OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Minnesota Historical Society
League of Women Voters of
St. Paul.
League
records.
1924-1988.
Historical information, bylaws, minutes,
correspondence files, annual reports, financial and membership records, league
publications, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and program-related files of a
local LWV chapter organized in November 1919.
9.25 cu. ft. (12 boxes,
including 16 v.).
See Detailed Description section for shelf
locations.
HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ST. PAUL
The St. Paul League of Women Voters was organized in November 1919, a
few days after the Minnesota League was formed in Minneapolis. Cornelia Lusk
and Jane Burr were the first two presidents. The St. Paul League followed the
procedures and policies of the state organization by pledging to increase
citizen participation in the political process through education on the issues,
and to encourage participation in the political process through precinct
caucuses, voter registration, and providing information on candidates for
political office.
The board of directors was the governing body of the League and, to
facilitate their programs, the league membership participated in smaller groups
called units, which were study groups devoted to various topics of interest to
St. Paul and Ramsey County residents. According to the minutes (1937-1947) the
original name of the organization was the Ramsey County League of Women Voters.
After September 1947, the present name was adopted.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE PAPERS
The St. Paul League's administrative records include fairly complete
minutes of its board of directors (1937-1986); financial records including
monthly reports (1935-1988), budget information (1957-1987), and information on
funding drives (1945-1974); and membership records including lists and
directories (1951-1982), reports (1955-1988), a survey (1983), and a poll
(1972).
The rest of the collection consists primarily of records documenting
the League's many programmatic activities in St. Paul and Ramsey County
including planning and agendas; political activities, relating particularly to
citizen participation in city and county elections (1956-1986); candidate
questionnaires; voter registration drives; and similar files.
A series of files on St. Paul and Ramsey County political issues
include records of the campaign for a new city charter, housing matters, and a
proposed Ramsey County Board of Health. There is also a series of files on
issues not related directly to St. Paul or Ramsey County. Of particular
interest are materials on the Child Watch program, equal rights amendment, gay
rights, state judicial system (questionnaires), and environmental programs.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE PAPERS
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Administrative Files
- Outreach Files
- Program Files
- Issue Files
RELATED MATERIALS
Records of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, and the records
of other local leagues, are also in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript
collections.
OTHER FINDING AIDS
A print version of this finding aid is available in the repository;
filed in ALPHA notebooks under the heading: League of Women Voters of St.
Paul.
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
Abortion -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul --
Laws and legislation.
Child welfare -- Minnesota.
Cities and towns -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul -- Law and legislation.
City council members -- Minnesota --
Saint Paul.
Civil rights -- Minnesota.
County council members -- Minnesota --
Ramsey County.
County government -- Minnesota -- Ramsey
County.
Elections -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Elections -- Minnesota -- Ramsey
County.
Environmental policy --
Minnesota.
Gay liberation movement -- Minnesota --
Saint Paul.
Public health -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Housing -- Law and legislation --
Minnesota -- Saint Paul.
Indians of North America.
Local elections -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Local government -- Minnesota -- Ramsey
County.
Local government -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Metropolitan areas -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Political participation -- Minnesota --
Saint Paul.
Politics, Practical -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Primaries -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
School board members -- Minnesota --
Saint Paul.
Schools -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Water quality -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Women in community organization --
Minnesota -- Saint Paul.
Women in politics -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Women -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul --
Societies and clubs.
Women's rights -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Equal rights amendments --
Minnesota.
Organizations:
Children's Defense Fund
-- Minnesota.
Council of Metropolitan
Area League of Women Voters (Minn.).
Minnesota. Legislature.
House of Representatives.
Ramsey County League of
Women Voters.
Places:
Ramsey County (Minn.).
Saint Paul Metropolitan Area
(Minn.).
Saint Paul (Minn.) --
Charters.
Document Types:
Questionnaires.
Interviews.
Occupations:
Judges.
Mayors.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. League of Women Voters of St. Paul Records. Minnesota Historical
Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples
Accession Information:
Accession number: 12,868; 14,852
Processing Information:
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, June 1994
Catalog ID number: 09-00040318
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Administrative Files
The first five boxes of the collection contain the organization's
administrative records. They begin with historical background materials and
records pertaining to the 60th (1979) and 65th (1984) anniversary celebrations
of the League; complete and detailed minutes of the board of directors
(1937-1986); a small selection of annual reports and programs of annual
meetings (1937-1985); and reports from the St. Paul League to the Minnesota and
National LWV office (1960-1982). They also include extensive correspondence
(1969-1985) of League presidents, with information on such routine League
business as conventions, committee meetings, and activities relating to St.
Paul and Ramsey County political and educational policies, as well as letters
to congressional leaders on such issues as poverty programs and District of
Columbia representation in Congress. All these records contain valuable
insights into the League's programs and activities.
Financial records include treasurer's monthly reports (1935-1988),
budget information (1957-1987), and records documenting financial drives
(1945-1974). Membership information files (1951-1987) include lists and
directories, polls, and surveys and are followed by a small group of records
with information on committee operations (1970-1979).
At the end of this section are smaller files on the Council of
Metropolitan Area Leagues (1961-1981), with data on the organization's study of
the metropolitan area; unit materials (1953-1982), with lists of local
presidents, a congressional reform study, and minutes of Unit 29 (1953-1964);
files with information on office procedures and job descriptions (1971-1985);
and general correspondence files (1949-1976).
151.I.11.13B
1
Historical Sketch of the St. Paul League,
1959.
Background Pamphlets,
undated.
Anniversary Celebrations: 60th and 65th,
1979, 1984.
2 folders.
Bylaws,
1947-1982.
Organizational Chart (1979-1981) and "League Lingo,"
undated.
Awards and Citations to the League,
undated and 1964, 1977.
Ramsey County League of Women Voters. Board of
Directors' Minutes,
September 1947- December 1986.
19 folders.
151.I.11.14F
2
Rosters of Board of Directors,
1952/53-1984/85.
President's Correspondence,
1969-1985.
16 folders.
151.I.12.1B
3
Annual Reports and Meeting Programs,
1937-1985.
6 folders.
Annual Reports to State and National LWV Offices,
1960/61-1982.
4 folders.
151.I.12.2F
4
Financial Records:
Treasurer's Monthly Reports,
1935-1988.
6 folders.
Budgets,
1957/58-1986/87.
Miscellaneous Budget Records,
1971-1981/82.
Finance Drives,
1945-1974.
5 folders.
Finance Committee. Correspondence and Miscellaneous
Records,
1962-1978.
Membership Records:
Lists and Directories,
1951-1981/82.
Reports, Statistics, and Lists,
1955-1988.
2 folders.
Survey,
1983.
2 folders.
Orientation Materials,
1939-1963.
Poll,
1970.
2 folders.
Letters to Prospective Members,
1961-1987.
Resignations,
1983.
Recommendations for Boards and Commissions,
1953/54, 1980-1986.
151.I.12.3B
5
Committee Minutes and Related Records:
Human Services,
1970-1981.
4 folders.
LWV-Ramsey County Ad Hoc,
1978-1979.
Miscellaneous Committee Materials,
1980-1981.
151.I.12.5B
8
Office Procedures and Job Descriptions,
1971-1980.
Office Committee. Minutes and Related Records,
1984-1985.
General Correspondence,
1949-1976.
3 folders.
Selected Non-League Publications,
1954-1983.
Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues:
Miscellaneous Records,
1961-1981.
2 folders.
Metropolitan Area Issues Study,
1961-1981.
2 folders.
Unit Materials:
Unit 29. Minutes and Related Records,
1953-1964.
Lists of Unit Chairmen and Meeting Information,
1958-1982.
Briefing Techniques,
1937-1979.
Congressional Reform Study,
1971.
General Records,
1957-1980.
Outreach Files
There is correspondence regarding, and copies of, some of the
League's publications including "Your Elected Officials" and "Who's Who and
Where in St. Paul"; a fairly complete set of the League's newsletters:
St. Paul Bulletin (1924-1959) and the
St. Paul Voter (1960-1985); and League handbooks
(1964-1981).
A section on public relations contains information (1955-1961) on
radio and television advertising by the League, news releases (1953-1986), and
newspaper clippings (1924-1976) documenting many aspects of the League's
activities.
151.I.12.3B
5
Publications:
Correspondence and Miscellaneous Records,
1972-1982.
Publications of the St. Paul League:
"Your Elected Officials." Correspondence,
Miscellany, and Copies of the Publication,
1965-1986.
2 folders.
"Who's Who and Where in the City of St. Paul."
Correspondence, Miscellany, and Copies,
1977-1986.
2 folders.
Other League Publications,
1955-1979.
Newsletters:
St. Paul Bulletin,
1924, 1957-1959.
2 folders.
St. Paul Voter,
1960-1985.
14 folders.
Handbooks,
1964-1966, 1978-1981.
151.I.12.4F
6
Public Relations:
Radio and Television Publicity,
1955-1961.
News Releases,
1953-1986.
Newspaper Clippings (unbound),
1924-1976.
2 folders.
Scrapbooks of Newspaper Clippings:
August 1925-August 1926.
1 volume.
January 1932-May 1936.
1 volume.
October 1937.
1 volume.
June 1948-May 1954.
1 volume.
December 1953-July 1954.
1 volume.
August 1957-April 1960.
1 volume.
April 1960-May 1961.
1 volume.
148.C.20.6F
7
October 1934 January-November 1935.
1 volume.
January 1936-February 1937.
1 volume.
February 1947.
3 folders.
February 1941-November 1947.
1 volume.
May 1949-March 1950.
1 volume.
May 1950-May 1951.
1 volume.
January 1951-May 1952.
1 volume.
April-September 1952.
1 volume.
November 1953-January 1955.
1 volume.
Program Files
Box 9 contains a small collection of program-related records
designated as "Action Files," "Program," and "Special Projects," which
collectively cover the years 1945-1986. Included, among other materials, are
forms containing interviews with legislative candidates, program agendas and
procedures, lobbying information, consensus reports on abortion, information on
the Coordinating and Referral Center for Children, and a file about the visits
of groups of German women to St. Paul.
Records concerning the League's participation in political
activities (box 10) (1956-1986) contain information on voter registration
drives; literature and other records on elections for mayor, city council,
school board, and Ramsey County commissioners; precinct caucus data;
information on a campaign to establish an independent St. Paul School Board;
questionnaires to candidates for school board and Ramsey County commissioner;
an election judges survey (1977); and the election returns project, which the
League conducted to tally local election results (1964-1972).
151.I.12.6F
9
Action Files:
Legislative Interviews,
1974-1986.
4 folders.
Correspondence with Elected Officials,
1966-1986.
4 folders.
Procedures: Lobbying,
1970-1981.
Abortion: Consensus Reports and Other Records,
1978.
Program:
Making and Management (including statements and
current agendas),
1967-1982.
2 folders.
Observer Program,
1963-1975.
State Program Suggestions (for St. Paul League),
1971-1972.
Special Projects:
Coordination and Referral Center for Children,
1945.
German Women Visitors to St. Paul,
1951, 1953.
St. Paul Government Public Meeting,
November 1961.
Historic Sites Tour,
1962.
Voter Registration Drive,
1962.
"Doorway to Change" Dinner,
November 1963.
Chimera Theatre Program,
October 1971.
151.I.12.7B
10
Political Activities:
Voters Service:
General Files (by election),
1956-1974, 1982-1986.
7 folders.
St. Paul Primary and General Election,
1976.
St. Paul General Election,
November 1978.
Precinct Caucus Booklet,
1966-1969.
West Seventh Street Community Project,
1971-1975.
Voter Registration Booklet,
1980.
"Election Hotline,"
1980, 1982.
Voter Registration:
General Files,
1962-1985.
5 folders.
Election Returns Project,
1964-1972.
3 folders.
Guidebooks for City Election,
1972, 1974.
3 folders.
UPI Bankruptcy Case,
1985-1986.
General Files:
Independent School District Board,
1946-1954.
Fall Election,
1966.
Election and Registration Procedures,
1966.
General Correspondence,
1968-1981.
6 folders.
Special Election: St. Paul Charter Revision,
December 1969.
School Board Candidates,
Spring 1976.
Election Judges Survey,
1977.
Ramsey County Commissioners Questionnaires,
Fall 1978.
School Board Candidates Questionnaires,
1980.
Miscellaneous Political Materials,
1964-1985.
Issue Files
Box 11 contains subject files concerning St. Paul (1930-1981) and
Ramsey County (1954-1981) political and governmental issues. Issues of
particular interest include the campaign for a new city charter (1967),
housing-related proposals (1946-1981), a proposal for a Ramsey County Board of
Health (1955-1964), and protection of the Rice Creek Watershed (1972).
Issue files not related to St. Paul or Ramsey County are found in
box 12 and include information on Child Watch (1972-1982), sponsored by the
Children's Defense Fund; the Equal Rights Amendment (1977); Gay Rights
(1977-1978); Native American issues (1962-1969); the state judicial system
questionnaires (1970-1980); and environmental issues, including endangered
species (1977) and water quality (1957-1981).
151.I.12.8F
11
St. Paul Issues:
Association of St. Paul Communities,
1969.
Citizen Participation Committee. Minutes and Related
Records (including Mayor's Committee on Citizen Participation),
1973-1975.
Citizens for a New City Charter,
1967.
2 folders.
City Government Study Committee,
1973-1976.
City Hall Correspondence with Mayor and Council
Members,
1961-1963.
Community Participation Program,
1961-1964.
Housing Action,
1973-1976.
Housing, Public,
1946-1958.
2 folders.
Housing Rehabilitation Update,
1973-1981.
Law Enforcement,
1951-1958.
Local Taxes and Financing,
1934-1963.
3 folders.
St. Paul Citizens School Committee,
1947-1952.
Tours: City Hall and State Capitol,
1976-1979.
Miscellaneous Records,
1930-1980.
3 folders.
Ramsey County Issues:
County Board of Health Proposal,
1955-1964.
3 folders.
Health Services Delivery,
1978-1981.
Rice Creek Watershed,
1972.
Miscellaneous Records,
1954-1978.
151.I.12.9B
12
Other Issues:
Child Care: Awards for Service,
December 1988.
Child Watch,
1972-1982.
5 folders.
Civil and Individual Liberties and Loyalty-Security
Programs,
1954-1983.
Endangered Species Committee,
1977.
Equal Rights,
1977-1978.
Foreign Policy,
1945-1981.
Gay Rights,
1977-1978.
Girls' State,
1965-1969.
Indians in Minnesota,
1962-1969.
Metropolitan Area Issues,
1954-1975.
Revenue Sharing,
1970-1974.
State Judiciary System Questionnaires,
1970-1981.
Water Studies,
1957-1981.
Miscellaneous Records,
1957-1985.