Iowa Women's Archives
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF MUSCATINE

RECORDS,1943-2000
5.25 linear feet and artifacts

Collection Overview

History

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Muscatine was founded in 1965 as a local-level branch of the national League of Women Voters. A non-partisan organization, the League of Women Voters seeks to promote political responsibility through educating and informing the public on selected governmental issues and promoting action on those issues. The local and state Leagues promote the purpose of the National League and take action on local government matters.

After researching and studying a particular issue, League members establish a common position by voting and reaching consensus. After reaching consensus, League members organize action in support of their position. This action includes giving testimony, lobbying, contacting political groups and politicians, forming coalitions, public speaking and writing letters.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the LWV of Muscatine conducted a number of studies on Muscatine county issues, including the ambulance 911 system, law enforcement, county courthouse space needs, alternative forms of county government, housing, education, land use, hazardous waste, local option tax, the U.S. Highway 61 Bypass, and the Muscatine fire station. The group also participated in round table discussions with community leaders and hosted debates between candidates. In 1993 the LWV of Muscatine elected a male president, Rob Yant.

The group disbanded in 2000.

Scope and Content Note

The League of Women Voters of Muscatine records date from 1943 to 2000 and measure 5.25 linear feet. The records are arranged in thirteen series: Administrative, Community Activities, Local Government, Natural Resources, Operations, Publications, Publicity, Resources, Scrapbooks, Voter Service, Miscellaneous, Photographs, and Artifacts.

The Administrative series consists of correspondence, board meeting minutes and agendas, annual reports, bylaws and various other administrative materials. Included in this series is a folder relating to the Muscatine Women’s Coalition. The coalition was comprised of members from LWV, the American Association of University Women, the YWCA, and Business & Professional Women. The miscellaneous folder includes League recognitions, a skit for the League’s 25 th anniversary celebration, and materials on a garage sale.

The Community Activities series contains materials relating to round table discussions with community leaders, Women’s Equality Day, and area daycare and preschools.

The Local Government series contains numerous studies carried out by the

League, on topics such as housing, education, county courthouse space needs, law enforcement, land use, the Muscatine County 911 system, hazardous waste, and the U.S. Highway 61 bypass. The migrant school consensus materials include the “Language Development Summer Program for Migrant Children Handbook,” which was put together by the Muscatine Community School District in 1972. Other materials include information on a riverboat gambling forum and juvenile justice.

The Natural Resources series consists of materials relating to air quality, drinking water, hazardous chemicals, and solid waste management.

The Operations series contains information on new member orientation and the League’s observer program.

The Publications series contains brochures published by the League of Women Voters of Muscatine, as well as Voters dating from 1965 to 2000. The newsletter was originally title The Muscatine Voter, but changed its name in February 1982 to The Voter ( Muscatine, Iowa). Also included in this series are miscellaneous publications from other local leagues in Iowa.

The Publicity series consists of newspaper clippings and news releases, as well as speeches and public relations materials.

The Resources series consists of materials relating to health care, social policy, and the national government.

The Scrapbooks series contains scrapbooks which mostly consist of newspaper clippings and date from 1965 to 1990.

The Voter Service series contains a voter registration kit, caucus information, polling place maps and materials relating to candidates’ night. It also includes materials relating to a panel discussion on “Involvement of the Media in Public Opinion Formation,” which was held in 1989. Panelists included Molly Carroll of The Muscatine Journal, Steve Bridges of KWPC/KFMH, Don Rhyne of KWQC-TV, and Rick Dollieslager of Muscatine Community College. Included in the materials is a videocassette of the panel discussion.

The Photographs series contains photos dating from 1970 to 1993.

The Artifacts series consists of League buttons, a window placard, a canvas recycling bag and a Leagueopoly game.

Box List

Box 1

Adminstrative

Annual meetings

Booklets, 1967-2000 (2 folders) Plans, 1987-1993

Annual reports, 1966-1981 (2 folders) Audits, 1974-1988 Board

Orientation tools, 1972-1992 and undated Policies, 1987-1999 Retreats, 1985-1993 and undated Streamlining, 1988-1989

Budget, 1973-1990 Bylaws, 1972-1999 Calendar planning, 1986-1997 and undated Consensus, 1980-1988 and undated

Box 2

Correspondence

General, 1978-2000 Legislators, 1981-1997 Monsanto notifications, 1991-1998 Re: TheVoter, 1985-1989 and undated

Directories, 1976-1996 Finance drive, 1982-1991 Local program planning, 1972-1999 and undated Membership lists, 1969-1999 Minutes and agendas

1970-1983 (3 folders)

Box 3

1984-1999 (4 folders)

Muscatine Women’s Coalition, 1986-1989 Non-partisan policy, 1987-1999 Parliamentary procedure, 1963-1993 President’s duties, 1982-1990 Quick information, 1985-1989 and undated Secretary records

1970-1976

Box 4

Small group discussions, 1988-1989 State program planning, 1994-1998 and undated Treasurer’s reports

1969-1983 1985-2000

Miscellaneous, 1975-2000

Community activities

Daycare and preschool, 1983-1999 Leadership Muscatine, 1989-1991 Round table discussions

General, 1989-1998 Notes, 1996

Women’s Equality Day, 1989

Local government

Adult corrections, 1984 Census, 1988-1990 Cities conference follow-up, 1977 and undated

Box 5

City-county ambulance study

1983 1990-1998

City-county law enforcement study, 1977-1981 Comprehensive plan, 1977 County board of supervisors

Budget, 1986 “County Government Budget,” Sandy Huston, Jan. 8, 1986 [shelved in audiocassette collection: AC982] Questions and Answers, 1985

County courthouse space needs study

General, 1997-1998 “Muscatine County Facilities Master Plan,” 1997

County government study, 1992-1995 Education

General, 1966-1978 Study, 1968

Four year staggered terms, 1975 Joint communications, 1991 Juvenile justice

General, 1974-1998 Resources, 1996-1997

Box 6

Hazardous waste in Muscatine, 1980-1985 High school bond issue, 1968-1973 Housing

“Panel Discussion on Housing Issues,” May 16, 1989 [shelved in videocassette collection: V314] Study, 1974

Iowa open meetings law, 1982, 1986 “Know Your County,” 1995 and undated “Know Your Local Government,” 1962-1983 Land use

General, 1972-1982 Update survey, 1981

Local option tax study, 1986 Meeting basic human needs, 1987 Migrant school materials, 1967-1972 Muscatine fire station study, 1966-1967 Municipal

Finance, 1979-1989 Home rule law, 1972-1973

Public safety building, 1974 Recreation, 1966-1976 Riverboat gambling forum, 1996 U.S. Highway 61 bypass study

1984-1988 1997

Box 7

Natural Resources

General, undated Air quality, 1971-1990 Correspondence, 1989-1990 Drinking water, 1986-1993 Environmental call-in on sustainable development, Sept. 17, 1989 [shelved in audiocassette collection: AC981] Hazardous chemicals

1984-1989 and undated Newspaper clippings, 1985, 1989

Box 8

Solid waste

General, 1988-1993 Management study, 1989 Newspaper clippings, 1989-1990 “Power of One: Toxic Waste and You,” Dr. David Suzubi, 1989 [shelved in audiocassette collection: AC980]

Operations

Info at a glance, 1983-1991 New member orientation, 1961-1990 and undated Observer program, 1970-1985 and undated October LWV month, 1979-1980

Publications

Brochures, 1985 and undated The Muscatine Voter

1965-1972 (3 folders)

Box 9

1973-1989 (6 folders) [In Feb. 1982 the name changed to The Voter ( Muscatine, Iowa)]

Box 10

The Voter

1990-2000 (2 folders)

Other local league publications, 1986-1998

Publicity

“KWPC Dial 86 radio call-in,” Oct. 23, 1986 [shelved in audiocassette collection: AC979] Newspaper clippings, 1965-2000 and undated Press releases, 1976-1996 and undated Public relations, 1981-1989 and undated Speeches, 1977-1992

Resources

Healthcare, 1990-2000 International

Education, 1988 and undated

Box 11

Relations, 1983-1989 and undated

Lobbying, 1973-1979 and undated National government

1977-1987 and undated “The Deficit: Financing the Federal Government: Stage 2” Leader’s guide, 1985

Social policy

General, 1984-1991 Reproductive choice, 1993

Scrapbooks

1965-1976 1977-1978 1978-1981

Box 12

1980-1988 1989-1990 (disbound)

Voter service

General, 1981-1990 Campaign finance disclosure, undated Candidate’s night

1990-1992 (disbound) “Candidate Forum Election 1988” [shelved in videocassette collection: V312] Hospital board, 1988 School board, 1987-1989 Special candidates, 1988

Caucus information, 1984-1988

Box 13

Election services materials, 1973-1986 and undated General election night, 1980-1989 Impact Muscatine, 1987 “Making Democracy Work,” 1996 Panel discussion, “Involvement of the Media in Public Opinion Formation”

Materials, 1989 Forum, Feb. 28, 1989 [shelved in videocassette collection: V315]

Polling place maps, 1943-1983 Promoting Voting: A Citizen’s Guide to the Media, undated Promotional campaign, 1980 Voter registration kit, 1983 and undated

Photographs

1970-1993

Box 14

Artifacts

Buttons (two) Canvas recycling bag: “Learning the New ‘3 R’s’ – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Leagueopolgy game LWV of Muscatine stamp Name tag Window placard

 

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