XOE_CPNWS0155lwv Guide to the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County records1930-2020 League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County records Finding aid prepared by Rozlind Koester. Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the Washington State Legislature to the Washington Women's History Consortium. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Center for Pacific Northwest Studies © 2020
Goltz-Murray Building 808 25th St Bellingham 98225-9123 cpnws@wwu.edu https://library.wwu.edu/center-pacific-northwest-studies
This finding aid was produced by CPNWS staff on 2023-01-04. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Center for Pacific Northwest Studies League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County records League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County. XOE_CPNWS0155lwv 16.5 linear feet 1930-2019 (bulk 1960-1990) The collection includes the records of the Bellingham chapter of the League of Women Voters. Records concern membership, activities, elections, and publications by both the local and national offices. English .

The League of Women Voters formed in 1920, the same year that women's suffrage became incorporated into the United States Constitution. The Bellingham/Whatcom County Chapter incorporated in 1956.

The founding of the League was in direct response to the women's suffrage movement of the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. The League sponsors national, state and local chapters. Because Washington State enjoyed full suffrage since the year 1910, it claims one of the oldest state chapters in the United States.

The League originally focused on the rights and status of women, and then broadened to include all political, economic, social, and environmental issues relevant to women in the United States. The ongoing mission of the League is to "promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government."* The League is religiously unbiased and nonpartisan, seeking to liberate women from inequality through educational programs and political lobbying.

The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County focuses primarily on educating voters through information on voter registration, where and when to vote, what the issues are and who the candidates are. The League also focuses on a number of social, political, economic and environmental issues, and lobbies actively at local, state, and national levels.

The local League frequently sponsors candidate debates which have often been televised and/or aired on the radio. The League also sponsors nonpartisan speaker panels that give pro and con viewpoints on important issues and legislation. The local League also distributes a yearly publication titled They Represent You, which provides the names and contact information for elected officials.

* Karen Dawson, "A Brief History of the League of Women Voters," 1985.

The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County records span the dates 1930-2020, with the bulk of the material dating from the 1960s to the 1990s. The collection is comprised of administrative materials, financial materials, and materials related to League activities, issues, and advocacy. The collection also includes League publications and reference materials, awards and publications, and audio/visual materials.

Administrative materials date from 1946-2020 and consist of articles of incorporation, bylaws, and historical information about the League. The series also contains meeting minutes that document the activities and interests of the local chapter over the past four decades. The materials include information about annual meetings and conventions, and guidelines and handbooks for the League's board of directors. There is information about recruiting and retaining members, and tools for planning and implementing the League's programs. There are also records from the League's finance, nominating, and telephone committees.

Financial records span the dates 1959-2020 and include information and tools for fundraising, income and expense records, budget reports, bank statements, check registers and treasurer's materials.

Materials related to the issues and activities of importance to the League date from 1930-2019 and contain both reference materials and records of League activity. The League's primary areas of interest included campaigns and elections, especially voter support and education, and campaign finance reform. The League was also very active on issues related to the environment such as shoreline management, solid waste disposal and recycling, and water quality issues. The League often focused on economic issues and taxation, and closely monitored both the juvenile and adult justice system. They also collected a lot of information regarding voter services, support, and education.

League publications and reference materials date from 1959-2020. The materials come from local, state, and national branches of the League of Women Voters. The bulk of the series is made up of issues of the Corner 4 Voter, the official newsletter of the Bellingham/Whatcom County League. There are also various issues of the Voter from other regions within Washington, as well as the national branch. The series also contains informational and educational publications issued by the national branch.

Awards and publications about the League span the dates 1960-2019 include materials related to League recognition, and newspaper articles highlighting League activities.

Audio/visual materials date from 1970-1997 and consist of audiocassettes, reel-to-reels, slides and VHS tapes, produced by or in conjunction with the League. The materials relate primarily to local campaigns and candidate debates, although some of the materials are educational in content, documenting issues of concern to the League.

The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County records are organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:

Series I: Administrative materials, 1946-2020 Series II: Financial records, 1961-2020 Series III: Issues and activities, 1930-2019 Series IV: League publications and reference materials, 1959-2020 Series V: Publicity and recognition, 1965-2019 Series VI: Audio/visual materials, 1970-1997

The collection is open to the public.

League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County records were donated by the Bellingham/Whatcom County branch of the League of Women Voters in 1998.

Duplicates and non-archival materials were removed from the collection.

To 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.

 League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County. Bellingham (Wash.)--Politics and government. Whatcom County (Wash.)--Politics and government. Women--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History -- Sources. Women--Political Activity--Washington (State)--Whatcom County -- History--Sources. Women--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--Societies and clubs -- History--Sources. Women in community organization--Washington (State)--Whatcom County --History--Sources. Women social reformers--Washington (State)--Whatcom County -- History--Sources. Voter registration--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History --Sources. Voting--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History -- Sources. Community education--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History --Sources. Environmental protection--Washington (State)--Whatcom County -- History--Sources. Conservation of natural resources--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History--Sources. Water-supply--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History -- Sources Environmental Conditions Civil Procedure and Courts Transportation Political campaigns Women Water and Water Rights Washington (State) Bellingham Civic activism Children and Youth Records (Documents) Administrative Materials Series I 1946-2020 English. Articles of incorporation and bylaws 1946-2018 English. 1 1 Informational and historical materials 1960-1980 1 2 Annual meetings and conventions Annual meetings 1970-2019 English. 1 3-5 75th Anniversary 1995 1 6 90th Anniversary and 21st Century Suffragist Awards 2010 1 7 Centennial Gala - program and guestbook 2020 1a 1 Centennial Gala - "52 Women of Whatcom" 2020 1a 2-3 Centennial celebrations and events 2020 1a 4 National Convention 1981 1a 5 State Conventions 1971; 1991 English. 1a 6-7 Board of Directors General reference materials approximately 1968-1997 English. 2 1-2 Annual reports 1971-1990 2 3 Meetings and minutes 1964-1979 English. 2 4-8 Meetings and minutes 1980-2006 English. 3 1-8 Meetings and minutes 2006-2011 2018-2020 English. 4 1-6 Policies 2004 2018 4 7 "In League" - Guidelines for League Boards 1980; 1989 4 8 Recommendations to State and National Boards 1974 4 9 Training Workshop 1986 4 10 Committees Finance 1986-1990 5 1 Nominating approximately 1986-1992 5 2 Telephone 1985-1986 5 3 Voter Services 2010-2012 5 4 Correspondence General approximately 1990-1997 5 5 State Chapter approximately 1990-1993 5 6 National Chapter approximately 1990-1994 5 7 League forms (blank) undated 5 8 Logbooks approximately 1981-1989 English. 5 9-12 Logbooks approximately 1986-1995 English. 6 1-3 Membership General information approximately 1970s-2013 English. 6 4 Dues 1994 July–1995 April 6 5 Handbooks approximately 1973-2011 6 6 Job preference lists approximately 1992 6 7 Maintenance lists 1992-1993 6 8 Membership cards approximately 1970-1995 English. 6 9 Membership Leadership Development Program 2015 6 10 Membership lists 1949-2000, 2002 English. 6 11 Tools approximately 1976-1992 6 12 Programming General reference materials approximately 1956-1990 7 1 Guidelines and tools for action approximately 1970-1990 7 2 Local planning 1968 7 3 National planning 1968-1986 7 4 State planning 1981; 1993 7 5 Public Relations Public access to meetings 1985-1986 7 6 Public relations tools approximately 1962-1988 7 7 Secretary's Portfolio 2010 7 8 Speakers' Bureau 1964-1977 7 9 Stationary (blank) approximately 1992 7 10 Unit discussions 1968-1971 7 11 Financial records Series II 1959-2020 English. Bank account and budget statements Statements 1982-1992 English. 7 12-14 Statements 1992-2002 English. 8 1-4 Budget planning materials 1961-1986 8 5 Check registers 1984-1996 English. 8 6-10 Year-end financial report 2020 8 11 Education Fund General reference materials approximately 1970-1990 8 12 Planned Giving (Legacies) 1982-1988 8 13 Portfolios 1997-1998 English. 8a 1-3 Fundraising Allied Arts Festival yearly fundraiser 1990-1993 9 1 Contributor cards approximately 1965-1995 English. 9 2-7 Finance drive 1947 9 8 Finance drives 1964-1980 English. 9 9 Finance drives 1980-1996 English. 10 1-3 Finance tools approximately 1964-1981 10 4 Fundraising ideas 1989-1992 10 5 "In League" sample letters 1959-1981 10 6 Expenses 1986-1987; 1993-1996 English. 10 7-10 Income 1986-1987; 1992-1995 English. 11 1-3 Invoice book 1980 11 4 Reports 1979-1982 English. 11 5-8 Treasurer's Materials IRS records and information approximately 1967-1992 11 9 "Ledger-de-Main" for local League treasurers 1974 11 10 Violet E. Rudd estate 1986-1996 11 11 Issues and activities Series III 1930-2019 English. Agriculture General reference materials approximately 1984 11 12 Agriculture study 1988 11 13 Composting and soil enhancers 1990-1993 11 14 Campaigns and elections Campaign financing approximately 1980 12 1 Campaign financing – state study 1983-1985 12 2 Campaign finance reform approximately 1997 12 3 Conservative Districts study 2010 12 4 "Democracy Network" website documentation 1998 12 5 Election reporting for KOMO 1981 12 6 Fair campaign practices 1976-1988 12 7 Initiative 99 – Presidential primary 1988 12 8 Initiative 582 – campaign reform 1992 12 9 Money in Politics study approximately 2014-2016 12 10 Presidential debates 1976-1992 12 11 Redistricting and reappointment in Washington 1978-1980 12 12 TCI cable presentation of candidates 1992; 1996 12 13 Voters pamphlet 1999 12 14 Voter registration information undated 12 15 Whatcom County election guidelines 1992 12 16 Whatcom County Judicial campaign 1991-1992 12 17 Coal Gateway Pacific Terminal, Cherry Point, WA 2011-2019 English. 12 18 Gateway Pacific News Clippings 2010-2011 English. 12 19 Child welfare General reference materials approximately 1983-1993 12 20 Childcare approximately 1989-1992 12 21 Child support and custody – state study 1993 13 1 Family Initiative – Washington State Dept. DSHS 1991 13 2 "Kids Count" – data book 1991 13 3 Conservation "Preserving a Way of Life: A Natural Heritage Plan for Whatcom County" 1991 13 4 Whatcom County Conservation District Annual Plan & Report 1992-1994 13 5 Economy General reference materials 1989-1999 13 6 Economic conversion – military to civilian approximately 1986-1988 13 7 Economic conversion 1989-1991 13 8 Economic diversification 1990 November 13 9 Economic policy – presentation at WWU 1992 13 10 "The New International Economic Order: A Promise or Peril for the Indigenous Peoples of the World" 1979 March 29-31 13 11 Education and schools General reference materials 1968-1997 English. 13 12-14 Bellingham Public Schools – Finance Program Survey 1969 13 15 Early Education - study 2008 13 16 Federal role in education - studies 2001; 2011 English. 14 1-2 Washington Schools - state study 1982 14 3 Energy "Nuclear Power: Blessing or Blunder?" - study 1977-1978 14 4 Renewable Energy report 2012 14 5 Study 1980-1981 14 6 Washington State Transmission Project – draft Environmental Impact Statement 1993 November 14 7 Environment General reference materials approximately 1968-1977 14 8 Guidelines for Implementation of the State Environmental Policy Act of 1971 1971 14 9 Oil in Washington waters - conference 1977 April 14 10 Pollution control 1966-1967 14 11 Forestry Study and Reference Materials 1999-2001 English. 14 12 Foreign Policy General reference materials 1967-1989 14 13 International relations – trade approximately 1959-1968 15 1 International relations – United Nations 1963-1976 15 2 United States foreign policy 1966-1977 15 3 Government - City of Bellingham General reference materials approximately 1970s-1982 English. 15 4-6 Bellingham City Charter 1930; 1963-1972 English. 15 7-8 Citizen Participation in Government 2002-2003 15 9 "Know Your Town" 1961 15 10 Government - Whatcom County Home Rule Charter 1967-1978 English. 15 11-13 Home Rule Charter approximately 1985-1986 English. 16 1-3 "Know Your County" approximately 1959-1992 16 4 Newspaper clippings 1979 16 5 Government - Washington State General reference materials approximately 1960s English. 16 6-7 Alternatives for Washington survey materials 1975-1976 English. 16 8-9 Alternatives for Washington - Cost/Trade-off Survey Findings 1976 October/November 17 1 Alternatives for Washington - Area-wide Conference Policy Goals Summary by Geographical Area 1974 September 17 2 Alternatives for Washington - Questionnaire Results from the Community Public Discussion Program 1976 September/October 17 3 Alternatives for Washington - Meeting Results from the Community Public Discussion Program 1976 September/October 17 4 Congressional interview – Congressman Al Swift 1989-1993 17 5 Constitution and Constitutional Reform approximately 1965-1970 17 6 Exercise in State Budget Choices 1995 January 25 17 7 Fiscal Issues approximately 1970s 18 1 Legislature approximately 1970s 18 2 Legislative newsletters 1995 April 18 3 Public Disclosure Law 1974-1975; 1986 18 4 "The State We're In: Washington – A Citizen's Guide to Washington State Government" 1990 18 5 "The State We're In: Washington: - A Teacher's Guide to Washington State Government" 1990 18 6 "The State We're In: Your Guide to state, tribal & local government" 2008 18 7 Washington State Unicameral Government approximately 1970s 18 8 Government - National General reference materials approximately 1961-1980 19 1 Budget process 1974-1983 19 2 Executive Branch – national study 1974-1975 19 3 National Security Study 1983-1984 English. 19 4 "Women in Congress, 1917-1990" 1991 19 5 Growth management and planning General reference materials 1957-1962 19 6 Bellingham Comprehensive Plan – recommendations of the Bellingham Planning Commission 1994 19 7 City Planning bus tour 1936 April 24 19 8 Critical Areas Taking 1992 19 9 Growth Management Act 1996-1997 19 10 Growth management strategy 1990-1991 19 11 "Visions for Bellingham" approximately 1992 19 12 Human resources General reference materials 1979-1985 English. 19 13-14 Adult Day Health Center 2015 20 1 Cities/Urban Crisis approximately 1968-1988 20 2 Health care 1990-1992 20 3 Housing Authority reports 1970-1973 20 4 Hunger 1990 20 5 Local position 1988 20 6 Long-term Care Report and Recommendations 1991 January 20 7 Welfare Reform approximately 1970s 20 8 Women and work 1972-1983 20 9 Immigration General reference materials 2007 20 10 Justice system General reference materials approximately 1980s 21 1 Administration of Justice 1968-1976; 1980-1986 English. 21 2-3 Administration of Justice Committee report 1985 April 21 4 Adult Correctional Systems – state study 1979-1982 21 5 Diverse Judiciary project materials 2011-2012 21 6 Evaluation of juvenile justice system - Whatcom County 1987 21 7 Juvenile justice approximately 1970s 21 8 Symposium on Justice 1977 21 9 Native Americans General reference materials approximately 1970s 21 10 Lummi Nation response to testimony of Marlene Dawson before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs 1996 September 24 21 11 Treaties and rights approximately 1970-1980 21 12 Natural Resources General reference materials 1967-1992 English. 21 13 General reference materials approximately 1968-1992 English. 22 1-4 Land use positions and study material approximately 1972-1980 22 5 Natural Resources Planning Council correspondence 1970 22 6 State Forest Study 1999 22 7 Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan 1970 22 8 Whatcom County Land Use Code Committee 1974-1975 22 9 Nuclear waste General reference materials approximately 1980-1991 English. 22 10-11 Outdoor Recreation Whatcom County outdoor organizations reference material approximately 1965-1993 23 1 Ports General reference materials approximately 1970s-1990s 23 2 Spokane County Port - District Primer 1982 23 3 Studies approximately 1970s-1990s English. 23 4-6 Poverty General reference materials approximately 1980-1991 23 7 "Meeting Basic Human Needs" – study 1987-1988 23 8 "Unmet Needs – the Growing Crisis in America" 1988 23 9 Shoreline management General reference materials 1971; 1978 23 10 Cherry Point shoreline development battle 1975 December 24 1 "The Public Trust Doctrine and Coastal Management Zone" 1991 24 2 Shoreline Management Act 1971 24 3 "Shoreline Management Symposium" 1971 24 4 Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program approximately 1975-1978 English. 24 5-8 Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program 1986 English. 25 1 Solid waste and recycling General reference materials 1973-1990 English. 25 2-5 Comprehensive Sewer and Water Plan approximately 1966-1969 25 6 Hazardous waste approximately 1982-1986 25 7 Recycling Workshop 1973 25 8 Solid waste management 1973 25 9 Solid Waste Management Plans 1990-1991 English. 26 1-2 "Toxics in the Home" 1991 26 3 Waste reduction study 1988 26 4 Taxation General reference materials approximately 1966-1990 English. 26 5-9 Civic Engagement Project 2009 26 10 Civil Discussion Workshop 2010 27 1 "Civility in our Democracy" 2011 27 2 Report of the Tax Advisory Council 1983 February 27 3 Taxation/tax reform study 2004 27 4 Washington State Tax Reference Manual 1991 January 27 5 County Finance Study Summary 1999 English. 27 6 Transportation Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act handbook 1991 27 7 Transportation and land use - updated positions 2001 27 8 Voting General reference materials approximately 1980s-1990s English. 27 9-10 "A Citizen's Guide to Community Education on Global Issues" 1988 27 11 "Choose the President" 1984 27 12 Election laws and reform approximately 1968-1969 27 13 Electoral College vs. Popular Vote - public forum 2009 27 14 National Popular Vote consensus/study 2008 27 15 "Making a Difference" – a voter's service/citizen information handbook 1978 27 16 "Promoting Voting" – a citizen's guide to the media 1988 June 27 17 State initiatives – reference materials approximately 1988 27a 1 Voter forums 2012 27a 2 Voter Registration Manual 2011 27a 3 Voter Services approximately 1990s-2000s 27a 4 Voting equipment approximately 2004-2010 27a 5 Voting Patterns in Whatcom County - study 2003 27a 6 Voting Rights Act approximately 1965-1981 27a 7 Sumas Judicial Protocol Breach 2002 English. 27a 8 2015 Bail Tax Ballot English. 27a 9 Water General reference materials 1965-1993 English. 27a 10-14 General reference materials 1965-1993 28 1-2 Newspaper clippings 1978 28 3 Amendment to the Water Quality Act 1972 28 4 Bellingham Bay Action Plan 1991 28 5 Columbia River Task Force – Hanford Reservation cleanup 1987-1988 28 6 Johnson Creek watershed project 1981 28 7 Nooksack Instream Resources Protection Program 1985 28 8 "Puget Sound and adjacent waters – Comprehensive Water and Related Land Resources Study" 1970 28 9 Puget Sound Water Quality Management Program 1987 28 10 "Regulation relating to Water Quality Standards for Interstate and Coastal Waters of the State of Washington and a Plan for Implementation and Enforcement of Such Standards" – Water Pollution Control Commission 1967 December 4 29 1 Water quality studies 1987 1990 29 2 "Water Resources Development" – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1979 29 3 "Water resources of the Nooksack Basin and certain adjacent streams," – Washington State Department of Conservation 1960 29 4 Policy 2A-14 2016 English. 29 5 "Washington's Water Resources" – recommendations to the Legislature 1977 January 29 6 Women's advocacy General reference materials approximately 1970s 29 7 Coalition for Women 1989-1990 29 8 Equal Rights Amendment 1977-1988 29 9 "Peace Links: Women Against Nuclear War" undated 29 10 Reproductive choice 1982-1989 29 11 Women's economic security approximately 2014-2015 29 12 League Publications and Reference Materials Series IV 1959-2020

This series contains publications from various chapters of the League of Women Voters. The Corner 4 Voter is the official newsletter of the Bellingham-Whatcom County chapter and comprises the bulk of this series.

"A Report to the Nation on the Activities of the League of Women Voters" approximately 1970 29 13 Corner 4 Voter Corner 4 Voter 1959-1967 English. 29 14-15 Corner 4 Voter 1968-1992 30 1-8 Corner 4 Voter 1993-2000 English. 31 1-2 The Voter (previously Corner 4 Voter) 2001-2015 2019-2020 English. 31 3-6 State Voter 1964; 1984-1987 31 7 National Voter 1979-1987 31 8 Non-Whatcom County Voters approximately 1980s-1990s English. 31 9 Non-Whatcom County Voters approximately 1980s-1990s English. 31a 1-3 "Membership Matters" 1963-1964 32 1 Pamphlets, etc. approximately 1960-1999 2019-2020 English. 32 2 Publications catalog and order forms approximately 1985-1992 32 3 They Represent You (TRY) General information approximately 1983-1994 32 4 Pamphlets 1969-2020 English. 32 5-6 Voters' services 1971-1990 English. 32 7-9 Voters' services 1990-1992 33 1 Awards and Publicity Series V 1960-2019 English. Awards and certificates 1980s 1995 2011 2013 2019 33 2 Newspaper clippings approximately 1950s-2000s English. 33 3-7 Publicity information approximately 1985-1992 English. 33 8 A/V and Mixed Media Series VI 1970-1997 Audiocassettes Local radio commercials 1997 English. 33 9 National Security - Dr. Karlstrom 1983 March 16 English. 33 10 "National Security – Not for Experts Only!" undated 34 1 "What's in US for You?" undated 34 2 Reel-to-reels Unidentified 1970 January 28 34 3 "Vote to Promote," LWV PSA's 1979 34 4 Slides Land Use slides and narrative approximately 1980 34 5 Unidentified approximately 1970s 34 6 VHS tapes Decision making 1990 October 13 35 1 Federal Budget Deficit 1985 October 35 2 Hanford Site Char. SC. 36, Office of Nuclear Waste Management undated 35 3 KCTS 9: State Budget 101 undated 35 4 "Meet the Candidates – Volume 1" 1994 October English. 36 1-2 "Meet the Candidates – Volume 2" 1994 October English. 36 3-4 Correspondence re. "Meet the Candidates" videotapes 1994 36 5 "Membership Development: Flexible Strategies" 1992 37 1 Representative Bill Gorman, Energy Corridor Expansion approximately 1980s 37 2 "Staging League Debates: Format Options, Moderating Techniques, and Set Designs" 1987 March 1 37 3 "Tools for Drinking Water Protection" undated 37 4 Meeting Tape 09/18/1999 English. 37 1