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Manuscript Collections


CITIZENS LEAGUE:

An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society


OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Citizens League (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Title:Citizens League records.
Date:1947-1992.
Abstract:Minutes (1971-1981), correspondence, reports (1958-1984), subject files, notebooks, financial information, and printed materials relating to this nonpartisan citizens, public affairs research, and educational organization based in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The group is organized into committees that research current affairs issues affecting various aspects of community life.
Quantity:56.0 cu. ft. (56 boxes).
Location:See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE RECORDS

The collection contains research reports and subject files in the fields of education, government, transportation, mental and public health, and similar areas of public interest. There are extensive records from Public Service Options, an organization formed by the Citizens League and Upper Midwest Council to consider broader options for delivery of public services (1974-1980), and from PSO, Inc. (1976-1980), which was formed to handle contracts with the Metropolitan Transit Commission.

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ORGANIZATION OF THE RECORDS

These documents are organized into the following sections:
Executive Files
Committee and Task Force Files
Public Service Options
Oversize Materials

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RELATED MATERIALS

Newsletters of the Citizens League are in the Minnesota Historical Society book collection.
Photographs relating to the Citizens League are in the Minnesota Historical Society sound and visual collections.

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INDEX TERMS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
Citizens' advisory committees in education -- Minnesota.
Citizens' advisory committees in mental health -- Minnesota.
Citizens' advisory committees in technology -- Minnesota.
Citizens' advisory committees in vocational training -- Minnesota.
Citizens' associations -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Courts -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Metropolitan areas -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities -- Citizen participation.
Political participation -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Public interest -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Regional planning -- Minnesota -- Citizen participation.
Taxation -- Minnesota -- Research.
Transportation -- Minnesota -- Planning.
Education -- Evaluation.
Urban transportation -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
School buildings -- Minnesota.
Community organization -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Hospitals -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Land use -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area -- Planning.
Refuse and refuse disposal -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Urban policy -- Minnesota -- Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Organizations:
Metropolitan Transit Commission.
Public Service Options (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Twin Cities Metropolitan Planning Commission.
Places:
Minneapolis (Minn.) -- Charter.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Citizen League Records. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples
Accession Information:
Accession number(s): 13,128; 13,155; 13,703; 14,920; 15,987
Processing Information:
Processed by: Bonnie B. Palmquist, March 1994
Catalog ID number: 09-00023641

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below.

Executive Files
LocationBox
149.H.18.1B 1
Bylaws, 1952-1973.
Minutes, May 19, 1971 - May 4, 1981. 3 folders.
Board memoranda, 1979-1980.

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Committee and Task Force Files
Committee files contain minutes, reports, committee member lists, memoranda, and background material. In some cases notebooks were dismantled and folders numbered in sequence. Committee titles also include the names of subcommittees. The researcher should consult the entire container list to locate all relevant files.
LocationBox
149.H.18.1B 1
Accountability in schools, 1971-1972. 5 folders.
Achieving excellence in schools, 1971.
Airports (Metropolitan Airports Commission), 1966-1969. 4 folders, 1 volume.
LocationBox
149.H.18.2F2
Airports, 1969. 3 folders.
Appointments, 1975. 2 folders.
Area parks review, 1966-1968. 2 folders, 1 volume.
See also: Parks.
Area revenue and tax needs, 1966-1967. 1 folder, 1 volume.
LocationBox
149.H.18.3B3
Arson, 1977-1978. 3 folders, 1 volume.
Better use of land and housing, 1970-1971.
Burglary, 1975-1976. 2 folders, 2 volumes.
See also: Reduced burglary, 1975-1976.
LocationBox
149.H.18.4F 4
Cable television, 1971-1972. 2 folders, 2 volumes.
Candidate review, 1952-1960. 2 folders.
LocationBox
149.H.18.5B 5
Charter improvement, 1960.
Charter planning budgeting, 1969. 0.25 cu. ft.
Charter review, 1958-1959, 1964.
See also: Minneapolis city charter, 1973-1981.
Chemical dependency, 1979-1980. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Child care, 1975-1976. 2 folders.
LocationBox
149.H.18.6F 6
Child care, 1975-1976. 2 volumes.
Citizens League progress report to community business leaders, [1958?].
Citizens library study, 1972-1973. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Not a Citizens League committee.
Citizen participation, 1971-1978. 5 folders.
Citizens school emergency advisory, 1966.
City and county government, 1953-1957. 2 folders.
LocationBox
149.H.18.7B7
Committee on committees, 1952-1953.
Communication, 1979-1981. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Community councils, 1974-1975. 3 folders.
Community development, 1976-1977. 10 folders.
County boards, district councils, etc.
Community representation, 1977-1978.
Community television, 1974-1976. 8 folders.
LocationBox
149.H.18.8F 8
Community television, 1974-1976. 12 folders.
Constitutional amendments, 1980. 1 folder, 1 volume.
County budget, 1957-1962.
County building space needs, 1964-1966.
County courts review, 1964-1965.
LocationBox
149.H.18.9B9
County government, 1952-1957, 1965-1966, 1974-1979. 8 folders, 2 volumes.
Criminal justice planning, 1969.
LocationBox
149.H.18.10F10
Criminal justice planning, 1968-1970.
Dutch elm disease, 1976-1977. 1 folder, 1 volume, printed material.
LocationBox
149.H.19.1B11
Economic development, 1976-1977. 2 folders.
Education, 1953-1966. 9 folders.
Educational alternatives, 1980-1981.
LocationBox
149.H.19.2F 12
Election contest, 1966.
Legal papers, etc.
Employment, 1979-1981. 8 folders.
Energy pricing, 1979-1980.
LocationBox
149.I.5.6F 13
Enrollments (fluctuating), 1973-1974.
Environment, 1968-1971, 1973-1974. 3 folders, 2 volumes.
Fiscal crisis, 1965-1966. 2 folders.
LocationBox
149.I.5.7B14
Fiscal crisis (Minneapolis), 1965-1971. 1 volume, printed material.
LocationBox
149.I.5.8F15
Forms and structure, 1954-1961. 2 folders.
General hospital, 1962-1970. 2 folders.
General revenue sharing, 1974.
Government (metropolitan), 1957-1959.
Government organization, 1962-1964. 2 folders.
Government Structure Task Force, 1976-1977.
Health, hospitals, and welfare, 1952-1960. 4 folders.
Health and Hospitals Task Force, 1980-1981. 2 folders.
LocationBox
149.I.5.9B16
Health care, 1969-1971. 3 volumes.
Higher education, 1965-1966, 1970-1971. 2 folders, 1 volume.
See also: Post-secondary education.
LocationBox
149.I.5.10F 17
Highway, 1965-1968. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Hospitals in the Twin Cities, 1976-1982. 8 folders, 1 volume.
Includes information on Veterans Hospital, Minneapolis.
LocationBox
149.I.6.1B18
Household pricing, 1979.
Housing Task Force, 1975-1980. 4 volumes.
Low income housing, 1968-1969. 1 folder, 3 volumes.
Initiative and referendum, 1978-1979. 4 folders.
See also: Petitioning on legislation (Box 48).
Inner city, 1967.
LocationBox
149.I.6.2F19
Income maintenance, 1976-1977. 1 folder, 2 volumes, printed material.
Issues of the 80s, 1979-1980. 2 volumes, 4 folders.
See also: Public policies of the 80s, 1978-1979 (Box 48).
LocationBox
149.I.6.3B 20
Jails, 1964-1966. 2 folders.
Joint Task Force of Community Information and Tax & Finance and Transit, 1976-1977. 1 volume, printed material.
Juvenile detention, 1962-1964. 2 folders.
Land for housing, 1970-1971.
Land use, 1974-1976. 1 folder, 1 volume.
LocationBox
149.I.6.4F21
Land use, 1974-1976. 2 volumes.
Law enforcement, 1966-1967. 4 folders.
Legislation, 1952-1953.
Petitioning on legislation, 1978-1979.
Legislative, 1974-1975. 2 folders.
LocationBox
149.I.6.5B 22
Legislative day, 1970.
Legislative procedures, 1967-1968. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Library, 1952-1965. 11 folders.
Licensing, 1952-1964. 9 folders.
LocationBox
149.I.6.6F23
Local consent, 1964-1965. 2 folders.
Local government, 1973-1974. 2 volumes.
Local government boundary-function relationships, 1972-1974.
Merit system review, 1965.
Metropolitan affairs, 1966-1967. 3 folders, 2 volumes.
Metropolitan area study, 1959-1961.
LocationBox
149.I.6.7B24
Metropolitan capital improvements, 1971-1972. 4 folders.
Metropolitan Council structure, 1971 and before.
Metropolitan development guide, 1967-1968. 3 folders, 1 volume.
Metropolitan planning, 1964-1965. 3 folders.
LocationBox
149.I.6.8F 25
Metropolitan policy, 1968.
Metropolitan sewerage, 1961-1968. 5 folders.
Metropolitan (Council) statement, 1971.
Minneapolis development, 1965-1967.
LocationBox
149.I.6.9B26
Minneapolis development, 1968-1969. 2 folders.
Minneapolis fire and police salaries, 1966.
Minneapolis zoning, 1963.
Minority representation, 1968-1970.
Mosquito control, 1965-1966. 2 folders.
Municipal commission, 1963-1965. 2 folders.
Municipal courts, 1962-1963. 2 folders.
Open meetings, 1976-1977.
LocationBox
149.I.6.10F 27
Parade of neighborhoods, 1974-1975. 3 folders.
This was a special project.
Parking, 1977. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Parks, 1952-1961. 14 folders.
Includes city, county, and metropolitan parks.
LocationBox
149.I.7.1B28
Parks, 1953-1961. 2 folders.
Regional parks, 1978-1979. 6 folders, 1 volume.
East metro parks, 1966, 1978-1981. 2 folders, 1 volume.
Pilot city, 1974-1977.
Planned unit development, 1972-1973. 2 folders, 1 volume.
LocationBox
149.I.7.2F29
Planning and zoning, 1957-1962. 6 folders.
Policy Planning Task Force, 1971-1972.
Political campaigns, 1873-1974. 2 folders, 1 volume.
LocationBox
149.I.7.3B30
Post-secondary education, 1974-1978. 2 volume, 0.75 cu. ft. of printed material.
LocationBox
149.I.7.4F31
Post-secondary education, 1976-1977. 4 folders, printed material.
Student financial aid.
Program Planning Task Force, 1974, 1977-1978. 2 folders, 1 volume.
Project, 1953-1954.
Promoting more transit ridership, 1972-1973.
Public affairs information, 1977-1978. 1 folder, 1 volume.
LocationBox
149.I.7.5B 32
Public affairs television, 1976. 2 folders, 1 volume, printed material.
Public employment, 1957-1964, 1972-1973. 14 folders, 1 volume.
LocationBox
149.I.7.6F33
Public employment, 1972-1973.
Public meetings, 1976-1977. 2 folders.
Public pensions, 1978. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Public safety, 1953-1962. 13 folders.
LocationBox
149.I.7.7B34
Public safety, 1957-1958. 7 folders.
Police and fire departments.
Public service, 1968. 2 folders.
See also: Strengthening public service.
Publicity, 1957-1958.
Quasi-public activities (funding for the arts), 1972-1976. 3 folders, 1 volume, and printed material.
LocationBox
151.E.10.1B35
Rebuilding the central city, 1972-1973.
Reduce burglary, 1975-1976. 3 folders.
Refuse, 1959-1966. 7 folders.
LocationBox
151.E.10.2F36
Rent control, 1980-1981.
Residential paving, 1965-1967. 2 folders.
Residential property tax, 1974-1975. 2 folders, 2 volumes.
Revenue distribution, 1969-1970. 6 folders.
LocationBox
151.E.10.3B37
River development, 1969.
Riverfront protection, 1973-1975. 2 folders.
Riverfront protection (Book I), 1973-1974.
Riverfront protection (Book II), 1973-1974. 2 folders.
Roll of consultants, 1972-1974. 7 folders.
LocationBox
151.E.10.4F38
St. Paul charter changes, 1971.
St. Paul community councils, 1971.
St. Paul special reports, 1968, 1969.
School aids, 1962-1963.
School bargaining, 1970-1971. 5 folders.
School buildings, 1969-1971. 4 folders.
School buildings (St. Paul), 1970-1971. 4 folders.
LocationBox
151.E.10.5B39
School buildings (Minneapolis), 1963-1964. 4 folders.
School desegregation, 1979. 4 folders, 1 volume.
School emergency advisory, 1966.
School finance (Minneapolis), 1966. 2 folders.
School personnel, 1969.
LocationBox
151.E.10.6F40
School personnel, 1969. 2 folders.
School millage, 1962-1964. 3 folders.
Siting of controversial facilities, 1979-1980. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Social services, 1972-1974. 1 folder, 0.4 cu. ft. of printed material.
LocationBox
151.E.10.7B41
Solid waste, 1974-1978. 5 folders, background material.
Solid waste/flow control, 1980-1981. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Speakers bureau, 1957-1958.
Special districts, 1967-1968.
State-local fiscal planning, 1971-1971. 6 folders.
LocationBox
151.E.10.8F42
State-local fiscal planning, 1971-1972.
State-local fiscal relationships, 1977-1978. 2 folders, 1 volume.
Strengthening public service, 1967-1969. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Structure Task Force, 1975-1981. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Tax/economy, 1978-1979.
LocationBox
143.C.19.1B43
Tax/economy, 1978-1979. 3 folders.
Tax and finance, 1952-1964. 10 folders.
Tax and finance, 1975-1981. 3 volumes.
LocationBox
143.C.19.2F 44
Transit, 1964-1965. 3 folders.
Transit facilities, 1973-1974. 2 folders.
Transit ridership, 1972-1973. 2 folders.
Transportation, 1957-1963, 1977-1980. 7 folders, 2 volumes.
LocationBox
143.C.19.3B45
Transportation, 1968-1981. 15 folders, 1 volume, printed material.
LocationBox
143.C.19.4F 46
Transportation, 1974-1980.
Transportation (People Mover), 1977-1979. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Transportation (Rideshare), 1977-1979. 1 folder, 1 volume.
Transportation reports, 1975-1980. 7 folders.
Transportation policy debate, 1974-1980. 5 folders.
See also: Urban transportation.
Twin Cities economy, 1976-1977. 4 volumes.
LocationBox
143.C.19.5B 47
Twin Cities economy, 1976-1977.
Urban transportation facilities, 1969-1971. 1 folder, 2 volumes.
Urban renewal, 1961-1962.
Veterans preference, 1964-1965.
Voters guide, 1962-1967.
LocationBox
143.C.19.6F 48
Voting procedures, 1965-1966. 3 folders.
Workhouse, 1964-1965. 2 folders.
Youth athletics, 1979-1980. 1 volume.
Miscellaneous Files:
Amicus Curiae brief, 1970.
Citizens League brief for definition of "legislative day."
Child care, 1975-1976. 2 folders.
Minneapolis, 1968-1971. 3 folders.
Petitioning on legislation, 1978-1979. 1 volume.
Public policy for the 80s, 1978-1979.
LocationBox
149.I.7.8F 49
Citizens League Printed Reports (4 folders):
Membership directory, 1977.
Public affairs directory, Metropolitan area of Twin Cities, 1971.
Adaptability--The new mission for vocational education, 1986.
Building confidence in older neighborhoods, 1973.
Changes in communications and the opportunities, problems, and issues for the Twin Cities, 1980.
Future role of the Metropolitan Planning Commission, 1965.
Health care access for all Minnesotans, 1992.
Hennepin County government reorganization, 1966.
Income maintenance, [1976?].
"It's only a game": a lottery in Minnesota,1986.
Jails, 1966.
Keeping the waste out of waste, 1981.
Larger view for small scale agriculture, 1984.
Local government in a time of transition, 1974.
Local government school, 1958.
Major non-local governmental programs, agencies and organizations operating in the minority and low income areas of Minneapolis, 1969.
Metro Council: narrowing the agenda and raising the stakes, 1984.
Metropolitan zoo report, 1966.
A positive alternative: redesigning public service delivery, 1982.
Power to the process: making Minnesota's legislature work better, 1985.
Region's infrastructure: the problem isn't what you think it is, 1984.
State fiscal 'crises' are not inevitable, 1972.
A strategy for the waterbelt, 1985.
Stretching the school salary dollar, 1969.
Thought before action: understanding and reforming Minnesota's fiscal system, 1982.
Twin Cities metropolitan area sewerage needs, 1965.
Use road revenue for the roads that are used, 1983.
Reports not approved or distributed. 1 folder.

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Public Service Options (PSO), 1972-1981
The organization was formed by the Citizens League to "bring more community resources to bear upon the delivery of public services by: encouraging public policy makers to expand their options for providing public services and encouraging government units to participate more extensively with purchase-of-service arrangements in the public service area."
Public Service Options was formally incorporated in April 1976 to stimulate a ridesharing program in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It was a joint venture between the Upper Midwest Council and the Citizens League. Its major funding came from the Metropolitan Transit Commission, a governmental agency, pursuant to a written agreement requiring PSO to perform certain services with respect to the establishment of a ridesharing program in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The records include minutes, correspondence, reports, contracts, financial information, and related material.
LocationBox
149.I.7.8F 49
Articles of incorporation, 1976.
Bylaws.
Dissolution of PSO, 1980-1981. 2 folders.
Goals and objectives, 1974-1975.
PSO, 1972-1973.
Minutes, 1974-1980. 13 folders.
Steering Committee memoranda and correspondence, 1974-1978. 5 folders.
LocationBox
149.I.7.9B 50
Financial Information:
Fiscal years, 1976-1980. 4 volumes.
Audits.2 volumes.
Financial statements, Sept. 1973-Dec. 1978. 3 volumes.
Management letter, Sept. 18, 1975.
Grant and Endowment Information:
Grant requests, 1973.
Bush Foundation, 1973-1976.
Clark Foundation correspondence, 1973-1976.
Funding proposal for PSO, March 1, 1976.
Lilly endowment, 1976-1978.
McKnight Foundation, 1976-1979.
National Science Foundation, 1974-1976. 2 folders, 1 volume.
Other foundations, 1974-1976.
Funding summary, 1976-1977.
Grant procedures and information, 1978-1979.
Service Options Foundation and investment record, 1976-1977.
LocationBox
149.I.7.10F51
Chronological Volumes:
These volumes include correspondence, financial information, reports, contracts, and related material.
April 1974-April 1975. 5 volumes.
LocationBox
149.I.8.1B52
May 1975-April 1976. 5 volumes.
LocationBox
149.I.8.2F 53
May 1976-April 1978. 5 volumes.
LocationBox
149.I.8.3B 54
May 1978-March 1980. 4 volumes, 1 folder.
LocationBox
149.I.8.4F55
First contract with Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), June 1976-June 19, 1977. 2 volumes.
Correspondence, contract information, and related material.
Contract with MTC, 1979.
Issue bulletins, 1974-1975.
Printed Reports:
Proposal to National Science Foundation, Volume 1, 1973.
Proposal for continuing support for public services, Jan. 6, 1976.
Two or three years: Alternative models for PSO, Oct. 2, 1975.
Report to the Ford Foundation: National review of urban housing preservation programs, Aug. 26, 1976.
New options for preservation of single family neighborhoods, March 1976.
Shared ride services, July 29, 1975.
Report of the Public Service Options: Policy Review Committee, June 7, 1978.
Public Service Option: A review of a test of an idea. 2 parts.

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Oversize Materials
LocationBox
148.D.3.3B56
Scrapbooks, 1951-1967. 4 volumes.
Newspaper clippings.
Minneapolis City Charter. Scrapbook, 1947.
Newspaper clippings.
Transparencies on city and metropolitan government.

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