IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MOUNT VERNON-LISBON
RECORDS, 1948-1996
3 linear feet and
audiovisual material
|
ACQUISITION: |
The records (donor
no. 286) were donated by the
League of Women Voters of Mount Vernon-Lisbon in 1995 and subsequent years. |
|
ACCESS: |
The records are open
for research. |
|
AUDIOVISUAL: |
One VHS videocassette (V54) shelved in the videocassette collection. |
|
COPYRIGHT: |
Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa. |
|
PHOTOGRAPHS: |
In box 5. |
|
PROCESSED BY: |
Randel W. Lackore, 1995 and
1996. |
History
Sixteen charter members began a
provisional group of the League of Women Voters in Mount Vernon, Iowa, on June
3, 1948. In six months the league was granted
full status when its ranks had grown to twenty-eight members. The league has been involved in various
projects and studies throughout its history, reflecting changing political
issues while maintaining a core concern for the community of Mount Vernon.
As a nonpartisan organization, the
league has not endorsed individuals for office. It provided forums to meet elected officials and sponsored
candidate debates promoting public awareness of political issues. The group supported bond issues for a community
swimming pool in 1960 and a new high school auditorium and an addition at the
elementary school in 1989. Throughout
the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the league undertook surveys and studies of Mount
Vernon development and local services.
In 1990 and 1991 the group conducted a study of care for elementary and
middle school students before and after school, identifying the needs of the
community and presenting alternative ways of meeting those needs. The organization was renamed and recognized
as the League of Women Voters of Mount Vernon-Lisbon in 1992.
Scope and
Content Note
The records of the League of Women Voters of Mount Vernon-Lisbon date
from 1948 to 1996 and measure 3 linear feet. The records
are arranged in three series: Administrative,
Community involvement and Programs.
The Administrative series
(1948-1996) contains the league's by-laws, annual reports and fund raising
records. Documents in this series
describe the structure of the group and how it operates. The program planning folder provides insight
into how programs are chosen for study and the local league's input in deciding
state and national programs.
Local league actions such as surveys
of garbage collection, housing needs and community recreation as well as
reports on the school districts' compliance with Title IX requirements are part
of the Community involvement series (1954-1991). The series includes correspondence between
the league, the school board and local newspaper discussing meeting-scheduling
conflicts and observance of the open-meeting law.
Topics encompassing areas outside
the local community are contained in the Programs series
(1955-1993). The subjects covered
include the federal government, resources and international relations. At the state level the Mount Vernon-Lisbon
league studied the taxation process undertaken by the legislature and the
judicial system's role in adult corrections, family court and the juvenile
justice system.
Related
Collections
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Box no. Description
Box 1
Administrative
Annual reports from local
league to the state and national League of Women Voters, 1957-1978, 1982-1989
Board minutes and annual
meeting reports and The Mount Vernon
Voter (disbound)
Volume I
1948/1949-1949/1950
1950/1951-1952/1953
1953/1954
Volume II
1954/1955
1955/1956
1956/1957
Volume III
1957/1958
1958/1959-1959/1960
1960/1961-1961/1962
Box 2
1962/1963
Volume IV
1963/1964
1964/1965
1965/1966
1966/1967
Volume V
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
Volume VI
1972
1973
Box 3
1974
1975
Volume VII
1976
1977
Volume VII(cont.)
1978
1979
Volume VIII
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
Box 4
1985
Volume IX
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
By-laws, 1962-1990
Carrie Chapman Catt awards nominations,
1995
Change of league name,
1991-1992
Finance
Budget making, 1957, 1973,
1978-1988, 1991
Fundraising, 1969,
1974-1984, 1990-1992 and undated
History
Local league, 1968-1989,
1992
75th Anniversary (national
league), 1995
Officers and directors list,
1994-1996
President's report and
leadership training, 1974-1988
Membership recruitment,
1978-1979, 1984-1990 and undated
News releases, 1979,
1983-1985
Nonpartisan policy, 1977,
1983-1989 and undated
Observer program, 1975-1981
Program planning, 1975-1990
Structure and procedures,
1969
Box 5
Community involvement
Activities
"Cities in Transition:
Up or Out" program, 1977
Heritage days parade and photographs, 1990
"Know Your Town"
newcomers event, 1966
Open-meeting law compliance,
1978-1986
Parks and Recreation
Committee, 1980
Surveys
Garbage collection,
1962-1963
Housing, 1977
Recreational interest, 1974,
1981
School-age child care
Survey, 1989, 1991 and
undated
Seminar, undated (VHS, 90
minutes) [shelved in the videocassette collection: V54]
Financing, 1961, 1976-1978
Organization study, 1967,
1982-1985
Planning and zoning,
1977-1979, 1981, 1991
Water fluoridation,
1957-1958
Schools
Building bond referendums,
1968-1969, 1977-1979
Grant Wood Area Education
Agency, 1977-1978, 1985
Reorganization study, 1986
and undated
School district
reapportionment, 1982-1983
Title IX
Background information,
1978, 1980, 1984
Box 6
Compliance reports, 1978
Voter service
Candidates
Debate (second congressional
district), 1990
Forums, 1988, 1990
Questionnaires, 1960, 1994
and undated
Education, 1954-1960, 1990
and undated
Meet Your Legislator
program, 1980-1984
"This is Mount
Vernon" pamphlets, 1957-1982 and undated
Voter's guides, 1954, 1956,
1978-1989 and undated
Programs
State
Constitution, 1960, 1967,
1970, 1972
Department of
Transportation, 1978-1979
Election reforms, 1984
Home rule
County, 1976, 1978, 1985
Regional government
organization, 1964-1965, 1970
Judicial system
Adult corrections, 1982,
1986 and undated
Family court, 1978-1979
Juvenile system, 1975-1978,
1982
Unified trial courts, 1969,
1972-1973
Legislature
Correspondence and
interviews with representatives, 1979-1981 and undated
Legislative research
council, 1955
Reapportionment, 1955, 1959,
1961-1965, 1978, 1981
Veto power, undated
Taxes
Iowa tax reform action
coalition, 1977
Property tax exemptions,
1980, 1988-1990 and undated
School financing, 1979,
1987-1989 and undated
Tax system study, 1982
Box 7
National
Freedom agenda program, 1955
Federal government
Agriculture, 1988 and
undated
Finance
Budget deficit, 1991
Campaign finance reforms,
1974, 1979, 1986 and undated
Congressional structure and
practices, 1972 and undated
Elections
Early result projections,
1982, 1984
Electoral college reform, 1969-1970,
1977, 1979
Home rule for Washington,
D.C., 1970, 1978, 1980-1981, 1985
Political accountability
ratings, 1977, 1979, 1981-1983
Powers of the presidency,
1975 and undated
Reproductive rights, 1980,
1983, 1991 and undated
Tax code reform, 1986
Human resources
Employment rights, 1978,
1983-1984
Equal rights amendment,
1972, 1975-1980, 1983
Health care reform,
1991-1993
Housing and community
development, 1974, 1977-1978
Welfare
Community action programs,
1968, 1973
Reforms, 1971-1972, 1978
Natural resources
Air quality, 1982, 1986 and
undated
Energy conservation,
1980-1983
Environmental Protection
Agency and the Department of Environmental Quality, 1980, 1984
Land use, 1979-1981
Water quality, 1959,
1966-1968, 1970, 1977
International relations
Aid, 1970, 1974-1975, 1978
Aid correspondence,
1968-1980 (scattered)
Nuclear arms control, 1983
and undated
Trade, 1959, 1961, 1972,
1975, 1977
United Nations, 1977,
1979-1981