League of Women Voters of Grinnell, Records of

Series

League of Women Voters of Grinnell, Records of

• from 1920 (Creation)

Quantity: 13 assorted boxes/cartons described below
Posters from League of Women Voters 2001 conference, flat file drawer 5

Background Note:

Three years after the establishment of the League of Women Voters of the United States, a chapter of the League was formed in Grinnell under the sponsorship of the League of Women Voters of Iowa City. The April 28, 1923 issue of the Grinnell Herald states that the chapter “will be open to town ladies and Junior and Senior Girls who are interested”. The initial meeting, which drew eight prospective members was addressed by Miss Eleanor Lowden who listed the three-fold activities of the League as 1) “the education of women to an intelligent use of the [voting] franchise, 2) work for welfare legislation such as maternity legislation and child labor laws and 3) securing of legislation to remove the legal and political disabilities of women.”

Over the years, the Grinnell League has actively involved itself in the ambitious program it set for itself in 1923: “education, public health, social services, public safety, civic improvement, and government and administration in the city.” Members have been active in issues on the national and state levels as well as the local, e.g. the United Nations, the Equal Rights Amendment, County Home Rule, Reapportionment, Domestic Violence, the Campbell Fund, the Mental Health Center, and a variety of issues concerning school facilities, finance, and School Board representation.

The League has also provided voter services to the community through voter registration drives, candidate forums, and legislative coffees. From 1975-79 the League sponsored a radio program on KGRN on which League members interviewed members of the community, and in recent years, the League has promoted the taping of school board and city council meetings and other events of interest for viewing on GET 19, the local television channel.

Five members of the Grinnell League have served as presidents of the League of Women Voters of Iowa: Alice Phelps (1939-41), Margaret Strong (1943-44), Louise Ross (1951-53), Candace Lambie (1955-57), Ferne Norris (1957-59, and Terese Grant (2019-). The State Convention was most recently held in Grinnell in 2017.

Donated by: League of Women Voters of Grinnell

Name of Preparer: D. Lalonde

Date of Preparation: 11/1/2002; 1/26/2009; 6/24/2016: 4/20/2018, 2/21/2020)