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Collection Overview
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
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],
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Addendum 1],
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All]
- 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
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[Box 3],
[
Box 4],
[
Addendum 1],
[
All]
Regional History Center 
