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League of Women Voters of Lafayette (Louisiana) Records

Collection 124

League of Women Voters of Lafayette (Louisiana). Records, 1945–2014

5 feet, 7 inches

The League of Women Voters of Lafayette was organized in 1945. The founders were Mrs. Martha G. Robinson, State President of the Louisiana League, Mrs. Hollis Long, Mrs. A.G. Mallison, Mrs. O.J. Ory, Mrs. J.A. Anders, Mrs. Fred Bates, Mrs. Ira Nelson, Mrs. Inez Neyland, Mrs. R.H. Belyard and Mrs. Scranton Mouton. The organization was officially chartered in January 1946 with thirty-three members.

The main objective of the League of Women Voters of Lafayette is to work for better city and parish government, better schools, and the participation of all citizens in the democratic system. These and other endeavors undertaken by the Lafayette League complement and parallel the aims and programs of the state and national leagues. One of the League's most important functions is Voter Services. This is a continuous effort designed to politically educate individual citizens. Examples of Voter Services include holding meetings where voters can question candidates, giving citizens first-hand knowledge of governmental operations, campaigning to get people to register to vote, and insuring honest elections. It also provides non-partisan factual data on candidates and issues, and publishes various voter information bulletins. Other good governmental concerns of the League include programs designed to improve roads and highways, provide better education, and inform citizens of the problems and needs of the school system.

Financial support for the League comes from membership dues and member and non-member contributions. There is an annual finance drive conducted by the members of the League to solicit contributions from individuals and businesses in the community.

This collection contains incomplete internal records of the Lafayette League from its founding. There are also items that show the connectional relationship among local, state, and national leagues. The subject series reflects the range of issues addressed by the League and shows the sort of information gathered to study these concerns. Much of this information comes from the national office as part of an extremely broad and active publication program. For other records of the Lafayette League, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, view the Ollie T. Osborne Papers, Collection 93.

Kay Bates, a charter member of the Lafayette organization, initially donated this collection. Other members have made additional donations.

Series:

I. Records
    A. Local: LWV of Lafayette
        1. Minutes 1-01 through 1-12
        2. Bulletins 1-13 through 1-22
        3. Miscellaneous Correspondence 1-23
        4. Publicity 1-24 through 1-30
        5. Treasury Records 1-31 through 1-34
        6. Membership Lists 1-35 through 1-36
        7. Reports 1-37
        8. By-Laws 1-38
        9. Policies, Planning & Overviews 1-39
    B. State: LWV of Louisiana
        1. State Conventions & Workshops 1-40 through 2-02
        2. State Board & State Office 2-03 through 2-04
        3. Bulletins 2-05 through 2-07
        4. Correspondence 2-08
        5. Treasury Records 2-09
        6. Membership Lists 2-10
    C. National: LWV of United States
        1. Conventions 2-11 through 2-12
        2. Bulletins 2-13 through 2-15
        3. Communications with Local Leagues 2-16 through 2-21
        4. Other Local Leagues 2-22
        5. By-Laws 2-23
        6. Miscellaneous Correspondence 2-24
        7. Miscellaneous Publications 2-25 through 2-32
II. Subjects
    A. Local
        1. Civil Service 2-33
        2. Voter Service 2-34 through 2-37
        3. Local Government 2-38 through 3-03
        4. School System & Education 3-04 through 3-16
        5. Roads & Highways 3-17 through 3-19
        6. Taxes 3-20 through 3-21
        7. Policy Jury 3-22
        8. Criminal Law 3-23
        9. Home Rule 3-24 through 3-25
    B. State
        1. Civil Service 3-26
        2. Legislative Action 3-27 through 3-28
        3. Constitutional Revision/Amending 3-29 through 3-32
        4. School System & Education 3-33 through 4-03
        5. Voting 4-04 through 4-08
        6. Taxes & Assessments 4-09 through 4-10
        7. Home Rule 4-11
        8. Real Estate 4-12
        9. Louisiana Laws 4-13
        10. Miscellaneous 4-14 through 5-01
    C. National
        1. International Relations 5-02 through 5-05
        2. Budgetary Policies/Procedures 5-06
        3. Political Effectiveness 5-07
        4. Anti-Communism Controversy 5-08
        5. Miscellaneous 5-09 through 5-12
    D. Other, Including Oversize
        1. Artifacts Box 6
        2. Solicitation Records Box 7
        3. Oversize Box 8

Inventory:

Box 1
  I. Records
    A. Local: LWV of Lafayette
      1. Minutes
        1-01 Board of Directors and membership meetings, 1945-1953 (Secretary’s notebook)
        1-02 Board of Directors and membership meetings, 1955-1956, incomplete
        1-03 Board of Directors and membership meetings, 1957-1958, incomplete
        1-04 Board of Directors and membership meetings, 1959-1961, incomplete
        1-05 Board of Directors and membership meetings, 1962-1963, incomplete
        1-06 Board of Directors and membership meetings, 1979: March 28 and Board of director 1979 and 1980, 2007-2009
        1-07 Board of Directors and annual meetings, 1966-1968 , 1975
        1-08 Annual Meetings, 2007-2012
        1-09 Board of Directors, 1969-1971
        1-10 Board of Directors, 1972-1975
        1-11 Board of Directors, 1988-1989, 2007-2011
        1-12 Agendas for Board Meetings, 2007-2009
      2. Bulletins
        1-13 LWV: 1951-1956, incomplete
        1-14 LWV: 1958-1961, incomplete
        1-15 LWV: 1962-1968, incomplete
        1-16 LWV: 1969, 1972, incomplete
        1-17 LWV: 1980, no date, incomplete
        1-18 LWV: 1986-1987, incomplete
        1-19 LWV: 1988, incomplete
        1-20 LWV: 1989, incomplete
        1-21 LWV: 1990-1991, no date, incomplete
        1-22 La Verite, 1979: July (1 item)
      3. Miscellaneous Correspondence
        1-23 Miscellaneous: 1954-1983, 1989, 2007-2012, n.d.
      4. Publicity
        1-24 Press clippings and news releases, 1954-1961, 1973, 1985-1986, n.d.
        1-25 Press clippings and news releases, 1987-1988
        1-26 Press clippings and news releases, 1989, 2007-2009, 2013
        1-27 Calendar of Events, 2007-2014
        1-28 Agriculture Study Consensus meeting, policy, and update, 2014
        1-29 Just Desserts Awards, 2009 including clippings, correspondence and annual meeting report
        1-30 Sample: LWV stationary and envelopes, membership application, photos of pins, etc.
      5. Treasury Records, Budgets, Financial Matters
        1-31 Check stubs, receipts, and other financial documents, 1954-1966, incomplete [receipts & vouchers mainly for 1965-1966] invoices, 2007-2008
        1-32 Check stubs, receipt books, 1956, 1963
        1-33 Material on finance drive, 1952-1957, 1964, incomplete
        1-34 Annual financial report, 1949; Budgets and proposed budgets, 1950-1964, 1966/67, 1975/76, 2007-2008, incomplete; Treasury reports, 1966-1976, 2009-2013
      6. Membership Lists
        1-35 List of members of LWV of Lafayette, 1946-1963, 1977-1980, n.d.; photograph of Bill Bendetto, n.d.
        1-36 List of members 2007-2013; Leadership team 2011-2012; Voter Service Committee, 2011-2012
      7. Reports
        1-37 Report of LWV-Lafayette, 1946-1949, incomplete; LWV Membership Recruitment & Retention Plan, 2011/12; LWV League Report of Lafayette, 2013 State Convention
      8. By-Laws
        1-38 By-Laws of LWV-Lafayette, as amended in 1955 and 1956. Also revisions, 2007, 2009, 2010
      9.Policies, Planning, and Overviews
        1-39 Policies and Procedures of LWV-Lafayette, 1960; Guide to League Planning, 1964; also history of LWV - Lafayette, n.d.; Articles of incorporation of LWV - Lafayette, 1968; Non-Partisan policy, 2007; PAR Guide to the 2008 Louisiana Legislature (2 copies); Rebuilding our League, Annual meeting, 2010 with correspondence, notes, etc.
    B. State: LWV of Louisiana
      1. State Conventions & Workshops
        1-40 Programs reports, photographs, and miscellaneous: 1946-1952
Box 2
        2-01 Programs, reports, photographs, and miscellaneous: 1953-1963, 2009
        2-02 Louisiana Women’s Conference - Final report, 1977
      2. State Board and State Office
        2-03 Minutes of state board meetings (very scattered); general memos includes list of officers and budget material
        2-04 State Board Report: 1975, 1977, Index
      3.Bulletins
        2-05 LWV - Legislative newsletter, 1979 (very scattered)
        2-06 The Louisiana Voter, 1957-1963, 1979-1980 (very scattered); League of Women Voters, 1978, 1980 (very scattered)
        2-07 Outreach: June/July 1979, v.2, no.1 (1 item)
          Publicity - see Local
          Reports - see Local
      4. Correspondence
        2-08 Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1975, 1979
      5.Treasury Records
        2-09 Treasury Records, budget, etc., 1977/1978
      6.Membership Lists
        2-10 Membership lists, 1976-1979
    C. National: LWV of the United States
      1. Conventions
        2-11 Material from and about 1954 convention
        2-12 Material from and about 1956 convention
      2. Bulletins
        2-13 The National Voter, 1954-1963 (very scattered); 1970: September
        2-14 Miscellaneous Bulletins: Current Focus, September 1971 (1 item); Committee Guide - representative government, #1, September 1972; committee Guide - U.S. Congress, #7, September 1971; 38, October 1971 (2 copies); Facts & Issues, March 1971; July 1971 (2 copies); September 1971 (2 copies); Vital Issues, v.21, #3; political Accountability, publications #507, 1971
        2-15 Report From the Hill: 1979 (scattered issues)
          Publicity - see Local
      3.Communications with Local Leagues
        2-16 Material on proposed national programs, 1946-1956
        2-17 Material on “Freedom Agenda”, 1954-1956 - newsletters, booklets, and memoranda
        2-18 Material on controversy stirred by “Freedom Agenda”, 1955-1957 - clippings, articles
        2-19 Publications 1956: Liberty and Security Booklet; Focus on the Future, special project kit
        2-20 National Board Reports, “Guide for Local and State Board Planning”, 1960-1964
        2-21 Miscellaneous memoranda on various topics; articles on LWV or other topics, 1954-1957, 1961, 1965
      4.Other Local Leagues
        2-22 Material from Amarillo, Teas LWV on proposed by-law change, 1955-1956
          Publicity - see Local
      5. By-Laws
        2-23 By-Laws: A citizen’s guide to the League of Women Voters, n.d.; The Equal Rights Amendments - What it will and won’t do, n.d.
      6.Miscellaneous Correspondence
        2-24 Miscellaneous correspondence, 16 December 1977, 2007, 2008
      7.Miscellaneous Publications
        2-25 News Release, 1972, 1980
          1. The League of Women Voters of the U.S. Today, 24 January 1972
          2. The League of Women Voters; Sixty years of a Great Idea, January 1980
        2-26 Flyers: Who will elect the President? The Electoral College System, n.d.; 1980 Presidential Debates, rates the candidates; The ERA, 1976; The Equal rights amendment: a report on the proposed 27th amendment to the constitution, n.d.; You may be in trouble…n.d.
        2-27 Pamphlets: Boulder county corrections, 1976; The Equal rights amendments, a lifetime guarantee, n.d.; ERA - LWV, 1984 (2 copies); A great idea for today - LWV, 1980; A great idea through the years, 1920-present, 1980; League day at the U.U. - LWV, 1985; LWVUS and LWVEF - annual report, 1977-1978; Marshaling Citizen power to modernize corrections, 199; Pick a candidate - LWV, 1976; Why labor supports ERA, n.d.; Catholic women for the E.R.S., 1974; What’s in it for men? n.d.; The ERA, what it means to men and women, 1974; Planning for the future, 1983; League Basics, n.d.
        2-28 Articles: Committee guide - Welfare and housing, publications 438 - HR, #7, July 1971; Facts & Issues - LWV, 8 April 1963 - Sixty in a series of six on economic policy A Tale of Two Communities; The Federal Deficit - LWV - March 1987 (2 copies); A housewife’s view of the ERA, Woman’s Day, July 1976; ERA: how to tell the Myths from the facts, Family Circle, July 1976
        2-29 Newspaper clippings, 1965-1966
        2-30 Booklets: Basic principles of parliamentary law and protocol, by Marguerite Grumme, 1953; The member and the league, 1960; Local program - LWVM Handbook, 1982; LWVM, Job descriptions local board portfolios, 1984; Simplified Parliamentary Procedure, 1976; Will meeting please come to order, an annual meeting planning guide, 1974
        2-31 Booklets: In pursuit of equal rights: women in the seventies LWV, 1976; A time for choosing: the role of foreign aid in U.S. Policy-LWV, 1987; U.S. Balance of Payments, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1970; The National Voter, v.31, #1, spring 1981
        2-32 Booklets: Making a difference - LWV, 1978; Membership management: getting a handle on the job, LWV, n.d.; Parliamentary Procedure for local league President, n.d.; The Politics of Trade - LWV, 1971
  II. Subjects
    A. Local
      1. Civil Service
        2-33 Material on Lafayette City and Parish, 1951, 1958
      2. Voter Service
        2-34 Voter registration and information, 1954-1961, 2008, 2014
          Correspondence, pamphlets, etc.
        2-35 Candidate questionnaires, interviews, etc.; material on get-out-the-vote-drives, 1950-1957, 1962, 2007
        2-36 Voter service material from LWV-LA and LWV-US, 1950-1957
        2-37 Miscellaneous materials on elections: Local - articles, clippings; state: LWV questionnaires from other parts of state, clippings - turnout statistics (1954); flyer - local officials, n.d.
      3. Local Government
        2-38 Typescript of booklet: The League Looks at Lafayette, 1953
        2-39 Privatization of Government Service Study, April 2012
        2-40 Privatization of Government Service Study, April 2012
        2-41 Material on Lafayette recreation program, 1947, 1953
        2-42 Material supporting and promoting city-parish merger, 1960-1961, speeches, scripts for media presentations
        2-43 Lafayette in a Century, Comprehensive Plan, LINC, December 1, 2005
        2-44 Miscellaneous: 1956, 1961, n.d. Portion of LWV publication on local governments; information on city annexation efforts, 2007-2008
Box 3
        3-01 Editorial Series by Daily Advertiser - Thriving Lafayette faces. Problem areas, nine challenges for 1978, 12-22 February 1978; Lafayette Books ahead in quest for progress, formula 10 for 1979, 11-22 February 1979
        3-02 Government Study, 2007-2010. A Comparative Analysis of City/County Consolidations; Initial Public Computer/Internet Access Phone Survey; Digital Divide Meeting material; Recommendations for the study conducted by LWV-Lafayette, etc.
        3-03 Proposed Continuing Study; Recommendations: The LUS Fiber Network; Everybody’s Network, a study conducted by LWV-Lafayette; Case Studies of City-County Consolidation, etc.
      4. School System and Education
        3-04 Material on LWV study of Lafayette schools, especially Board representation and Peabody school survey, 1951, 1957-1958
        3-05 Material on local schools, 1955-1960. Clippings & school systems report
        3-06 Community Coalition - Steering Committee meeting minutes, 2008-2010
        3-07 Joint Planning Committee correspondence (Resolutions), 2008-2009
        3-08 Future projects, status of schools, demographics, statistics, 2006-2008
        3-09 For the sake of one child facilities questionnaire, everybody’s schools, state of our schools, 2007-2008
        3-10 Lafayette Parish School System Master Plan/Findings, 2009
        3-11 Community Dialogue with Architects of SW Planning Alliance, 2009
        3-12 Lafayette Parish Early Childhood Initiative, submitted by Billy Stokes, Center for child development, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, no date
        3-13 Desegregation 2004 - 2009/2014, J. Wallace James Court Decision 2003, Closure of Vermillion, 2004
        3-14 Act One Panel, AOC, 2013
        3-15 Desegregation cases, 2000-2004
        3-16 Charter Schools, 2013
          Voting - see State
      5.Roads and Highways
        3-17 LWV material on parish road administration, 1956-1957. Pamphlets, reports, study materials and correspondence
        3-18 Material on parish road administration, 1954-1957. Articles, clippings; parish report, 1957; Geographic and Demographic Centers of Lafayette Parish, LA. April 8, 2008
        3-19 Economic Impact Analysis of the Proposed Ambassador Caffery Parkway Extension, Report. December 9, 2004; 2007 Lafayette Parish Tax Roll Distribution
      6. Taxes
        3-20 Material on LWV study of property taxes in parish, 1955-1956
        3-21 Material on taxes and assessments, 1954-1956. Clippings; speeches; official statistics
      7. Policy Jury
        3-22 Material on Policy Jury salaries and activities, 1955-1956. Articles
          International Relations - see National
      8. Criminal Law
        3-23 Consensus on Correction Study, March/April 1975
      9. Home Rule
        3-24 LWV - Lafayette Parish, proposed Home Rule Charter for a consolidated government in Lafayette parish (a summary), 1980
        3-25 Home Rule Charter, City of Lafayette, 1971, 1983, 2010
    B. State
      1. Civil Service
        3-26 LWV-LA and other material on state civil service, 1946-1958, includes Statement of Louisiana Civil Service Commission Opposition to Bill #11, 1946.
          Voter Service - see Local
      2. Legislative Action
        3-27 LWV-LA materials, 1956-1963. Legislative Action Report, 1956-1957
        3-28 Other materials, 1954-1956. Correspondence (1955-1956); reports on interviews with state legislators discussing set topics (3/4/1954); roll call for 85th Congress, 1st Session (US Senate)
          International Relations - see National
          Voter Service - see Local
      3.Constitutional Revision/Amending
        3-29 LWV material on constitutional revision and amendment process (state): 1952-1953
        3-30 LWV material on constitutional revisions and amendments: 1954-1956, 1961-1962
        3-31 General material on constitutional revision and amendment process (state), 1954-1955 includes: Clippings; Bureau of Government Research publication
        3-32 Directory Listing - Appointed constitutional convention delegates - December 19792, Louisiana Education Council
      4.School System and Education
        3-33 LWV material on education, mainly concerned with funding and desegregation, 1956-1960, publications; study item research, etc.
        3-34 LWV material on education, 1961-1962. Includes notes for LWV - Lafayette meeting on education, 10/1961
Box 4
        4-01 LWV material on education with material specifically dealing with school boards, 1957-1958, includes notes for presentation, n.d.
        4-02 General published material, 1951-1961
        4-03 General material on segregation (state and national). Clippings; articles; brochures
      5. Voting
        4-04 LWV material, 1951-1954, n.d. Memos, reports, study unites, etc.
        4-05 National Popular Vote Consensus, n.d.
        4-06 LWV material, 1955-1957, 1963 (including LWV publications)
        4-07 LWV correspondence (state and local) 1952-1956, n.d.
        4-08 Material from other organizations, 1951-1953, 1964, n.d. LSU Bureau of Government Research; PAR Council, etc.
          Roads and Highways - see Local
      6.Taxes and Assessments
        4-09 LWV material, 149-1957. Memos; study units; reports; publications; etc. includes 1949 LWV-UL publication; detailed study united report by LWV - New Orleans, 1954 and LWV - Baton Rouge, 1951
        4-10 Material from other organizations, 1929, 1954-1965. Includes National Municipal League publication, 1929; report from Louisiana Legislative Council, 1954; PAR News Analysis, 1956, 1965
      7. Home Rule
        4-11 LWV and other (PAR Council) items on home rule, 1952-1957. Includes items on District of Columbia
      8.Real Estate
        4-12 Louisiana Real Estate Commission, rules and regulations, December 1978
      9.Louisiana Laws
        4-13 The Laws of governing the office of the assessor and assessing Practices in Louisiana, March 1982 (booklet); Louisiana Community Property law and how its effects can be changed by contact, 1976 (pamphlet); Inheritance Laws of Louisiana, n.d. (chart)
      10. Miscellaneous
        4-14 Newspaper clippings, n.d.; reapportionment and redistricting pamphlet, 1981; talent dark material, 1979; rules and regulations - ERA amendments - publications and articles, n.d.; LWV - Education Fund, 1979-1980 (1 item)
Box 5
        5-01 J.H. Cravey (history), n.d.
    C. National
      1. International Relations
        5-02 LWV material on international relations, foreign trade, and UN, 1952-1962
        5-03 LWV - Lafayette correspondence on international relations, 1954-1956, 1962
        5-04 Other organizations, 1954-1956. UN; Department of State
        5-05 LWV and other material on Bricker Amendment, 1952-1956, n.d.
      2. Budgetary Policies/Procedures
        5-06 LWV-US publications on Federal budget, 1947-1957
      3. Political Effectiveness
        5-07 LWV-US material for regional conferences on political effectiveness (i.e. lobbying), 1953
          Voting (Elections, Registrations, etc.) - see State
          Taxes - see State
          Home Rule - see State
      4. Anti-Communism Controversy
        5-08 General publications, 1954-1955. Includes Houston Post series on Minute Women, 1953
      5. Miscellaneous
        5-09 Miscellaneous material of the LWV of the United States
        5-10 Drawing: “La Maison da Piegour Acadien”, by Floyd Sonnier, 1975 (2 copies)
        5-11 Scrapbook – Mounted newspaper articles taken from booklet, “Know Your Town Government”, 1953
        5-12 Compiled press clippings from local, state, and national leagues, 1954-1958, incomplete (mounted)
Box 6
    D. Other
      1. Artifacts
        6-01 Cooper Plate of Cover for Booklet, “The League Looks at Lafayette”
Box 7
      2. Solicitation Records
        7-01 Cards from Annual Financial Drives, 1950s
Box 8
      3. Oversize
        8-01 Mounted newspaper articles taken from booklet, “Know Your Town Government,” 1953
        8-02 8-02 LWV-Lafayette Fiscal Year 1975-1976:  Financial records; National Voter Membership Directory, October 1976, April 1977