Dates

• Majority of material found within 1920 - 2020

Extent

2 boxes Linear Feet (Six months before the 19th Amendment was passed, the National American Women Suffrage Association met in Chicago in February 1920. One charismatic founder of this group, Carrie Chapman Catt, would speak with great foresight when urging the two million attendees that “Winning the vote is only an opening wedge ... but to use it is a bigger task.” She would propose the founding of a group dedicated to keep the spirit of the suffragettes alive, The League of Women Voters, an idea that was accepted with gusto. The three wishes of the League are as follows: 100% voter turnout in elections, fair and informative political campaigns, and more women and minorities in public office. In the words of Carrie Chapman Catt, “What is the League? A group of enfranchised women who want not merely to vote for something. The vote is a tool with which to work, and for years they have struggled and sacrificed to secure it. Now they want to build a better world for their neighbors and their posterity.” (The Woman Citizen, 1919). With its commitment to nonpartisanship and grassroots organization the League of Women Voters has affected positive change in every decade since it’s founding in the 1920’s the League lent its efforts to the passage of the Sheppard Townsend Act, which provided federal money for maternal and children’s programming. In the 1940’s the League turned its attention to supporting the war effort. In the 1950’s, the League sent several members to testify before a United States Senate subcommittee against Senator Joseph McCarthy and the abuse of Congress’ investigative power. In the 1970’s, the League was able to establish landmark environmental legislation, and in the 1980’s economic issues were addressed. In the 1990’s the League led the coalition that passed the National Voter Registration Act. The League of Women Voters of Indiana County began as a Provisional League in February 1974, and was made a full League in April of the same year. After the first Candidate Night held in 1974, the event quickly became very popular with the public. The LWVIC has remained a trusted source of information due to the many local studies, discussions and meetings, and educational pamphlets distributed to the public. These pamphlets have focused on such issues as environmental concerns, education, youth care and domestic relations, healthcare, agriculture and water quality, and transportation. The LWVIC has maintained its commitment to keeping up with public representatives in both the House and Senate over the years, and has participated in both state and national studies. For many years The Voter, the LWVIC’s monthly newsletter, was the only widely available source of information on candidates for public office. Eventually League information on candidates was accepted for publication in local newspapers. In a publication honoring the 20th anniversary of the LWVIC reiterates its mission, “At the heart of all our efforts is one, most important, element that will never change – the central role we should all continue to play through nonpartisan citizen participation in the democratic process. We all have a great ability to influence public policy and bring about change.” The League of Women Voters of Indiana County (LWVIC) Collection contains two boxes of historical information about the LWVIC, which include newsletters, membership, board minutes, photographs, and scrapbooks.)

Language of Materials

English