Elgin League of Women Voters Records, 1929-2001 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Elgin League of Women Voters Records, 1929-2001

ID: RHC/RC/137

Extent: 2.5 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 09/21/1981. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Elgin (Ill.), Kane County (Ill), League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters (Elgin, Ill.), United States--Politics and government, Women--Societies and clubs.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The records for the League of Women Voters of Elgin date from 1929-2001 and contain meeting minutes, monthly bulletins, annual reports, correspondence, topical files, state and national files, and scrapbooks. The collection contains a wide variety of information on League programs and projects during the 1960's. In particular, topical files describe the League's work in welfare, housing discrimination, equal opportunity, the development of human resources, the Kane County food stamp program, and the Illinois Constitutional Convention. The meeting minutes, which also contain annual reports, budgets, and correspondence, and the monthly bulletins further document the organization's programs. The collection contains two publications written and put out by the League on Elgin and Kane County government; Elgin on the Fox and Know Your County.

Collection Historical Note

Due to the lack of historical records on the early years of the Elgin League of Women Voters, it is only known that the group organized on May 28, 1929. Their purpose, however, is known and has remained the same throughout their history; to promote political responsibility through informed active participation of citizens in government and to take action on local governmental measures and policies in the public interest. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. To accomplish these tasks, the Elgin League held public forums and debates and published literature to inform the public. Topics of concern ranged from Chinese culture to school board candidates' meetings. For example, in 1962 the organization worked for a convention to provide an improved constitution in Illinois as well as holding joint discussions with the American Association for University Women on the common market. In 1967 they had meetings on equal opportunity for education and employment nation-wide and worked against housing discrimination in Elgin. In any year, their greatest contribution to political knowledge is the publication and dissemination of voters information.

Subject/Index Terms

Elgin (Ill.)
Kane County (Ill)
League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters (Elgin, Ill.)
United States--Politics and government
Women--Societies and clubs.

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Accruals: Additional records were donated in 1986 by Gen Dolan and in 1996 and 2001 by Janet Poyner.

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: Doretta Williams

Acquisition Method: Doretta Williams, representing the League of Women Voters of Elgin, donated the organization’s records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on September 21, 1981.

Related Materials: For further information on the history of the northern Illinois League of Women Voters the researchers should consult other League collections held by the Regional History Center: DeKalb (RC 118); Joliet Region (RC 143); Geneva-St. Charles (RC 149); Aurora (RC 151); and Rockford (RC 178).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Addendum 1],
[All]

Box 1

Folder 1: By-Laws, 1938, 1967, 1993, 1996
Folder 2: Acceptance into Illinois League of Women Voters, no date
Folder 3: Non-Partisanship Policy, 1966-1980
Folder 4: Political Activity Policy, 1980, 1996
Folder 5-13: Meeting Minutes and Reports, 1929-1995
Folder 14-16: Annual Reports, 1939-1942, 1962-1971
Folder 17: Annual Programs, 1965-1972, 1980-1981
Folder 18: General Correspondence, 1962-1971, 1974
Folder 19: Correspondence with State League, 1948, 1969-1971
Folder 20: Membership Lists, 1951-1971
Folder 21: Budgets, Annual and Monthly, 1964-1971
Folder 22: Proposed Budgets, 1948-1960, 1965-1970
Folder 23-28: Monthly Bulletins, 1965-1996

Box 2

Folder 1: League Publicity, 1969-1970
Folder 2: Kane County Council League Women Voters, 1965-1977
Folder 3: Topical Files: Local Government, 1954, 1968-1969
Folder 4: Topical Files: Sanitary District of Elgin, 1970-1971
Folder 5: Topical Files: Candidates' (for Local Offices) Forums, 1969
Folder 6: Topical Files: Comprehensive Health Planning, 1972-1973
Folder 7: Topical Files: Equal Opportunity Employment, 1964-1970
Folder 8: Topical Files: Head Start Program, 1965-1968
Folder 9: Topical Files: Human Resources-Alternatives to Welfare, 1969-1970
Folder 10: Topical Files: Natural Resources Development, 1968, 1971
Folder 11: Topical Files: Public Housing Authority, 1966-1970, 1981
Folder 12: Topical Files: Public Schools, 1968-1970
Folder 13: Topical Files: Representation in Congress for the District of Columbia, 1970
Folder 14: Topical Files: Welfare, 1963-1967
Folder 15: Topical Files: Welfare Reform, 1968-1973
Folder 16: Topical Files: Youth Corrections and Institutionalization Pamphlets, 1963-1967

Box 3

Folder 1: Kane County Topical Files: Food Stamp Program, 1970-1971
Folder 2: Kane County Topical Files: Health, 1967-1972
Folder 3: Kane County Topical Files: Welfare Coalition, 1970-1973
Folder 4: State and National Files: State Programs; Guidelines; Illinois Constitutional Convention, 1947-1950; 1963-1966; 1968-1970
Folder 5: State and National Files: Development of Human Resources, 1964-1971
Folder 6: State and National Files: 50th Anniversary Campaign, 1969-1970
Folder 7: State and National Files: Citizens for Better Government of Elgin, 1971
Folder 8: State and National Files: Elgin on the Fox, 1978
Folder 9: State and National Files: Know Your County, 1965
Folder 10: Proceedings, First Annual Conference on the Fox River and Its' People, 1970
Volume 1: Scrapbook (1 volume), 1951-1966

Box 4

Volume 1: Scrapbook (1 volume), 1966-1967

Addendum 1

Box 4

Folder 1: Agendas and Monthly Board Minutes, February 1975-October 1999
Folder 2: Annual Meeting, Reports and Minutes, 1975-2001
Folder 3: Directories, 1995-2001
Folder 4-6: Bulletins, 1997-2008
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings, 1968, 1995-2001, no date
Folder 8: What Makes Elgin Tick, Jul-56

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Addendum 1],
[All]