OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society
League of Women Voters of St. Paul.
League records.
1924-2001.
Materials in English, with some Spanish,
Cambodian, and Hmong.
Historical information, bylaws, minutes, correspondence
files, annual reports, financial and membership records, league publications,
newsletters, newspaper clippings, and program-related files of a local League of
Women Voters chapter organized in November 1919.
12.7 cubic feet (13 boxes, including 16
volumes).
See [Detailed Description](a9) section for
shelf locations.
HISTORICAL NOTE
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, 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
The St. Paul League's administrative records contain minutes; financial records
including monthly reports, budget information, and information on funding drives;
and membership records including lists and directories, reports, surveys, and
polls.
The rest of the collection consists primarily of records documenting the League's
programmatic activities in St. Paul and Ramsey County including planning and
agendas; political activities, relating particularly to citizen participation in
city and county elections; candidate questionnaires; voter registration drives; and
related files.
Also included are a series of files on St. Paul and Ramsey County political issues
including 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 directly related to St. Paul or Ramsey County, which include materials on the
Child Watch program, equal rights amendment, gay rights, state judicial system
(questionnaires), and environmental programs.
ARRANGEMENT
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 -- Political activity -- 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.
Photographs.
Sound recordings.
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; 16,074
Processing Information:
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, June 1994; Shelby Edwards, December 2010
Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project
grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
(NHPRC).
Catalog ID number: 001731738
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Administrative Files
The administrative files include historical background materials and records
pertaining to anniversary celebrations of the League, minutes of the board
of directors, annual reports and programs of annual meetings, and reports
from the St. Paul League to the Minnesota and National LWV office. They also
include correspondence of League presidents, with information on routine
League business such as conventions, committee meetings, and activities
relating to St. Paul and Ramsey County.
Financial records include treasurer's reports, budget information, and
records documenting financial drives. Membership information files include
lists and directories, polls, surveys and information on committee
operations.
There are files on the Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues, which include
organizational studies, unit materials, and minutes of Unit 29. There are
also files with information on office procedures, job descriptions and
general correspondence files.
151.I.11.13B
1
Articles of incorporation, non profit requirements and charity
laws,
undated and 1990.
Bylaws,
1947-1982.
Organizational Chart (1979-1981) and "League Lingo,"
undated.
Historical sketch of the St. Paul League,
1959.
Project process and organizational history,
1997.
LWV St. Paul history,
undated and 1990-1994.
Long range planning,
1981-1986.
Retreat on the future direction of the league,
August 1998.
Vision Committee, strategic planning,
1995.
Background pamphlets,
undated.
Anniversary celebrations: 60th, 65th and 75th,
1979, 1984 and 1994.
3 folders.
Awards and citations to the league,
undated and 1964, 1977.
Faye Lyksett award winners and biographies,
1972-2000.
2 folders.
Annual awards,
1988.
Awards, miscellaneous,
1965, 1970-1995.
Voter Service award and policies,
1983-1985.
Welfare award nomination and acceptance,
1973.
Golden Link award,
1991, 2001.
Executive Board/Committee minutes,
May 1937-May 1947.
2 folders.
Board of Directors' minutes:
1947-1986.
19 folders.
151.I.11.14F
2
1987-1997.
8 folders.
Board of Directors' meeting agendas,
1988-1997.
3 folders.
Ramsey County Council of the League of Women Voters minutes,
1952-1964, 1983-1985.
5 folders.
Rosters of Board of Directors,
1952-2000.
2 folders.
President's correspondence,
1969-1985, 1992, 2000.
18 folders.
Annual reports and meeting programs:
1937-1951.
2 folders.
151.I.12.1B
3
1951-2000.
17 folders.
Annual meeting guidelines,
1990.
Annual reports to state and national LWV offices,
1960/61-1982.
4 folders.
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.
151.I.12.2F
4
Membership records:
Lists and directories,
1951-1998.
13 folders.
Reports, statistics, and lists,
1955-1988.
2 folders.
Surveys,
1954, 1983.
3 folders.
Orientation materials,
1939-1963.
Poll,
1970.
2 folders.
Letters to prospective members,
1961-1987.
Resignations,
1983.
Recommendations for boards and commissions,
undated.
Who's Who in the LWVSP,
1976-1991.
Book Club,
1998-1999.
Miscellaneous records,
1953/54, 1980-1986.
Committee minutes and related records:
Human services,
1970-1981.
4 folders.
LWV-Ramsey County ad hoc,
1978-1979.
Vision,
1991.
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.
4 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.
Council of Metropolitan Leagues (CMAL),
1969-1999.
32 folders.
Unit materials:
Unit 29 minutes and related records,
1953-1964.
Lists of unit chairmen and meeting information,
1958-1982.
2 folders.
Briefing techniques,
1973-1979.
Congressional reform study,
1971.
General records,
1957-1980.
151.I.12.3B
5
Photographs,
1925-1952.
3 folders.
Includes images of members of the League and its various activities.
Outreach files
Outreach files contain correspondence and copies of League publications and
League newsletters. A section on public relations contains information on
advertising by the League, news releases, and newspaper clippings
documenting aspects of the League's activities.
151.I.12.2F
4
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,
1977-1988.
3 folders.
"Guide to the League,"
1984-1992.
3 folders.
"Citizens' Guide,"
1955-1979.
2 folders.
Other League publications,
1955-1979,
1990-2000.
3 folders.
151.I.12.3B
5
Newsletters:
St. Paul Bulletin,
1924, 1957-1959.
2 folders.
St. Paul Voter,
1960-1998.
18 folders.
Handbooks,
1964-1966, 1978-1981.
Fliers,
1965-1999.
Public relations:
Radio and television publicity,
1955-1961.
News releases,
1953-1986.
151.I.12.4F
6
Newspaper clippings (unbound),
1924-1976.
2 folders.
Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings:
August 1925-August 1926.
1 volume.
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.
[.15 cubic feet empty, legal
sized]
148.C.20.6F
7
October 1934 January-November 1935.
1 volume.
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.
1951-May 1952.
1 volume.
April-September 1952.
1 volume.
November 1953-January 1955.
1 volume.
Program files
These files contain program-related records designated as "Action Files,"
"Program," and "Special Projects". 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 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; candidate questionnaires for school
board and Ramsey County commissioners; an election judges survey; and an
election returns project.
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:
Air pollution consensus questions,
1971.
Budget cuts and consensus questions,
1983-1984.
Citizen participation,
1978-1979.
City charter: League study material,
1938, 1957-1966.
City charter correspondence,
1989-1992.
City Development and Transportation Committee, Citizens'
Commission on Bonding and Financing Practice,
1986.
Civil service consensus,
1979.
Consensus guide,
1975.
District Council study,
1996.
Education Committee,
1977-1981.
Education Committee science survey,
1986.
Education fund annual report,
1996-1997.
Education study grant application,
1992.
Education study minutes,
1992.
Environmental quality,
1978-1980.
Heritage Preservation Commission,
1974-1979.
Housing forum,
May 1976.
Housing: Neighborhood Development program,
1969-1970.
Indians,
1985-1986.
Local government study,
1986.
Making and management (including statements and current
agendas),
1967-1982.
2 folders.
Observer program,
1963-1975.
Parks Advisory Board,
1989.
Port Authority study,
1984.
Program planning,
1971-1996.
7 folders
Solid waste,
1980-1981, 1989-1990.
2 folders.
State program suggestions (for St. Paul League),
1971-1972.
"Women and Work" general meeting,
December 1983.
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.
151.I.12.7B
10
Chimera Theatre program,
October 1971.
City Hall Day,
November 1976.
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,
1978, 1980.
2 folders.
Miscellaneous political materials,
1964-1985.
Issue Files
These files contain information concerning St. Paul and Ramsey County
political and governmental issues. Topics include, but are not limited to,
campaigns, proposals, and environmental protections.
Issue files unrelated to St. Paul or Ramsey County include information on
national programs; Native American issues; state judicial system
questionnaires; and environmental issues. Also included is a section of
briefs related to issues identified by the League.
151.I.12.7B
10
St. Paul issues:
Air pollution "Air Day,"
December 1970.
Alley filing for city elections,
undated and
1978-1986.
Association of St. Paul Communities,
1969.
Cable TV update,
1978.
Capital improvement budget, city unified and CDBG funds,
1971, 1979.
Charter commission,
1962, 1974-1978, 1989,
1998.
3 folders.
Charter revision,
1970-1971.
Charter books, proposed,
1966-1967.
"Childhood to Adulthood: Putting Adolescents on a Healthy
Lifetime Path,"
1996.
"Cities: The Underprivileged Family in Government Society,"
December 1953.
151.I.12.8F
11
Citizen Participation Committee. Minutes and related records
(including Mayor's Committee on Citizen Participation),
1973-1975.
3 folders.
Citizens for a New City Charter,
1967.
2 folders.
City budget process,
1976.
City charter (old material),
1964-1966.
City Government Study Committee,
1973-1976, 1986-1989.
4 folders.
City Hall correspondence with Mayor and council members,
1961-1963.
City planning,
1960-1971.
City taxation,
1957.
Civil Service Study Committee results,
February 1979.
Community development and housing policy update,
1992.
Community Participation Program,
1961-1964.
Cresap, McCormack, Paget report on education,
1959.
District Councils in St. Paul study,
April 1996.
Education,
1953, 1969-1977.
3 folders.
EIS Pig's Eye Coal Terminal,
August 1973.
Electoral College Forum,
1969, 2000-2001.
Equality of opportunity,
1965.
Finance item kit and Holiday Inn tax study,
March 1967.
Heritage preservation,
1968-1979.
Housing,
1994.
Housing action,
1973-1976.
Housing Committee,
1991.
Housing, public,
1946-1958.
2 folders.
Housing rehabilitation update,
1973-1981.
Independent school district,
1959-1960.
Indian problems,
1972-1974.
Land use,
undated and 1974-1975,
1981.
2 folders.
Law enforcement,
1951-1958.
Local taxes and financing,
1934-1963.
3 folders.
Municipal Court,
1971.
Open appointments: material and concurrence,
February 1980.
Pig's Eye Coalition,
1981, 1984.
Planning Commission,
1971-1980.
Planning and zoning principles and trends,
November 1968.
Police-community relations,
January 1970.
Principles of charter making,
Fall 1967.
"Public School Choice: Is it working?"
December 1992.
Secondary Science programs in St. Paul Public Schools study,
March 1986.
St. Paul Citizens School Committee,
1947-1952.
St. Paul Public School long range planning,
1970-1971.
151.I.12.9B
12
St. Paul Public School education,
undated and 1964,
1972.
Tours: City Hall and State Capitol,
1976-1979.
Taxation and charter amendments,
1953-1961.
Urban renewal,
1963.
Welfare,
1971-1972.
Miscellaneous records,
1930-1980.
3 folders.
Ramsey County issues:
Apportionment,
1964.
Battle Creek study,
1975.
County Board of Health proposal,
1955-1964.
3 folders.
County charter proposal,
August 1990.
County jail,
1953-1954.
County observer reports,
undated and 1975.
County planning item,
1956-1957.
Equal opportunity in education,
March 1966.
Government,
1975-1982.
Health merger study,
1986-1996.
Health services delivery,
1978-1981.
Health study and consensus,
1986-1988.
Human Services in Ramsey County,
1981.
Juvenile justice,
1996.
Kids in Trouble study,
1974.
Mental health,
undated and 1992.
2 folders.
Rice Creek watershed,
1970-1972.
2 folders.
Welfare, Ramsey County,
March 1971.
Welfare and human resources development,
1966, 1972.
Welfare reform,
1972.
Miscellaneous records,
1954-1978.
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 amendment,
1977-1978.
142.E.16.8F
13
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.
Briefs:
Budget process in St. Paul,
January 1976.
Cable TV,
1973-1974.
2 folders.
Campaign financing,
1972-1973.
2 folders.
Charter reorganization,
December 1972.
Civil service,
1978-1979.
2 folders.
Education,
1971-1972.
2 folders.
Energy,
January 1977.
Housing,
April 1974.
Indian housing,
March 1973.
Judiciary,
January 1973.
Kit to units on China,
November 1971.
Land use,
November 1974.
National welfare,
1970-1971.
School finances,
March 1977.
Solid waste,
January and November
1972.
2 folders.
Trade,
April 1973.
United Nations,
December 1975.
United States Congress,
December 1971.
Urban renewal and equality of opportunity,
April 1968.
CMAL land use,
September 1972.
Ramsey County Government reorganization,
October 1975.
[.5 cubic feet empty, letter sized]
151.I.12.3B
5
Sound recordings
Symposium on home rule - local consent,
undated.
1 master sound tape reel: analog, 3 3/4 ips; 7 inches, 1/4 inch tape.
Includes speakers Senator Paul Thuet, Professor Orville Peterson, and
Vern Johnson.
The role of the county in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area,
November 17, 1964.
1 master sound tape reel: analog, 3 3/4 ips; 7 inches, 1/4 inch tape.
Includes moderator Ralph T. Keyes and panelists Mr. Cafferty,
Washington County Commissioner, Mr. Johnson, Anoka County attorney,
and Mr. Cowle, Purchasing Director of Hennepin County and Director of Budgets.