THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEVADA
The League of Women Voters (LWV) has its historic roots in the National American Woman Suffrage Association. A one issue, non-partisan organization, the NAWSA worked solely for passage of the 19th amendment, giving women the vote. After ratification of this amendment, NAWSA was transformed into the League of Women Voters in 1920.
The League at the national, state, and local levels, is voluntary, democratic in structure, non-partisan, and open to all persons who subscribe to the purposes and policies of the League. As the League was born of a fight for the vote, the intelligent exercise of this right is central to the League's philosophy. The League emphasizes that an informed and enlightened and active citizenry is the mainstay of a free and open society. The League works to that end year round by publishing factual information on social and political issues. This information is disseminated throughout the community by various means, such as debates, forums, and through the print and electronic media. Additionally, a special effort is made at election time to bring information to the public regarding candidates' views, and to get out the vote. The League also takes an active role in naturalization proceedings for aspiring citizens.
Unlike its single-issue progenitor, however, the League is a broader based organization and works for the passage of many laws on various social and political issues. The League does take a position on issues after careful study at the local level. After consensus has been reached at the local level, position statements are passed on to the state and then to the national level. This democratic process permeates the League structure. After consensus has been reached, the League proceeds to advocate its position at the local, state, and national levels where appropriate. State and local issues of concern center around, for example, schools, housing, health, tax reform, children's welfare, environment, pollution, planning, criminal justice, mental health, and governmental reform. At the national level, the League has consistently supported the United Nations and international cooperative trade agreements. The League maintains its non-partisanship by prohibiting its board members at all levels from being active in their chosen political parties.
The local leagues in Nevada preceded the State League. The Reno chapter was established in 1951 and activity for a state league began in 1952 after Reno, Carson, and Elko were formed. Currently, in 1998, the League is most active in Carson City and Las Vegas.
League history written by Lee Kosso.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection of LWV papers supplements an earlier collection (82-15), which has a separate guide. The bulk of the most current accession was donated to the Special Collections in 1993 by Susan Petz of Las Vegas and a number of northern Nevada League members. It consists of 12 cubic feet and dates from about 1960-1993.
This collection has not been processed but an inventory was compiled to assist researchers in using the materials. Most of the materials originated from the League of Women Voters of Nevada and the League of Women Voters of Las Vegas but there is material from other Nevada chapters. Included are minutes, newsletters, project files, position papers, audio tapes of public forums, correspondence, budgets, annual reports, public relations files, and convention materials. There is also an extensive amount of material related to issues under study by the LWV.
Inventory compiled by: Susan Searcy and Rebecca Richards
Date: May 7, 1998
Box 1
Press Releases 1960 - 1969.
Board Training.
Voter's Guide to Candidates.
Nevada Citizens Guide. 1973; 1975-77. Nevada Legislature.
Executive Branch - The Presidency.
Housing.
Human Resources.
ERA.
Human Resources - Education.
Day care.
League - Air Pollution; clippings.
Annual Reports - Wells. 1961-1963.
Annual Reports - Elko.
Reno-Sparks LWV.
Demographics - Nevada.
Displaced Homemakers.
Education.
Budget.
Finance.
Annual Reports.
Election Reform - U.S.
Election Law Updates, 1978.
Litigation.
Membership.
International Relations.
Focus on Community Action, Report of NACEO, March 1968.
Box 2
Mailing information.
Human Resources.
Hazardous Waste.
Health Care.
Look at the Record.
Lobbying.
IRS Employer Identification Number.
Know Your Local Government.
Know Your Community.
Auto Emissions.
Contributors List; Media.
Voter Education, Electoral College Info.
News clippings.
Nursing Home Care.
Observer.
League Non-Partisan Policy.
ESAA.
Nevada Humanities Committee and By-Laws (LWV).
Minutes, 1980-1981, Speakers Bureau.
Observer Report Forms, 1972.
Agendas.
Board meetings, minutes, treasury, etc.
Board directories, meetings, reports, agendas.
Parks and Recreation.
LWV-LVV - County Planning. 1965 -
Electoral College.
Facts and Issues, Nevada Citizens Guides, etc.
Miscellaneous.
Box 3
Know Your Community Fund Raising.
Child Care.
Minutes.
Minutes - Annual Meetings. 1970s.
Reports.
Minutes.
Treasurer's Reports.
Miscellaneous.
Photos.
Public Relations.
Hazardous Waste.
Title Pages of books removed from collection and transferred to stacks.
Miscellaneous.
Action.
Clippings - Desegregation, 1968.
Scrapbook.
Proposed Park Program.
Vice President.
County Planning.
National Security.
Legislation - 1982-1984.
Federal Tax.
Flood Control.
Action Alert.
Fund Raising.
EOB.
Governmental Research Newsletter, UNR. 1966-1969; 1975.
Board Meetings.
Bulletins and Annual Meetings.
LWV miscellaneous.
Photos.
Box 4
National Board.
Lake Tahoe.
Election Reporting.
Hazardous Waste.
Report from the Hill.
Las Vegas Wash.
Natural Resources - Correspondence. 1978-1982.
Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Verification Project.
Bulletins and Publications. 1981-1982.
Important Planning Info.
International Relations and Trade.
Women and Work.
Voter Service.
Urban Crises.
Political Accountability Rating.
State League.
Nevada Humanities.
Nevada Future RPT, etc.
National Board Reports.
Membership.
National Budget.
Know Your Community.
Land Use.
ERA.
EPA - Grant-Daisy.
Election (1980).
Ann Zorn - zoning, transportation.
Director - Human Resources (Sandy Metcalf).
Director - Natural Resources (Alice Locicero).
Director - Know Your Community (Donna Sutton).
By-Laws, LWVUS Handbook.
Conventions and Reports.
Congress.
Business License Information.
LWV - General Information, By-Laws.
LWV Bulletins.
Budget.
LWV Board Meetings.
ARCO.
D.C. and the Vote.
Pamphlets.
Observing meetings.
Non-Partisan Policy.
Miscellaneous.
Garber, Elizabeth M. "Planning for Community Leadership". 1966.
Tips for Board Members, LWVN.
Board members, chair people.
PAR - Political Accountability Rating.
Box 5
Organizational - Nevada LWV.
PMP info, LWVUS.
League Policy.
Presidential Debates.
Privacy in Banking.
Program.
Public Relations.
Publications.
Question 6 - Humanities Grant.
Question 6 and Taxes.
Reapportionment.
Report from the Hill.
International Relations; SALT.
Solid Waste.
State Board Reports.
Tahoe.
Trade.
Treasurer's Reports.
Unit Meetings, etc.
United Nations.
Voters.
Voters' Service.
Vouchers (state).
Box 6
Water.
Welfare.
National By-Laws.
Education Fund - LWV.
COUNCIL79. April 30 - May 3, 1979.
LWVUS Budgets.
National Board.
Women's Issues.
Media directories, miscellaneous.
Debates.
LWV Education Fund.
Voter Service and Related Issues.
ABC Reporting.
National Security and Arms Control.
Central America.
Human Needs Study and Welfare Reform.
Child Care.
Agricultural Issues.
Agriculture Study.
Health Care Study.
Ballot Issues.
Oxygenated Fuels.
Box 7
Environment (including clean air and water).
Post Board Summaries and other routine correspondence from LWVUS.
Correspondence In & Out.
Memorandums, etc.
Publications.
Deirdra Peterson.
Common Cause - Nevada.
Blue Ribbon Commission on Legislative Process.
Planned Giving Seminar. June 1987.
Fund Raising.
Diane Dietrich.
LWV-LVV annual meeting. 6/6/87.
New Members.
Miscellaneous.
Madam President.
LWVUS State Board Handbook.
PA 4090.
Time Card Information.
LWV Nevada Convention, Tonopah, NV. May 2-3, 1987.
LWV Nevada State Convention, Las Vegas. May 4, 1985.
Documentation.
Miscellaneous.
Registrar of Voters.
Ye Olde Questionnaire.
LWV Nevada.
Arms Control Questions and Explanations.
LWV National Program.
Margaret L. Quinn.
Water.
Box 8
Agendas, Notice of Public Hearing, Bulletin.
Report form for members; LWVUS National Voter Roster.
Diane Dietrich.
Clippings.
LWV 1969-1970.
LWV-Las Vegas Valley: 1971; 1972; 1973; 1974; 1975; 1977-1985; 1982-1984.
By-Laws.
LWV-LVV 1989-1990.
LWV-LVV odds and ends.
LWVUS memorandums.
Interleague Organizations (ILO's).
1973-1975 State Board Minutes.
LWV State League Treasury Reports, Budget, etc.
Etta Southard.
1972-1973 miscellaneous.
Box 9
State League.
Fund Raising.
Legislative Issues.
League Project.
State Meeting Minutes.
League Members.
Mailing to Carson City.
Council ‘89, LWV. June 10-13, 1989.
EG&G Grant.
Voter Advocacy.
State Newsletter.
Natural Resources.
Other States - Programs and Activities.
State League Correspondence.
LWVUS - Programs.
National Studies Participation.
Drinking Water.
LWVN Program Issues (state).
State Board Minutes, Treasurer's Reports, L.L. Minutes.
League - Organizational Matters.
LWVUS - In League.
Report from the Hill.
National Program Issues.
Miscellaneous.
Promoting Voting.
Sandra Metcalf.
Minutes, Agendas, By-Laws.
LWVUS Board.
Membership.
Testimony.
National Drinking Water Week Coalition.
By-Laws.
Minutes and Agendas.
Budgets and Treasurer's Reports.
Box 10
Program Positions.
Land Use.
Legislative Reform.
State and Local government.
Know Your Community - Who Runs the Show?
LWVN - "A First Guide to the Study of the Nevada State Legislature...".
LWV-LVV and Nevada Air Quality Conference. Feb. 12-13, 1971.
LWVN - Air Pollution in Nevada II, March 1970; "An Introduction to...Air Pollution in Nevada", November 1969.
LWV Prospectus: A Planning Guide for Local and State Leagues. 1982-1984.
LWV Prospectus: A Planning Guide for Local and State Leagues. 1984-1986.
LWVUS - "Impact on Issues 1982-1984; A Leader's Guide to National Program".
LWVUS - President's Packet, September 1988.
Criminal Justice.
Court Study - Nevada.
Nevada Election Laws.
LWVN Position Statements.
Budget, 1985-1986.
In League.
How to Build An Effective League.
Board Training, 1979.
Basic Information.
Program.
Land Use - Environment. 1972-1973.
National League.
State League.
LWV Education Fund.
LWVUS - The Campaign Handbook, 1976.
LWVUS Local League Handbook, 1969.
LWV - The Art of Spending Money.
LWVN - "Need Help? ORGANIZE!".
LWV-NJ Membership Handbook. February 1964.
LWVUS - How to Get and Keep Members. 1963.
LWV-NJ - "How to be A President". June 1974.
LWV-Syracuse - Career Portfolio for Volunteers.
LWV Facts.
LWVN - Abortion.
Public Relations.
Grantsmanship Seminar.
LWV - clippings.
Air Pollution Control, 1985.
Old LWV "Stuff".
LWVUS Miscellaneous.
Photo [women unknown; date unknown].
1984.
Correspondence.
Minutes.
Statements.
Education Study, 1982.
Membership Doesn't Cost - It Pays.
Water Quality.
Letterhead.
Miscellaneous.
LWV-Carson City - Untitled script on Carson City Water Supplies, ca. 1970s.
LWV-LVV - Newsletters.
Box 11
Report from the Hill.
LWVUS - 50th Anniversary.
60th Anniversary.
Ballot Issues.
Report from the Hill.
Clipping - "A New Force in Las Vegas Politics". The Nevadan, 3/28/65.
LWV-LVV 1964-1965.
LWV-LVV 1970-1979.
LWVUS - History, General Info.
Miscellaneous.
LWV Bulletin - Reno, Sparks, Carson City. 1964-1969.
LWV Bulletin, 1967-1968.
Legislative Newsletter of the LWV of Nevada. 1965-1969.
The Nevada Voter - a Publication of the LWVN. 1965-1969.
Facts and Issues - notes and papers on voter issues. 1964-1968.
The National Voter - LWVUS. 1964-1969.
Fact sheets, misc. Correspondence.
Abby Johnson.
Reno-Sparks-Carson City Area Bulletins. 1965-1973.
LWV - Nevada.
H.R. Housing, Equal Opportunity, etc.
Human Resources.
LWV-LVV - Ardis Kearn's files.
LWV-LVV - Education.
Westside Housing Survey, 1974.
Lobbying.
League I&M and Workshops.
LWVN - State Voter. 1989-1993.
CC Voters.
Box 12
Know Your Schools.
Civil Rights and Integration.
Human Resources.
1984 President's Packet and Report from the Hill.
Elections.
Welfare Reform Bills.
League Voters Service Work.
LWVUS - Impact on Issues. 1986-1988.
Approach to Organizing.
LWVUS - "Forty Years of a Great Idea".
Board Agendas/Minutes.
LWV Las Vegas Bulletins.
LWV logo pin.
Negotiations - Candidates. Tape 1.
Debate Workshop. National Security Issue. July 1988. Tapes 1 and 2.
Debate Promotion. Tape 1, side 1.