League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle, Massachusetts, Records, 1931-2005.
Helen Mears (left), President of LWV Concord, Massachusetts, at the National Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., ca. 1952.
Vault A75, LWVCC, Unit 1
EXTENT: 5 record cartons.
ORGANIZATION: Seven series: I. Core Records; II. Membership; III. Financial Records; IV. Topical Issues; V. Publications; VI. Program Planning; VII. Miscellaneous.
HISTORY: The League of Women Voters (LWV) was founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt at the final meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, just a few months prior to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Concord’s LWV was founded a decade later under the leadership of Miss Sarah Goodwin. Reflecting the history of the national organization, its earliest members were many of Concord’s leading suffragists. In 1962 Carlisle LWV members joined with Concord and together became the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle, Massachusetts.
The mission of the League of Women Voters is threefold: study, action, and voter service.
The organization is non-partisan and does not support individual candidates or align itself with any political party, however, it does support and advocate for issues that it has studied. The League has both introduced and supported warrant articles at Concord’s annual Town Meeting. Their efforts to inform the electorate include offering informational forums, candidate forums, and sponsoring debates, as well as disseminating voter information through fact sheets, handbooks, articles, and the media.
Among the issues that have been addressed by the LWV of Concord-Carlisle are water resources, housing, land use, education, recreation, and crime prevention. The League has taken on such local issues as the proposed redesign and reengineering of Route 2 in the early 1970s and controversies surrounding the environmental impact of Hanscom Field on the surrounding community. In addition to local issues, many members are actively engaged on the state, regional and national level.
Membership in the League was originally open only to women, but in the 1990s was extended to all.
SCOPE & CONTENT: Series I. Core Records (1931-2002 and undated) consist of the following subseries: meeting minutes and agendas (1931-2002, with gaps); reports, including treasurer’s reports (1937-1993, with gaps), local to national reports (1967-1985), local to state reports (1973-1975); presidential reports (1935-1936, 1961-1970, with gaps); and annual reports (1955-1967). Core Records also include by-laws (1965-1990), job descriptions and guidelines (1968-1982, 1992), and president’s notebook materials (1985-1987 and undated). Series II. Membership (1943-1991 and undated) contains membership lists and associated information (1943-1991, with gaps), new member lists (1967-1977, 1983 and undated), and itinerary for bus tours of Concord for new members. Series III. Financial Records (1932-1993 and undated) contains records of the Finance Committee (1963, 1970, 1993 and undated), dues records (1969-1978), IRS records (1969-1971, 1973-1974, 1978), budgets (1932-1987, with gaps), and past state assessments (1967-1971). Series IV. Topical Issues (1961-1985 and undated) contains the records of community issues on which the League focused, including agriculture, education, environmental health, hazardous waste, land use, recreation, SUASCO, and water resources. Series V. Publications (1951-2005 and undated) consists of Observer Reports (1986, 1999-2005), Carlisle materials (1986), Bulletins (1955-2005), booklets and brochures include flyers (undated), town and community government guides (1952, 1958, 1966-1968, 1980), Voters Handbooks (1963, 1970, 1973-1974 and undated), hand-outs (1969, 1971-1972, 1975-1976, 1978-1979), booklets, (1970-1972, 1974-1976, 1979-1980, 1981), Comprehensive Town Plans Committee materials (1973-1974), Town Factsheets (1973-1974, 1976, 1978), Annual Meeting workbooks (1967-2005, with gaps), miscellaneous publications (1964, 1978, 1981, 1986 and undated), and yearbooks (1951-1981, with gaps). Series VI. Program Planning (1962-1992 and undated) includes materials on legislation (1965, 1973, 1978-1979, 1982-1983), Neighborhood Coffees (1982-1983), Crime Prevention (1976, 1978-1980 and undated), Town Meetings (1967-1978,1981, 1984 and undated), Minute Man Vocational Technology Communities, (1971, 1975-1976, 1980 and undated), Action Meetings, (1983, 1985-1987 and undated), the Kennedy Library Visitor Program (1973-1975 and undated), Education Fund (1965-1970, 1973, 1975, 1979 and undated), Grant Projects (1975, 1978-1980 and undated), Finance Drives (1969-1975, 1978, 1980 and undated), Candidates’ Night (1970-1971, 1973-1980 and undated), and State and National program planning. Series VII. Miscellaneous (1961-2000 and undated) contains questionnaires, surveys and responses from the 1960s and 1970s, studies, including the Education Committee Kindergarten Report (1983), studies on the environmental impact of Hanscom Field (1974-1975, 1977 and undated), trade (1983-1985 and undated), tourism (1973-1976 and undated), town government (1966, 1972-1980 and undated), transportation 1970-1980, with gaps), and national, regional, and state materials. It also contains materials on history of the League of Women Voters (1961, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1978-1979, 1981 and undated), the 70th Anniversary Tea (2000), correspondence, photographs, and reel-to-reel tape recordings of national (undated) and local (1972) events.
SOURCE OF ACQUISITION: Records were donated by representatives of the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle, Massachusetts, 10 and 11 August 2005.
NOTES/COMMENTS: Accessioned 2005 August 11 (AMC 120)
PROCESSED BY: Preliminary processing: Carolyn Hayes, Spring 2010; Anna Kapust, Summer 2010. Additional processing: Betty-Jo Gordon, 12/2010; C. Manoli-Skocay, 12/2010.
CONTAINER LIST
Series I: Core Records, 1931-2002, and undated.
-- Minutes and Agendas, 1931-2002.
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 1:
11/1931-4/1936
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 2:
5/1936-5/1942
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 3:
5/1942-6/1949
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 4:
5/1983-5/1984
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 5:
1986-1987
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 6:
1991-1993
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 7:
1993-1997
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 8:
1997-1998
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 9:
1998-1999
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 10:
1999-2000
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 11:
2000
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 12:
2000-2001
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 13:
2001-2002
-- Reports, 1935-1993.
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 14:
Treasurers Reports, 1937, 11/1977-2/1980, 2/1987-3/1987, 1991-1993
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 15:
Local to National Reports, 1967-1985
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 16:
Local to State Reports, 5/1973-5/1975
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 17:
Presidential Reports, 1935-1936, 1961-1970
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 18:
Annual Reports, 1955-1967
--By-laws, 1965-1990
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 19:
By-laws, 1965-1990
-- Job Descriptions and Guidelines, 1968-1992.
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 20:
1970-1979, 1992
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 21:
Job Descriptions and Guideline Filing, 1969-1979
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 22:
Job Descriptions and Guideline Non-Partisan Policy, 1968-1982
-- President’s Notebook, 1985-1987 and undated.
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 23:
Board meetings, 1985-1987
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 24:
Budget, 1985-1987
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 25:
Projects, 1986
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 26:
Packets, 1986-1987
Box 1, Series 1, Folder 27:
Members and miscellaneous, 1983, 1985, undated
Series II: Membership, 1943-1991, and undated.
-- Correspondence, 1983.
Box 2, Series 2, Folder 1:
Correspondence, 1983
-- Membership Records (MR), 1943-1991 and undated.
Box 2, Series 2, Folder 2:
1943-1983
Box 2, Series 2, Folder 3:
1986
Box 2, Series 2, Folder 4:
1987-1991
Box 2, Series 2, Folder 5:
New Members, 1967-1977, 1983 and undated
Box 2, Series 2, Folder 6:
Bus Tours, 1975, 1984 and undated
Series III: Financial Records, 1932-1993 and undated.
Box 2, Series 3, Folder 1:
Finance Committee, 1963, 1970, 1993 and undated
Box 2, Series 3, Folder 2:
Dues, 1969-1978
Box 2, Series 3, Folder 3:
IRS Records, 1969-1971, 1973-1974, 1978
Box 2, Series 3, Folder 4:
Budgets, 1932-1987
Box 2, Series 3, Folder 5:
Past State Assessments, 1967-1971
Series IV. Topical Issues, 1961-1985 and undated.
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 1:
Agriculture Miscellaneous, 1973-1975
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 2:
Agriculture Background, 1976-1977
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 3:
Agriculture Action, 1977
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 4:
Agriculture Consensus, 1977
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 5:
Education Background, 1965, 1969-1970, 1974-1975, 1979, 1981, 1983 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 6:
Education Action, 1965, 1967, 1969-1970, 1974, 1976-1977, 1984 andundated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 7:
Education Miscellaneous, 1974, 1976-1977 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 8:
Education Consensus, 1974, 1980, 1984 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 9:
Environmental Health Personnel, 1970-1971
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 10:
Environmental Health Background, 1970-1973 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 11:
Environmental Health Consensus, 1971 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 12:
Environmental Health Action, 1976, 1978 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 13:
Environmental Health Miscellaneous, 1977-1978, 1980 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 14:
Household Hazardous Waste, 1983
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 15:
Household Hazardous Waste, 1984-1985
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 16:
Housing Miscellaneous, 1969-1974, 1976 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 17:
Housing Background, 1969-1975, 1980 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 18:
Housing Consensus, 1970
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 19:
Housing Action, 1970-1976 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 20:
Land Use Background, 1971-1972, 1974 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 21:
Land Use Miscellaneous, 1971-1978
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 22:
Land Use Consensus, 1971-1974, 1983
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 23:
Land Use Action, 1972, 1974-1975
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 24:
Land Use Personnel, 1980
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 25:
Long Range Planning Background, 1966, 1966-1970
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 26:
Long Range Planning, 1967
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 27:
Long Range Planning Action, 1968-1969, 1971, 1976, 1984
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 28:
Recreation Consensus, 1965-1966, 1973-1975
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 29:
Recreation Action, 1966, 1974-1975
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 30:
Recreation Background, 1968, 1973-1975 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 31:
Recreation Miscellaneous, 1973 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 32:
Recreation Personnel, 1973-1975
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 33:
Sidewalk Committee, 1976, 1979-1980 and undated
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 34:
SUASCO River Background, 1961
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 35:
SUASCO River Action, 1961
Box 2, Series 4, Folder 36:
Water Resources, 1966-1979
Series V: Publications, 1951-2005 and undated.
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 1:
Observer Reports, 1986, 1999-2005
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 2:
Carlisle LWV, 1986
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 3:
Miscellaneous, 1983-1984 and undated
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 4:
Originals, 1981-1983, 1985-1987
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 5:
Bulletins, 1955-1960
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 6:
Bulletins, 1961-1966
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 7:
Bulletins, 1967-1970
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 8:
Bulletins, 1971-1975
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 9:
Bulletins, 1976-1980
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 10:
Bulletins, 1981-1984
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 11:
Bulletins, 1985-1989
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 12:
Bulletins, 1990-1993
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 13:
Bulletins, 1994-1995
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 14:
Bulletins, 1996-1999
Box 3, Series 5, Folder 15:
Bulletins, 2000-2005
-- Booklets and Brochures, 1952-2005 and undated.
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 16:
Flyers, undated
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 17:
Town and community government, 1952, 1958, 1966-1968, 1971, 1980
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 18:
Voters Handbook, 1963, 1970, 1973-1974 and undated
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 19:
Hand-outs, 1969, 1971-1972, 1975-1976, 1978-1979
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 20:
Booklets, 1970-1972, 1974-1976, 1979-1980, 1981
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 21:
Comprehensive Town Plans Committee, 1973-1974
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 22:
Town Fact Sheets, 1973-1974, 1976, 1978
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 23:
Annual Meeting Workbooks, 1967-1970, 1971-1980
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 24:
Annual Meeting Workbooks, 1981-1990, 1992-1993, 1998-2005
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 25:
Miscellaneous publications, 1969, 1978, 1981, 1986, 1987 and undated
-- Yearbooks, 1951-1981
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 26:
Yearbooks, 1951-1971
Box 4, Series 5, Folder 27:
Yearbooks, 1974-1981
Series VI: Program Planning, 1962-1992 and undated.
-- Legislation, 1965-1983 and undated.
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 1:
Legislation, 1965, 1973, 1978-1979, 1982-1983
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 2:
“How to Win at Politics,” 1971, 1974 and undated
-- Neighborhood, 1967-1987 and undated.
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 3:
Neighborhood Coffees, 1982-1983
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 4:
Crime Prevention, 1976, 1978-1980 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 5:
Town Meetings, 1967-1978, 1981, 1984 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 6:
Minute Man Vocational Technology Communities, 1971, 1975-1976, 1980 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 7:
Action Meetings, 1983, 1985-1987 and undated
-- State, 1969-1984 and undated.
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 8:
State Program Planning, 1969-1977, 1980-1984 and undated
-- National, 1965-1980 and undated.
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 9:
National Program Planning, 1965-1980 and undated
-- Other Program Planning, 1962-1992 and undated.
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 10:
Kennedy Library Visitor Program, 1973-1975 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 11:
Education Fund, 1965-1970, 1973, 1975, 1979 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 12:
Mott Grant/“Climate for Freedom,” September 1980-November 1980
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 13:
Grant Projects, 1975, 1978-1980 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 14:
Reports, 1962, 1971-1978, 1980 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 15:
Finance Drives, 1969-1975, 1978, 1980 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 16:
Candidates’ Night, 1970-1971, 1973-1980 and undated
Box 4, Series 6, Folder 17:
Miscellaneous Program Planning, 1980, 1992 and undated
Series VII. Miscellaneous, 1961-2000 and undated.
-- Surveys and Questionnaires, 1968-1979.
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 1:
Market Survey, 1968
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 2:
Questionnaire Responses, 1976
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 3:
Endangered Species Questionnaire, 1977
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 4:
Board of Responsibility Units and Surveys, 1979
-- Studies, 1966-1987 and undated.
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 5:
Education Committee Kindergarten Report, 1983
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 6:
Hanscom and Health, 1974-1975, 1977 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 7:
Local Studies, 1983-1987
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 8:
National Security Study, 1983-1985 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 9:
Trade, 1983-1985 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 10:
Tourism, 1973-1976 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 11:
Town Government, 1966, 1972-1980 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 12:
Transportation, 1970-1971, 1974-1980 and undated
-- Materials, 1970-1983 and undated.
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 13:
National Materials, 1970-1977, 1979, 1980, 1982 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 14:
Regional Materials, 1975-1979 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 15:
State Materials, 1973, 1975-1979
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 16:
State Materials, 1981, 1983 and undated
-- History, 1961-2000.
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 17:
History of LWV (additional materials), 1961, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1978-1979, 1981 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 18:
70th Anniversary Tea, 2000
-- Media, 1972-1984.
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 19:
Correspondence and photographs, 1984 and undated
Box 5, Series 7, Folder 20:
Town Facilities (with slides), 1978-1979, 1981 and undated
-- Unfoldered.
3 reel-to-reel tapes:
“Media’s Role in an Election Campaign Year,” etc., 1972
Secretary Wirtz (formal address) & President Johnson complete address, undated
Barbara Ward: “Economic Policy for a Free World,” undated
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Edited and mounted 29 December 2010. rcwh.