
1974-1975
3 1004-009
Central area schools
1969
3 1004-009
League of Women Voters, Seattle, Board of Directors minutes
1969-1976
3 1004-009
League of Women Voters, Seattle, League Effectiveness Committee correspondence
1968-1970
3 1004-009
League of Women Voters, Seattle, League Effectiveness Committee minutes
1969-1970
3 1004-009
League of Women Voters, Seattle, League Effectiveness Committee background material
1968-1970
3 1004-009
League of Women Voters, Seattle, League Effectiveness Committee questionnaires
1969-1970
3 1004-009
League of Women Voters, Seattle, League Effectiveness Committee final report
1968-1970

Accession No. 1004-010: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1978-1983Return to Top

0.42 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Newsletter, ephemera.

Newsletter "Seattle Voter" and general mailings. Scattered issues are missing from run of the newsletter.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Received 3/15/1984.

Accession No. 1004-011: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1966-1983Return to Top

2.00 cubic feet (3 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, financial records, newsletters, project plans, study projects, action projects, other related files.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by LWV, 2/11/1985.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 1004-011
Organizational Features
1967-1977
1 1004-011
Correspondence
1971-1978
1 1004-011
Financial Records
1975
1 1004-011
Agenda of Annual Meetings
1976-1977
1 1004-011
Tape Recordings of Annual Meetings
1982-1983
1 1004-011
Public Relations Files
1966-1970
1 1004-011
News Releases
1974-1978
1 1004-011
Newsletters
1979
1 1004-011
Unit Recordings
1979
1 1004-011
Programs (Project Plans)
1971-1975
1-2 1004-011
Study Projects
1964-1976
2 1004-011
Action Projects
1970-1977
3 1004-011
Publications Catalog
1973-1979
3 1004-011
Grants and Grant Proposals
3 1004-011
League of Women Voters, Seattle, Directors Board minutes
1976-1981
3 1004-011
League of Women Voters, Puget Sound Leagues
1971-1978
3 1004-011
League of Women Voters, Washington
1973-1978

Accession No. 1004-012: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1969-1981Return to Top

1.14 cubic foot (1 box)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, mailings, tape-recorded annual meetings, ballot issues, candidate questionnaires, ephemera.

Bulk of the accession concerns the League's Voters Service.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by LWV, 6/1/1985.

Accession No. 1004-013: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1975-1984Return to Top

1.33 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, reports, conferences and conventions, other record series.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by LWV, 4/5/1989.

Accession No. 1004-014: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1984-1993Return to Top

0.43 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Newsletter "Seattle Voter.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Incoming ephemera holding files, 5/11/1993.

Accession No. 1004-015: League of Women Voters of Seattle records, 1929-1987Return to Top

0.63 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Materials from the League of Women Voters, primarily from Seattle but also some materials from the Puget Sound and National organizations. Contains publications, programs, meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, club and voting resources, studies and surveys, information on city proposals and voting issues, "Facts and Issues" newsletters, pamphlets, and newspapers and clippings.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: League of Women Voters

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 1004-015
Publications
1957-1969
1/2 1004-015
Publications
1970-1987
1/3 1004-015
Programs and Meeting Agendas
1969-1974
1/4 1004-015
Club Business - Minutes, Correspondence, Resources
1967-1976
1/5 1004-015
Studies and Surveys
1957-1982
1/6 1004-015
Information on City Proposals, Ordinances, and Referendums
1958-1972
1/7 1004-015
"Facts and Issues" Newsletter
1964-1978
1/8 1004-015
Newspapers and Clippings
1960-1978
1/9 1004-015
National League of Women Voters Pamphlets and Publications
1929-1935

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • City planning--Washington (State)
  • Discrimination in education--Washington (State)
  • Discrimination in employment--Washington (State)
  • Discrimination in housing--Washington (State)
  • Environmental protection--Washington (State)
  • Finance, Public--Washington (State)
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • School management and organization--Washington (State)
  • Urban renewal--Washington (State)
  • Voting--Societies, etc
  • Voting--Washington (State)
  • Women--Political activity--Anniversaries, etc
  • Women--Political activity--Societies, etc
  • Women--Political activity--Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Edwards, Myrtle

Corporate Names

  • League of Women Voters of Seattle--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government
  • Washington (State)--Appropriations and expenditures
  • Washington (State)--Politics and government--1889-1950
  • Washington (State)--Politics and government--1951-

Titles within the Collection

  • Seattle Voter