League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Collection, 1911-2017

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Summary

Creators:
League of Women Voters of Los Angeles
Abstract:
In 1921 the League of Women Voters, a national organization, merged with an existing women's organization in California, the California Civic League, which already had chapters in many cities throughout the state. Women in Los Angeles established a chapter that same year, and participated in the first statewide League of Women Voters convention in California in 1922. The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Collection documents the Los Angeles League's establishment and evolution from 1921 to 2016. The majority of the records in the collection were created by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles (LWVLA), with fewer materials created by the League of Women Voters of California and League of Women Voters of the United States. The collection primarily consists of printed matter created or collected by LWVLA, including minutes, agendas, booklets, fact sheets, flyers, League position statements, member training aids, public relations material, reports, speeches, election materials, research files, press clippings, and more.
Extent:
61.59 linear feet
Language:
English, Spanish; Castilian
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Collection documents the Los Angeles League's establishment and evolution from 1921 to 2016. The majority of the records in the collection were created by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles (LWVLA), with fewer materials created by the League of Women Voters of California and League of Women Voters of the United States. The collection primarily consists of printed matter created or collected by LWVLA, including minutes, agendas, booklets, fact sheets, flyers, League position statements, member training aids, public relations material, reports, speeches, election materials, research files, press clippings, and more. The collection is arranged in four major series: Local League Files (1911-2017), Los Angeles County Files (1920-2016), California Files (1925-2015), and Scrapbooks and Photographs (1939-2007).

Series I, Local League Files, documents LWVLA's work in Los Angeles. It has been divided into two subseries: Administrative Files (1911-2017) and Working Files (1925-2015). The Administrative Files document LWVLA's internal operations, administration, and management, as well as its communications and interactions with League members from other locations around the United States. The subseries consists primarily of annual reports, board of directors agendas and meeting minutes, bylaws, correspondence, financial documentation, annual convention materials, documentation of unit mergers, program planning materials, and more. It is filed alphabetically. The Working Files document LWVLA's investigative efforts into myriad issues of public interest in Los Angeles. It consists of articles, booklets, brochures, pamphlets, reports, statements, clippings, correspondence, and other materials on numerous subjects, including statewide propositions, city and county ballot measures, environmental issues, election procedures, candidate forums, housing, city planning, the Los Angeles City Charter, education, health care, crime, criminal justice, women's rights, and more. It is filed alphabetically.

Series II, Los Angeles County Files, documents interaction between LWVLA and other League units in Los Angeles County. It consists of reports, bulletins, newsletters, and yearbooks, of the Los Angeles County Chapter of the League of Women Voters, as well as issues of the Intra-League Newsletter and Los Angeles County Voter. It also contains materials documenting county-wide meetings, reports distinct neighborhoods and regions of Los Angeles, information about the League's restructuring in the 1970s, and more. It is filed alphabetically.

Series III, California Files, documents LWVLA's interaction with the League of Women Voters of California, and its participation in statewide League events, especially conventions. It consists of annual reports, board reports, treasurer's reports, yearbooks, newsletters, and more. Guides and handbooks prepared by the California League on such subjects as voting, education, and volunteering used by League members are also included. It is filed alphabetically.

Series IV, Scrapbooks and Photographs, includes loose photographs, slides, and negatives taken at LWVLA-organized events and activities around Los Angeles, and several scrapbooks prepared by LWVLA and other League units that primarily contain press clippings. While many are comprised of publicity, a few focus on particular events, including the 1976 Carter-Ford debate and a 1953 United Nations project. Photographic materials is arranged alphabetically, and scrapbooks are arranged by size.

Biographical / historical:

In 1921 the League of Women Voters, a year-old national organization, merged with an existing women's organization in California, the California Civic League, which already had chapters in many cities throughout the state. Women in Los Angeles established a chapter that same year, and participated in the first statewide League of Women Voters convention in California in 1922. In keeping with its philosophy that continuing political education is necessary to the success of any democratic government, the League is a non-partisan organization with members who subscribe to myriad political beliefs. Its primary purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active citizen participation in government. The League works to promote education, government efficiency, legislative actions that support a democratic society, and international cooperation. It focuses on the qualifications individual candidates possess rather than supporting or opposing them, and in general supports and organizes a number of programs and projects to inform the electorate and help citizens vote.

Many changes in local, state, and national legislation occurred through the Los Angeles League's efforts. In the late 1920s, national and California chapters worked together to establish a formal voter registration system. California adopted such a system in 1930. The League also helped revamp the civil service system within California, which had been in place since 1913, and worked in support of numerous reforms to the state constitution.

Over the years, the Los Angeles League has focused its energy and attention toward voter education and other voter service activities with a special focus in some eras on educating California residents from other parts of the country. Issues of ongoing significance to the League in Los Angeles have included crime, housing, homelessness, childcare, criminal justice, education, public health, the environment, and the city charter, among others.

Acquisition information:
League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, 1979.
Processing information:

Teena Stern, 1980

Arrangement:

Series I: Local League Files, 1911-2017

Subseries A: Administrative Files, 1911-2017

Subseries B: Working Files, 1925-2015

Series II: Los Angeles County Files, 1920-2016

Series III: California Files, 1925-2015

Series IV: Scrapbooks and Photographs, 1939-2007

Accruals:

1981, 1985, 2011, 2016

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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