Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
-
Historical Note
- Content Description
- Administrative Information
-
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Origins of Initiative 256
- Initiative Filing Process
- Campaign Organization
- Campaign Finances
- Campaign Promotion
- Opposition to Initiative 256
- The Election
- Reference Materials
- Press Coverage
- Correspondence
- Book Project- Robert Keller
- Post 256 Reference Materials- Collected by Robert Keller
- Television Production: "The Initiative and the People"
- Photographs
- Film- 8mm Color
- Names and Subjects
Initiative 256 "Keep America Beautiful" Act of 1970 Records, 1952-1974
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Keller, Robert H.; Initiative 256 Campaign
- Title
- Initiative 256 "Keep America Beautiful" Act of 1970 Records
- Dates
- 1952-1974 (inclusive)19521974
1969-1972 (bulk)19691972 - Quantity
- 5 Linear Ft., ( )
- Collection Number
- XOE_CPNWS0033initiative256 (collection)
- Summary
- The collection is a detailed account of Dr. Robert Keller’s attempt to promote a legally mandated return to deposits on beverage containers in Washington state. The collection documents a small part of the larger ecology movement of the early 1970's as well as the polarization of American society during the Vietnam era. It is also valuable as a detailed exposition of Washington state's initiative process.
- Repository
-
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
In January of 1970 a small group of students from Western Washington State College, under the guidance of Dr. Robert H. Keller, set out to eliminate littering in the adjacent park of Sehome Hill. The efforts of the group did not achieve the desired results but it did inspire a drive to organize a state-wide initiative campaign with the goal of instituting a deposit system for all bottles and cans sold in the State of Washington. It was hoped that a legally mandated return to deposits on beverage containers might end casual littering and initiate citizen involvement in recycling.
Initiative 256 was born of this effort and represented a grassroots campaign to stimulate public awareness and provoke debate over environmental reform. In the end local beverage producers, the container industry, and grocery retailers rallied to defeat Initiative 256 by portraying it as a misguided idea which would eliminate jobs and increase the cost of living for every citizen throughout the state. By introducing a counter-initiative and hiring one of the most prestigious political advertising firms in Seattle at the time, opponents effectively maligned the Initiative 256 campaign in the eyes of voters. While Initiative 256 proponents were disheartened by this turn of events they felt victorious in their goal of elevating the visibility of environmental issues within the political system as well as stimulating citizen participation in state politics.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Initiative 256 records are a detailed account of Dr. Robert Keller’s attempt to promote Initiative 256. The collection documents a small part of the larger ecology movement of the early 1970's as well as the polarization of American society during the Vietnam era. It is also valuable as a detailed exposition of Washington state's initiative process.
Series have been established which reflect the origins of the initiative, the filing process, campaign organization, opposition to the initiative, events surrounding the election, correspondence, the post-election book project and television documentary, as well as promotional photographs. Materials have been arranged chronologically within series. The collection includes the final draft of the initiative, handouts and flyers, mailing lists, organization files documenting activities of volunteers and committees, as well as materials related to the 1972 television production "The Initiative and the People". Also included is an unpublished history of Washington state's initiative process and the Initiative 256 campaign entitled: "Keeping America Beautiful: The History of Initiative 256 in Washington State, 1970" by Robert Keller.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Initiative 256 "Keep American Beautiful" Act of 1970 Records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The Initiative 256 "Keep American Beautiful" Act of 1970 Records are organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:
- Series I: Origins of Initiative 256, January-March 1970
- Series II: Initiative Filing Process, 1967-1970
- Series III: Campaign Organization, Undated; 1970
- Series IV: Campaign Finances, May-October 1970
- Series V: Campaign Promotion, March-October 1970
- Series VI: Opposition to Initiative 256, March-October 1970
- Series VII: The Election, April 1970 to January 1971
- Series VIII: Reference Materials, January 1969 to March 1971
- Series IX: Press Coverage, April-November 1970
- Series X: Correspondence, April 1952 to May 1974
- Series XI: Book Project- Robert Keller, April 1970 to March 1976
- Series XII: Post 256 Reference Materials- Collected by Robert Keller, 1969-1994
- Series XIII: Television Production: "The Initiative and the People" 1972
- Series XIV: Photographs, Undated
- Series XV: Film- 8mm Color, 1970
Processing Note
About Harmful Language and ContentTo learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content
Custodial History
Initial materials were donated by Dr. Robert H. Keller to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in April of 1986. Additional materials were donated in 1994.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series I: Origins of Initiative 256, January 1970 -March 1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Sehome Hill Improvement
Troops |
January-March 1970 |
Series II: Initiative Filing Process, 1967-1970 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/2 | Drafting of Initiative 256 |
1967-1970 |
| 1/3 | Filing of Initiative 256 |
1970 |
| 1/4 | Petition and Signature Drive |
1970 |
| 1/5 | Certification of Initiative 256 |
1970 |
Series III: Campaign Organization, Undated; , 1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/6 | Volunteer Workers |
Undated |
| 1/7 | Mailing Lists |
Undated |
| 1/8 | Committee for Initiative 256- Minutes |
July 1970 |
| 1/9 | Committee for Initiative 256- Organizational
Letters |
July 1970 |
Series IV: Campaign Finances, May 1970 -October 1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/10 | Contributors and Expenditures |
May-October 1970 |
Series V: Campaign Promotion, March 1970 -October 1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/11 | Letters and Handouts |
March-October 1970 |
| 1/12 | Posters, Flyers, and Advertisements |
Undated |
| 1/13 | Whatcom County Children's Clean-Up Contest |
October 1970 |
| 1/14 | Press Releases and Personal Appearances |
April-October 1970 |
Series VI: Opposition to Initiative 256, March 1970 -October 1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/15 | Olympia Beer |
March-October 1970 |
| 1/16 | Initiative 40- The Model Litter Law |
May -October 1970 |
Series VII: The Election, April 1970 - January 1971Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 | Official Publications |
April-November 1970 |
| 2/2 | Election Returns |
November-December 1970 |
| 2/3 | Pre and Post Election Opinion Surveys |
September 1970 to January 1971 |
Series VIII: Reference Materials, January 1969 - March 1971 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/4 | Cans and Bottles |
April-September 1970 |
| 2/5 | Solid Waste |
January 1969-March 1971 |
| 2/6 | Litter Control |
February-March 1970 |
| 2/7 | National Study of Roadside Litter |
September 1969 |
| 2/8 | "The Public's View of Environmental Problems in the
State of Washington" |
February 1970 |
Series IX: Press Coverage, April 1970 -November 1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/9 | News Clippings- Signature Drive |
April-August 1970 |
| 2/10 | News Clippings |
April-October 1970 |
| 2/11 | News Articles, Letters to the Editor |
June-November 1970 |
| 3/1 | New York Times and Wall Street Journal
Articles |
October 1970 |
| 3/2 | Mt. Vernon Clean Up |
July 1970 |
| 3/3 | Tri-Cities Campaign |
September-October 1970 |
| 3/4 | Ralph Nader Endorsement |
October 1970 |
Series X: Correspondence, April 1952 - May 1974 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/5 | Attorney General's Office |
September 1970 to February 1971 |
| 3/6 | Frank Atwood's County Initiative |
August 1970 |
| 3/7 | Bernard Braun (New York City) |
October 1970 to January 1971 |
| 3/8 | Letters of Interest |
April-October 1970 |
| 3/9 | Requests for Information |
April 1970 to April 1971 |
| 3/10 | Post-Election |
November 1970 to May 1974 |
| 3/11 | League of Women Voters |
April-July 1970 |
| 3/12 | From Out of State |
July-December 1970 |
| 3/13 | From Campaign Workers to Robert Keller |
May-October 1970 |
| 3/14 | Post-Election Legal Actions |
April 1952 to March 1971 |
| 3/15 | Soft Drink Magazine |
August 1970 to January 1971 |
| 3/16 | General Incoming A-J |
April-October 1970 |
| 3/17 | General Incoming K-Z |
April-November 1970 |
Series XI: Book Project- Robert Keller, April 1970 - March 1976 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/18 | Drafts, Appendices, and Outline |
ca. 1970 |
| 3/19 | Final Draft: "Keeping America Beautiful: A History of
Initiative 256 in Washington State, 1970." |
1970 |
| 4/1 | Opposition Advertisements |
October-November 1970 |
| 4/2 | Economic Impact of 256 |
April 1970 |
| 4/3 | Effects of 256 |
July 1972 to August 1973 |
| 4/4 | History of the State of Oregon Bottle Bill |
April-November 1972 |
| 4/5 | Tweedy Study of Initiative 256 Voting
Patterns |
June-July 1971 |
| 4/6 | The Election Campaign: Wayne Lieb Paper |
May 1972 |
| 4/7 | Interviews |
December 1970 to January 1971 |
| 4/8 | Survey of Area Chairmen |
January 1971 |
| 4/9 | Correspondence with Publishers |
November 1970 to March 1976 |
Series XII: Post 256 Reference Materials- Collected by Robert Keller, 1969-1994Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/10 | Paper by William Rodgers |
1970 |
| 4/11 | Beverage Container Control Act |
1971 |
| 4/12 | Initiative 40 |
1972 |
| 4/13 | Washington State Legislature - House Bill
700 |
1974 |
| 4/14 | Election Reform |
1970-1972 |
| 4/15 | Oregon Legislation, Chambers Correspondence |
June 1970 to February 1974 |
| 4/16 | Vermont Legislation |
April 1972 to October 1973 |
| 4/17 | Bowie, MD- Deposit Law |
April 1970 to December 1971 |
| 4/18 | Deposit Laws in Cities and Counties |
February 1971 to April 1972 |
| 4/19 | Various State Deposit Laws |
April 1969 to February 1974 |
| 5/1 | Federal Bottle Bill |
January 1972 to September 1974 |
| 5/2 | Norwegian Law |
April 1970 |
| 5/3 | Crusade for a Cleaner Environment |
December 1970 to May 1974 |
| 5/4 | Economics of Beverage Containers |
1970 to December 1972 |
| 5/5 | Containers and Energy |
November 1973 to January 1974 |
| 5/6 | Container Industry Programs |
September 1970 to July 1972 |
| 5/7 | Roadside Litter Survey |
1971 to January 1972 |
| 5/8 | Articles of General Ecological Concern |
February 1969 to May 1972 |
| 5/9 | Soft Drinks Cash and Carry- Tucson, AZ |
1977-1994 |
Series XIII: Television Production: "The Initiative and the People", 1972Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/10 | Script, Production, and Related Papers |
1972 |
Series XIV: Photographs, UndatedReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/11 | Black and White Prints and Negatives |
Undated |
Series XV: Film- 8mm Color, 1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/12 | Reel #1- Opposition Ads, T.V., Billboards |
ca. 1970 |
| 5/12 | Reel #2- KING TV Documentary Footage- News Series on
Initiative 256 |
1970 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Beverage containers--Law and legislation--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
- Beverage containers--Recycling--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
- Environmental policy--Washington (State)--Citizen participation--History--Sources.
- Environmentalism--Washington (State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.
- Glass waste--Recycling--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
- Referendum--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
- Refuse and refuse disposal--Law and legislation--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
Personal Names
- Keller, Robert H.--Archives. (creator)
Corporate Names
- Initiative 256 Campaign
Finding aid created by Jason
Viers.
September 2004
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
