League of Women Voters of Seattle records

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.

Request at UW

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

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents