Missoula New Party Records

Missoula New Party Records, 1992-2003

Overview of the Collection

Creator: New Party (Missoula, Mont.)
Title: Missoula New Party Records
Dates: 1992-2003 (inclusive)
19922003
Quantity: 6.75 linear feet and 16 electronic files
672 kilobytes of digital materials
Collection Number: Mss 825
Summary: The Missoula New Party was a progressive political organization formed in the spring of 1993 by a group of Missoula, Montana citizens who were motivated to move the political system in a more progressive direction by creating a third party option to the existing two party system. Materials in this collection document the organization’s main functions and activities, including electoral campaigns at the local and state level, as well as a number of issue-based campaigns directing at changing policy. The records in the collection document the relationship between the local chapter and the national New Party organization, local grassroots efforts to engage and grow a third political party movement, and significant issues in progressive politics during the 1990s.
Repository: University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions: Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Languages: English.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Missoula New Party was a progressive political organization formed in the spring of 1993 by a group of Missoula citizens who were motivated to move the political system in a more progressive direction by creating a third party option to the existing two party system. As a local chapter of the national New Party, whose headquarters were located in New York, NY, the Missoula New Party embraced many of the national organization’s guiding principles including electoral reform through electoral fusion. Electoral fusion is a practice in which a candidate receives nominations from more than one political party and can occupy multiple ballot lines. This practice provides an alternative to the notion that third parties function as election spoilers by taking votes away from major party candidates.

One of the organization’s main activities was promoting and supporting the election campaigns of New Party members to local entities including city councils, school boards, and county boards, as well as other local and state level entities. During the mid-1990s multiple New Party members were successfully elected to city council as a result of the New Party’s grassroots campaigning efforts. Other activities included issue-based campaigns, most significantly a Living Wage campaign, which resulted in the city council passing of a living wage ordinance. Other issue-based campaigns included affordable housing, occupancy standards, and smart growth management.

In 1997, a United States Supreme Court decision rejected the New Party’s argument that electoral fusion was a right protected by the first amendment, effectively allowing state legislatures to legally ban electoral fusion as a practice. This significantly impacted the organization’s underlying principle, and led to the eventual dissolution of local New Party chapters around the country, including the Missoula New Party in 2001.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of administrative, correspondence, financial, legal, publications, press clippings, and planning records generated and/or collected by the Missoula New Party during the organization’s existence. Materials in this collection document the organization’s main functions and activities, including electoral campaigns at the local and state level, as well as a number of issue-based campaigns directing at changing policy. The records in the collection document the relationship between the local chapter and the national New Party organization, local grassroots efforts to engage and grow a third political party movement, and significant issues in progressive politics during the 1990s.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright transferred to the University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

Name of document or photograph number], Missoula New Party Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is divided into five series:

Series I: Administrative, 1.5 linear feet and 15 electronic files, 1992-2001

Series II: Campaigns, 1.5 linear feet, 1994- 2001

Series III: Elections, 2.25 linear feet and 1 electronic file, 1993-2001

Series IV: Publicity and Publications, 0.5 linear feet, 1994-2001

Series V: National New Party, 1.0 linear feet, 1993-2003

Series VI: Artifacts, 2 items,undated

Custodial History

Materials were in custody of Missoula New Party members until transfer to the Archives.

Acquisition Information

Collection materials were acquired through two donations. The first donation of materials from Jim Fleischmann was acquired in May 2004. A second donation by Judy Smith on behalf of the Missoula New Party was acquired in June 2004.

Processing Note

Collection materials acquired in June 2004 were received in alphabetical order. A series arrangement was imposed on this original order in order to facilitate enhanced researcher access to the primary functions and activities of the organization. A subseries designation has been created based on the original grouping and titling of materials within original hanging file folders. Original folder titles have been maintained, except when new titles were required to better reflect folder contents. Financial documents such as bank statements, invoices, and receipts have been discarded. Additionally, un-annotated published materials and blank forms have been removed. The digital files appear at the end of each series/subseries respectively in the same order as they would have appeared if they were integrated into the box/folder listing.

Related Materials

The Missoula New Party Oral History Project (OH 400) at the Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections contains audio recordings and transcripts of interviews conducted with four former members of the Missoula New Party.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Administrative Activities, 1992-2001Return to Top

1.5 linear feet and 15 electronic files

640 kilobytes of digital materials

This series contains materials related to the administrative activities of the Missoula New Party, including annual reports, outreach efforts, fundraising events, financial records, meeting minutes, training materials, media relations, membership, interns, student chapter documents, and governance documents. The Series has been divided into thirteen subseries based on specific administrative functions and activities.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Subseries 1: Annual Meetings 0.2 linear feet and 1 electronic file 32 kilobytes of digital material	1997-2001
Box/Folder
1/1	Annual Meeting	1999
1/2	Annual Meeting	2000
1/3	Annual Meeting	2001
1/4	Membership and Fundraising Reports	1997
electronic_file
Electronic File	Annual Meeting Notes	1997
	Subseries 2: Canvass 0.1 linear feet	1995-2001
Box/Folder
1/5	Canvasser Training	1993-1998
1/6	Canvass	1995-1996
1/7	Canvass	1997
1/8	Canvass	1999
1/9	Canvass Rap	undated
1/10	Canvass	2001
	Subseries 3: Coalition and Outreach Efforts 0.1 linear feet	undated
Box/Folder
1/11	High School Presentations	undated
1/12	Human Rights Network	undated
1/13	Progressive Missoula	undated
1/14	Media clippings	1996-1997
1/15	Questions for Coalition Partners	undated
	Subseries 4: Committees - Local 0.1 linear feet and 2 electronic files 64 kilobytes of digital material	1994-2001
Box/Folder
1/16	Agendas	1994-1997
1/17	Committee Structure	undated
1/18	Minutes	1994-2001
1/19	Minutes	1994-1995
1/20	Steering Committee Notes	1996-1999
1/21	Database Subcommittee	1999
electronic_file
Electronic File	Committees List	1997
Electronic File	Steering Committee Meeting Agenda	1998
	Subseries 5: Financial Records 0.1 linear feet and 1 electronic file 32 kilobytes of digital material	1996-1999
Box/Folder
1/22	Financial Reports	1996
1/23	Financial Reports	1997
1/24	Financial Reports	1998-1999
1/25	Financial Documents	1993-1996
electronic_file
Electronic File	Montana People's Action Invoice	1998
	Subseries 6: Fundraising Events 0.1 linear feet and 3 electronic files 128 kilobytes of digital material	1998-2000
Box/Folder
1/26	Hightower Banquet	1998
1/27	Hightower Banquet	2000
1/28	New Party Party	1999
1/29	Other Fundraising Ideas	1999-2000
electronic_file
Electronic File	Progressive Missoula Awards Banquet Letter	1998
Electronic File	Progressive Missoula Awards Banquet Invitation	undated
Electronic File	Progressive Missoula Awards Banquet Recipients	1998
	Subseries 7: Governance 0.2 linear feet and 2 electronic files 128 kilobytes of digital material	1993-2000
Box/Folder
1/30	Action Plan	1996
1/31	Action Plan	1997
1/32	Action Plan	2000
1/33	Bundling	1995-1997
1/34	Employment contracts	1995-1996
1/35	Expansion Bozeman, Butte, Helena	1997
1/36	Hoffman, Jim's dissociation	1999
1/37	Union Hall Rental Agreement	undated
1/38	Bylaws	1996-1997
1/39	Charter	1997
1/40	Mission Statement	1993
1/41	Progressive Agenda / Proposals	1998
1/42	Principles	1997
1/43	Commissioner of Political Practices Reports	1994-1996
electronic_file
Electronic File	Action Plan	1998
Electronic File	Principles	1998
	Subseries 8: Interns 0.1 linear feet	1996-1999
Box/Folder
1/44	Interns Description	1996-1997
1/45	Interns	1999
	Subseries 9: Media Relations 0.1 linear feet	1996-2001
Box/Folder
1/46	Committee Media	1996
1/47	Info about Media	undated
1/48	Press Releases	1998-2000
1/49	Radio / TV	1997-2001
1/50	Strategy	1997
1/51	Strategy	1999
1/52	Spin Media Training	undated
	Subseries 10: Membership 0.2 linear feet and 4 electronic files 128 kilobytes of digital material	1994-2001
Box/Folder
1/53	House Visit Form	undated
1/54	Member Lists	1994-1999
1/55	Phone Polls	1996
2/1	Forms	undated
2/2	Living Wage Dessert Party Ward 6	1999
2/3	Membership Renewals	1996
2/4	Plan	1996-1997
2/5	Renewal Letters	1999-2001
2/6	Renewal Phone Raps	undated
2/7	Reporting Documents	1996-1997
2/8	Sustainer Info and Data	1996
2/9	Women's Leadership Project	1999
2/10	Houseparty Project	1996
2/11	House Parties Attendees	1996
2/12	House Party Invites	1996
2/13	Houseparties	1997
electronic_file
Electronic File	General Membership Meeting Agenda	1998
Electronic File	New Member Phone Rap	1997
Electronic File	Renewal Phone Rap	1997
Electronic File	House Party Invitation	1998
	Subseries 11: Organizer 0.1 linear feet and 2 electronic files 128 kilobytes of digital material	1992-2000
Box/Folder
2/14	Advertisements / Fliers	undated
2/15	Contracts	1996-2000
2/16	Evaluations	1996-1999
2/17	Job Description	1997-2000
2/18	Work Plans Organizer	1999-2000
2/19	Action Education	1998-1999
2/20	Campaign Planning	1994-1998
2/21	2 Year Planning Documents	1997-1998
2/22	Committee Meetings Running Meetings	1998
2/23	Community Action School Workbook	undated
2/24	Consensus Training / Active Listening	1992
2/25	Elections / Campaign Training	1999
2/26	House Visits	1999
2/27	Mid-Level Organizers Training	1999
2/28	Overview	undated
2/29	Miscellaneous	1999-2000
electronic_file
Electronic File	Office Administration Instructions	1998
Electronic File	Organizer Resignation	1998
	Subseries 12: Student Chapter 0.1 linear feet	2001
Box/Folder
2/30	ASUM	2000
2/31	Budget Request	2001
2/32	Fliers	undated
2/33	Governing Documents	undated
2/34	Organizational Meetings	2001
2/35	Students (Interested)	undated

Series II: Campaigns, 1994-2001Return to Top

1.5 linear feet

This series contains materials generated in relation to campaigns organized around specific political issues. Materials include research materials, correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and outreach materials. The series is divided into four subseries.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Subseries 1: Issue Campaigns 0.5 linear feet	1994-2001
Box/Folder
2/36	Corporate Responsibility	1996
2/37	Energy Issues	2001
2/38	Family Definition Campaign	undated
2/39	Housing - Accessory Dwelling Units	undated
2/40	Housing Affordable City Council Meetings	1996-1997
2/41	Housing Affordable 2001 Housing Pains Study	2001
2/42	Human Rights	1998-1999
2/43	Local Government Review Study Commission	1994
2/44	School Closure	1994-2000
2/45	Smart Growth	1999-2000
2/46	Sustainable Cities Project	1994-1996
2/47	Complaint to Political Practices	1997
2/48	Propaganda	1998
2/49	Response to CFCG	1997
	Subseries 2: Living Wage 0.5 linear feet	1995-2001
Box/Folder
2/50	Bibliography	1999
2/51	Business Support	1999
2/52	Canvass Living Wage Ward 1	1999
2/53	Canvass Ward 3	1999
2/54	Canvass Living Wage Ward 6	1999
2/55	City Council Reports	1996
2/56	City Council Testifiers	undated
2/57	Coalition Agenda	1999-2001
2/58	Coalition Partners	2000
2/59	Correspondence	1999
2/60	Factsheets / Fliers	2000-2001
2/61	Federal Living Wage Legislation	2000
2/62	Initiative Language	1999
2/63	Initiative Timeline and Goals	1999-2000
2/64	Job Gap Study	1999
2/65	Letter (LTE, City council people, etc.)	1999-2001
2/66	News Articles Missoula	1999
2/67	News Articles National	1996-1999
2/68	Ordinance - Final	undated
2/69	Ordinance Proposals	1999
2/70	Other cities Campaigns	1995-2000
2/71	Other cities Successes	1996-2000
2/72	Other cities Studies	1996
2/73	Petition Signers who voted	2001
2/74	Press Advisories	1998-1999
2/75	Responses to Living Wage Concerns	1999
2/76	Raps	undated
2/77	Steering Committee	2000
	Subseries 3: Campaign Finance Reform 0.25 linear feet	1996-2001
Box/Folder
3/1	Montana Campaign Finance Reform Int. / Voting History	1997
3/2	Lawyers	undated
3/3	Coalition Individuals and Groups	1998
3/4	Needed Changes	1998
3/5	General Studies and Articles	1998
3/6	Other State and Local Campaign Finance Reform Work	1997
3/7	Federal Campaign Finance Reform	undated
3/8	National New Party Communications	1998
3/9	Missoula Campaign Finance Reform Campaign History	1997
3/10	Montana Law	1986-1998
3/11	Campaign Finance Reform	1997-1999
	Subseries 4: Fusion 0.25 linear feet	1996-2001
Box/Folder
3/12	Fusion	1996-2001
3/13	Ballot Initiative 1998	1998
3/14	Fliers	undated
3/15	Supreme Court Decision	1996

Series III: Elections, 1993-2001Return to Top

0.5 linear feet and 1 electronic file

32 kilobytes of digital material

This series contains materials related to local and statewide elections, including city council, school board, and state representative elections. Materials include campaign literature, press clippings, and Missoula New Party Elections Committee documents.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
3/16	Campaign Brochures	1993-1999
3/17	Candidate Search	1998-2001
3/18	Demarinis, Naomi	1999
3/19	Handler, Allison Ward 2	2001
3/20	Harmon, Dave Ward 1	1997
3/21	Herbig, Lois Ward 1	1999
3/22	McGrath, Jim Ward 2	1999
3/23	Press Clippings Elections	1993-2000
3/24	Sweet, Craig Ward 6	1997
3/25	Torma, John Ward 3	1999
3/26	Tracy, Linda Ward 2	1997
3/27	Missoula Neighborhood Council Map	2001
3/28	Accountability Partnership	2001
3/29	Erickson, Ron State Rep.	2000
3/30	Gutsche, Gail State Rep.	2000
3/31	Results Elections	1999-2000
3/32	School Board	2001
3/33	Elections Committee	1998
3/34	Elections Committee	1999-2000
3/35	Timelines	1998
3/36	Candidate Screening	1995-1997
3/37	Candidates	1996-2000
Box
OS 6	Campaign Yard Signs and Ward Map	2001 and undated
OS 7	Missoula Precinct Map 2001	2001
electronic_file
Electronic File	List of Potential Candidates	1998

Series IV: Publicity & Publications, 1994-2001Return to Top

0.5 linear feet

This series contain publicity and published articles about the Missoula New Party and newsletters published by the Missoula New Party chapter. The Series has been divided into two Subseries.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Subseries 1: Press Clippings 0.1 linear feet	1996-1997
Box/Folder
4/1	Clippings	1996
4/2	Clippings	1997
5/1	New Party News Clippings	undated
	Subseries 2: Newsletters - Local 0.4 linear feet	1994-2001
Box/Folder
4/3	Local newsletters	1994
4/4	Local newsletters	1995
4/5	Local newsletters	1996
4/6	Local newsletters	1997
4/7	Local newsletters	1998
4/8	Local newsletters	1999
4/9	Local newsletters	2000
4/10	Local newsletters	2001
4/11	Flyers and Posters	undated
4/53	New Party - 3.5 inch Floppy Disk	undated
5/2	Miscellaneous	undated

Series V: National New Party, 1993-2003Return to Top

1.0 linear feet

This series contains materials documenting the relationship between the Missoula New Party chapter and the National New Party organization, including correspondence, annual meetings, national newsletters, and other state chapters.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
4/12	Constitution	1992-1998
4/13	Correspondence	1996-1999
4/14	Governance	undated
4/15	News Articles 3rd Party	1996-1998
4/16	News Articles	1993-1995
4/17	Other chapters	1996-1999
4/18	Policies	1996
4/19	Principles	undated
4/20	Proposals / New Directions	undated
4/21	Subsidy for Organizing	1996
4/22	Memorandum	1993-1995
4/23	Annual Meetings	1997-1999
4/24	National Leadership Meeting - 1997	1997
4/25	New Party National Executive Committee March 20-21, 1999	1999
4/26	Recent / Current	2000
4/27	National Executive Council	2000
4/28	New Majority Education Fund	2000-2001
4/29	Subsidies	2001
4/30	Working Families Party	2000
4/31	Portland New Party	2000-2001
4/32	Little Rock New Party	1999
4/33	Missoula New Party	1999-2001
4/34	Proportional Representation	1996
4/35	Working Families Party	2000
4/36	Correspondence - Election Law	1997-2001
4/37	New Majority Education Fund - General	2000-2001
4/38	New Majority Education Fund - Foundation	2000-2001
4/39	New Majority Education Fund - Labor, Outreach	2001
4/40	New Majority Education Fund - Veatch	2000-2001
4/41	New Majority Education Fund - Finances	2001-2003
	Subseries 1: Newsletters - National 0.1 linear feet	1995-2000
Box/Folder
4/42	Summer	1999
4/43	Winter	1998
4/44	Spring	1998
4/45	Winter	1997
4/46	Fall	1997
4/47	Spring	1997
4/48	Winter	1996
4/49	Fall	1996
4/50	Spring	1996
4/51	Winter	1995
4/52	Summer	1995

Series VI: Artifacts, undatedReturn to Top

2 items

This series contains two New Party button artifacts

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
5/3	New Party buttons	undated

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