Overview of the Collection
Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library
1515 Young St Dallas, TX 75201
League of Women Voters, Dallas Chapter
League of Women Voters of Dallas Collection
1935-1994
10.58 linear feet
MA93-15
The records are in English.
Historical Sketch
Dallas became the fifth city in Texas to establish a local League of Women Voters when a group of sixteen women formed the Dallas Branch of the Texas League of Women Voters on April 13, 1938. The name was changed to Dallas County League of Women Voters in 1942, and in 1953 the present name was adopted: League of Women Voters of Dallas.
Mrs. E. L. DeGoyler was elected first president of the Dallas League, and Mrs. H. Abbott, vice president. The Dallas League began its first full year in September, 1939, with 60 members. General membership meetings were held monthly with speakers from outside the League, as well as two study/discussion groups that met every other week. Meetings took place in members' homes, although some special membership teas and other functions took place at the Stoneleigh and Melrose hotels. Some of the first unit meetings in 1942 were conducted by Miss Edna Rowe, longtime teacher at Forest Avenue High School and later principal, at Cokesbury Book Store in downtown Dallas.
Beginning with the "Know Your Town" survey, the Dallas League has studied a variety of governmental issues relating to city and county government, as well as school and hospital districts. League members have also participated in studies of state and national government issues as members of the state and national Leagues. Another important aspect of League activity has been voter service, which involves providing non-partisan information to the community on elections and candidates through Voters Guides, candidates meetings, and encouraging voter registration.
The Dallas League's membership grew primarily by word of mouth and invitation from members to their friends. Most members during the League's first two or three decades did not work outside the home. This contributed to the League's ability to research, study, and inform members about issues of the day. Members had more time to attend meetings in the community and make sure that the League's views were understood. Consequently, the 1950s and 1960s saw the Dallas League's maximum annual membership. The 1970s saw a decline in membership though, and the minutes frequently mentioned "the increasing number of women returning to school and work."
The membership continued to decline in the 1980s and by the 1990s the number of units had dropped from 16 units to 8 units by 1992. However, the Dallas League continued to adapt to an ever-changing world and champion important issues. Through the years, the issues that have been important to the Dallas League of Women Voters are education, voters service, trade, foreign affairs and the United Nations, the judicial process, human resources, city/county government and urban planning, human rights and women's issues, and natural resources.
Scope and Contents
The League of Women Voters of Dallas (LWVD) Collection, consisting of 31 boxes, is composed primarily of materials collected by the LWVD for their official files. The collection covers the period from 1935-1994; however, the bulk of the material ranges from 1940-1989. Included in the collection are correspondence, administrative files, newspaper clippings, newsletters, publications, scrapbooks, photographs and assorted material associated with League activities and programs.
The collection is organized in thirteen series. The first series is League correspondence, which consist of Action, Equal Rights Amendment, nomination, LWVD presidential, and Texas LWV correspondence. The second series is the administrative files, which includes meeting agendas, financial data, membership, planning, public relations, training and other items associated with the LWVD administration. The third series includes annual meeting workbooks and reports. The fourth, fifth and sixth series consists of material related to the local and national activities and programs in which the LWVD was involved. The seventh series is the newspaper clippings that were collected about the League and its activities and topics that were pertinent to the League's goals or activities. The eighth series contains various printed materials that were published by the League or were related to their activities and programs. The ninth, tenth and eleventh series are printed materials that were produced by the LWVD and include monthly bulletins that announce meetings, events and other League information; Voter newsletters that announce meetings and events and other League information; and the Voters Guide which describes the candidates for various public offices. The twelfth series is the LWVD scrapbooks, an account book and guest book. The thirteenth series is League photographs and an audio tape. The local, school and national activity and program files comprise the bulk of the collection and contain the widest variety of materials.
The League of Women Voters of Dallas collection was processed by Carol Roark, Allison Baker, John Cloninger, and Margaret Foley. The series order was decided by the final processing archivist, Allison Baker. All paper clips and staples were removed from the material.
The LWVD collection contains information on a variety of topics that would be of interest to researchers. The Collection reflects the political, social, and economic environment of Dallas from the middle to latter part of the twentieth century. The changing role of women in society is visible in the membership and the issues that the League faced, and is an important source for women's history. The Collection also contains information on candidates who were running for various Dallas public offices and information pertaining to Dallas City and County government and their programs and activities. Education was important to the Dallas League, and researchers will find material on Dallas area educational issues.
Bibliography
Key, Ellen Lindsey, Betsy Beesley, and et.al.
55 years of making a difference: an informal history of the League of Women Voters of Dallas, 1938-1993. Dallas, Texas: The League, 1993.
Arrangement
Box 1 Correspondence
Box 2 Administrative Files
Box 3 Annual Meetings & Reports
Box 4 Local Activities & Programs (A - Co)
Box 5 Local Activities & Programs (Co - Da)
Box 6 Local Activities & Programs (Da - Hu)
Box 7 Local Activities & Programs (J - M)
Box 8 Local Activities & Programs (N - R)
Box 9 Local Activities & Programs (R - Tr)
Box 10 Local Activities & Programs (Tr - W)
Box 11 Local Activities & Programs (B - J)
Schools
Box 12 Local Activities & Programs (J - Y)
Schools
Box 13 National Activities & Programs
Box 14 Newspaper Clippings 1940 -1977
Box 15 Newspaper Clippings 1977 - 1991,n.d.
Box 16 Publications
Box 17 Bulletins 1940 - 1954
Box 18 Voter Newsletter 1954 - 1969
Box 19 Voter Newsletter 1970 - 1974
Box 20 Voter Newsletter 1975 - 1979
Box 21 Voter Newsletter 1980 - 1985
Box 22 Voter Guide 1944 - 1994
Box 23 Scrapbooks 1939 - 1946
Box 24 Scrapbooks 1947 - 1952
Box 25 Scrapbook/Guest book 1949 - 1962
Box 26 Scrapbooks 1958 - 1961
Box 27 Scrapbooks 1961 - 1963
Box 28 Scrapbooks 1963 - 1970
Box 29 Account Book 1965 - 1989
Box 30 Proclamations 1975 - 1976
Box 31 Photographs and Tapes 1958 - 1985
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Organizations:
League of Women Voters
Restrictions on Use
Permission to publish material from the League of Women Voters of Dallas Collection must be obtained from the Texas/Dallas History and Archives Division.
Preferred Citation
League of Women Voters of Dallas, MA 93.15, Box number, Folder number, Texas/Dallas History and Archives, Dallas Public Library.
Acquisition Information
The League of Women Voters of Dallas Collection was donated to the Dallas Public Library, Texas/Dallas History and Archives Division. The Collection was transferred to the Library in several disbursements in 1993 and 1994, and was received by Carol Roark.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I. Correspondence
1940-1990
Arranged alphabetically by type of correspondence and thereunder chronologically. Letters to and from members of the Dallas League of Women Voters and the League President.
1
1
1
Action Correspondence
1940; 1961
1
2
Action Correspondence
1971; 1981-1982
1
3
Action Correspondence
1983-1984
1
4
Action Correspondence
1985
1
5
ERA Correspondence
1974
1
6
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1960-1985
1
7
Nominations Correspondence
1983-1990
1
8
President's Correspondence
1940-1978
1
9
President's Correspondence
1979-1985
1
10
President's Correspondence
1986-1987
1
11
President's Correspondence
1988
1
12
Texas League of Women Voters Correspondence
1942
Series II. Administrative Files
1903-1989
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. Agendas, financial documents, history, committees, membership information, minutes, policies.
2
2
1
Activities
1941-42; 1974
2
2
Agenda - Board Meeting
1941
2
3
Education Fund
1988-1989
2
4
Finance Committee
1941-1951
2
5
Finance
1947-1955
2
6
Finance
1961-1969
2
7
Finance
1970-1976
2
8
Helen Warren Degoyler - Memorial Service Program,
February 13, 1995
2
9
History
1940-1983
2
10
Local Projects Committee
1944
2
11
Local Subscription Service
1969
2
12
Meeting/Program Scripts
1944; 1948
2
13
Membership
1940-1954
2
14
Membership
1955-1989
2
15
Minutes - Board Meetings
1941-1946
2
16
Newsletter Articles (typescript/manuscript)
1942; 1975
2
17
Policies
1966
2
18
Program Planning
1948-1955
2
19
Public Relations
1941-1968
2
20
State & Local Relations
1961-65; 1974
2
21
Training
1960; 1975
Series III. Annual Meetings and Reports
1947-1985
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. Annual meeting workbook and annual reports.
3
3
1
Annual Meeting
1973-1976
3
2
Annual Meeting
1977-1979
3
3
Annual Meeting
1980-1980
3
4
Annual Meeting
1983-1985
3
5
Annual Reports/Local
1959-1964
3
6
Annual Reports/Local
1964-1966
3
7
Annual Reports/Local
1967-1971
3
8
Annual Reports/Local
1974-1976
3
9
Annual Reports; Miscellaneous Years
Series IV. Local Activities & Programs
1935-1989
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. Activities and programs in which the League was involved in and/or sponsored.
4
4
1
Administrative of Justice
1950-1956
4
2
Administrative of Justice
1956-1957
4
3
Administrative of Justice
1972-1973
4
4
Administrative of Justice
1973-1974
4
5
Administrative of Justice
1974-1975
4
6
Administrative of Justice
1975-1976
4
7
Administrative of Justice
1976-1977
4
8
Administrative of Justice
1977-1982
4
9
Administrative of Justice
1978-1979
4
10
Administrative of Justice
1979-1980
4
11
Air Quality
1970-71; 1981-82
4
12
Bonds
1958
4
13
Candidate Forms
1962-1971
4
14
Citizen Participation - Historical
1978
4
15
Citizens Action Committee to Save Energy
1975
4
16
Citizens Coalition for Planning
1983-1989
4
17
Community Council of Greater Dallas
1968
4
18
County Government
1935-1939
5
5
1
County Government
1940-1949
5
2
County Government
1950-1959
5
3
County Government
1960-1964
5
4
County Government
1972-1980
5
5
Criminal Justice
1977-1978
5
6
Dallas: A Guide to City Services Book Project
1981
5
7
Dallas: A Guide to City Services Book Project
1982-1983
5
8
Dallas: A Guide to City Services Book Project
1984-1988
5
9
Dallas Alliance - History
1974-1978
5
10
Dallas Alliance on Shaping Safer Cities
1971-1973
5
11
Dallas Commission on Status of Women (LMV Involvement and History),
1969-1977
6
6
1
Dallas County
1949-1977
6
2
Dallas County Dept. of Public Welfare
1964
6
3
ECONOCT (Environmental Coalition of North Central Texas)
1970-1974
6
4
Energy
1975
6
5
Environment
1971; 1975
6
6
Goals for Dallas Public Library
1965-1975
6
7
Hazardous Waste
1980; 1982
6
8
Historic City Studies
1953-1982
6
9
Housing
1962-1969
6
10
Housing
1971-1979
6
11
Housing
1980-1981
6
12
Housing
1982-1983
6
13
Human Relations Committee Study
1966
7
7
1
Juveniles
1957-1960
7
2
Juveniles (Dallas County Youth Study)
1960-1963
7
3
Juvenile Justice
1948-1982
7
4
Land Use
1973-1977
7
5
Landlord Tenant Relations
1977
7
6
"Let My People Go" Community Review
October 1943
7
7
Libraries - Dallas Public Library
1956
7
8
Libraries - Standards for Public Libraries
1956
7
9
Local Program Planning
1961-1966
7
10
Local Program Planning
1967-1976
7
11
Merit System
1940-1941
7
12
Miscellaneous Programs
1948-1978
8
8
1
Natural Resources
1970-1984
8
2
Organizational Affiliations
1972-1976
8
3
Park Cities Survey
1969
8
4
Park Cities Units
1970-1972
8
5
Poll Tax Campaign
1943-1944
8
6
Primary Debate
1984
8
7
Public Health
1963-1965
8
8
Radio & TV - Cable
1979-1980
8
9
Radio & TV - KERA Series
1961-1963
8
10
Radio & TV - Public Service Announcements
1972; 1978
8
11
Radio & TV -Spot Announcements & Interviews
1944-1967
9
9
1
Radio & TV - Spot Announcements & Press Releases
1967-1974
9
2
Radio & TV - "Viewpoint" on KOAX/FM Correspondence
1973
9
3
Radio & TV - "Viewpoint" on KOAX/FM Programming
1974-1975
9
4
Radio & TV - "Viewpoint" on KOAX/FM Scripts
1973
9
5
Radio & TV - "Viewpoint" on KOAX/FM Scripts
1974-1975
9
6
Radio & TV - Voters Digest on KTVT Channel 11
1966-1970
9
7
Radio & TV - Voters Digest
1970-1972
9
8
Sewage Treatment
1960
9
9
Solar Energy Tour
April 11, 1979
9
10
Solid Waste
1977
9
11
Speakers Bureau
1956-1966
9
12
Speakers Bureau
1966-1968
9
13
Texas Constitution Revision
1960-1975
9
14
Transportation
1958-1962
10
10
1
Transportation
1973-1982
10
2
Transportation
1980-1983
10
3
Urban Design - Historical
1962-1984
10
4
Voter's Service
1942-1960
10
5
Voter's Service
1984-1985
10
6
Voter's Service - Secret Ballot Legislation
1942-1945
10
7
Water Issues
1970-1984
10
8
Women Under Texas Law
1982-1985
Series V. Local Activities & Programs, Schools
1940-1990
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. Local activities and programs with schools and education in which the League was involved in and/or participated.
11
11
1
Brochures
n.d.
11
2
"Building a School to Serve Community Needs" - Report
1961-1962
11
3
Careers for Youth
1963-1964
11
4
Citizens Committee for Public Education
1962-1966
11
5
Comprehensive Special Education Plan Highland Park ISD
1977-1978
11
6
Consensus Material
1958-1967
11
7
Construction
1966
11
8
Correspondence - Education
1959-1970
11
9
Counseling & Guidance
1959
11
10
Decentralization
1974
11
11
Desegregation & Integration
1971-1972
11
12
Desegregation & Integration
1973-1990
11
13
Disadvantaged Families
1966
11
14
Free School Lunch Program
1940
11
15
Health
n.d.
11
16
Junior & Senior High Schools of Dallas
1962-1963
12
12
1
Junior College
1964-1965
12
2
Junior College "A Community Effort"
1964
12
3
"Know Your Schools Survey Reports"
1958-1961
12
4
Reports - Education
1959-1984
12
5
School Board
1965-1966
12
6
School Board Candidates Questionnaire
1944; 1946
12
7
School Finance
1960-1989
12
8
Secondary Schools
1962-1963
12
9
Statements of Position on Education
1959-1970
12
10
Statistics
1961
12
11
Survey of the Dallas, Highland Park & Richardson ISD's
1959
12
12
Survey of Highland Park, University Park and Highland Park ISD
1969
12
13
Vocational Education
1961
12
14
"You and Your Schools in Dallas" Booklets
1962
Series VI. National Activities & Programs
1941-1971
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. National activities and programs in which the Dallas League participated.
13
13
1
"Battle of Production" Campaign
1941
13
2
Big City League Conferences, Chicago & New Orleans
1969, 1971
13
3
Freedom Agenda
1954-1955
13
4
Freedom Agenda
1955-1957
13
5
Freedom Agenda - Pamphlets
1951-1953
13
6
Freedom Agenda - Pamphlets
1954-1957
13
7
Lend - Lease
1946
13
8
Liberty & Security (Program Booklet & Leaders Guide)
1956
Series VII. Newspaper Clippings
1940-1991
Arranged chronologically. Newspaper articles that mention the League of Women Voters or were relevant to the issues that concerned them.
14
14
1
Newsclips
1940-1958
14
2
Newsclips
1959-1961
14
3
Newsclips
1962-1966
14
4
Newsclips
1967-1968
14
5
Newsclips
1969-1970
14
6
Newsclips
1971-1972
14
7
Newsclips
1973
14
8
Newsclips
1974
14
9
Newsclips
1975-1976
15
15
1
Newsclips
1977
15
2
Newsclips
1978-1979
15
3
Newsclips
1980
15
4
Newsclips
1981-1982
15
5
Newsclips
1983
15
6
Newsclips
1984
15
7
Newsclips
1984
15
8
Newsclips
1985
15
9
Newsclips
1988-1989
15
10
Newsclips
1990-1991
15
11
Newsclips
n.d.
Series VIII. Publications
1938-1987
Arranged alphabetically. Various publications that were published or collected by the Dallas League for their official files.
16
16
1
"Charter of the City of Dallas" Booklet
1952
16
2
"Choosing the President" Booklet
1976
16
3
"Citizens in Action" Brochure
ca. 1944
16
4
Dallas County - Story of Self Government
1954
16
5
Education of Free Men in American Democracy-Book
1941
16
6
"Federalist Papers Reexamined"-Booklets
1976-1977
16
7
Guide Booklets
1984; 1987
16
8
"How the Texas Legislature Works"-Booklet
1986
16
9
"Know Your Town and Know Your School"-Booklet
1938; 1940
16
10
League of Women Voters Brochure
1958
16
11
League of Women Voters of the United States-Histories
1946; 1960
16
12
League Publications-National
1951-1984
16
13
"Making a Difference" Booklet-Voter Handbook
1978
16
14
Miscellaneous Publications
1938-1984
16
15
"Presidential Accountability"-Booklet
1975
16
16
Road and State Highway Map of Dallas County
1959
16
17
Road Map of Dallas County
1941
16
18
"Your Elected Officials" Brochure
1983
Series IX. Bulletins
1940-1954
Arranged chronologically. Monthly bulletins that announced meetings, events and other Dallas League information.
17
17
1
Bulletin
1940-1946
17
2
Bulletin
1947
17
3
Bulletin
1948-1949
17
4
Bulletin
1950
17
5
Bulletin
1951
17
6
Bulletin
1952
17
7
Bulletin
1953
17
8
Bulletin
1954
Series X. Voter Newsletter
1954-1985
Arranged chronologically. Monthly mailed newsletter that announced meetings and events and gave other Dallas League information.
18
18
1
Voter
1954
18
2
Voter
1955
18
3
Voter
1956
18
4
Voter
1957
18
5
Voter
1958
18
6
Voter
1959
18
7
Voter
1960
18
8
Voter
1961
18
9
Voter
1962
18
10
Voter
1963
18
11
Voter
1964
18
12
Voter
1965
18
13
Voter
1966
18
14
Voter
1967
18
15
Voter
1968
18
16
Voter
1969
19
19
1
Voter
1970
19
2
Voter
1971
19
3
Voter
1972
19
4
Voter
1973
19
5
Voter
Jan. - May 1974
19
6
Voter
June - Dec. 1974
20
20
1
Voter
Jan. - May 1975
20
2
Voter
June - Dec. 1975
20
3
Voter
Jan. - May 1976
20
4
Voter
June - Dec. 1976
20
5
Voter
Jan. - May 1977
20
6
Voter
June - Dec. 1977
20
7
Voter
1978
20
8
Voter
1979
21
21
1
Voter
1980
21
2
Voter
1981
21
3
Voter
1982
21
4
Voter
1983
21
5
Voter
1984
21
6
Voter
1985
Series XI. Voter's Guide
1944-1994
Arranged chronologically. Guides published by the Dallas League describing the candidates for various public offices.
22
22
1
Voter's Guide
1944
22
2
Voter's Guide
1946-1948
22
3
Voter's Guide
1952
22
4
Voter's Guide
1958; 1960
22
5
Voter's Guide [Legislative]
1958-1959
22
6
Voter's Guide
1979
22
7
Voter's Guide
1980
22
8
Voter's Guide
1981-1982
22
9
Voter's Guide
1983
22
10
Voter's Guide
1984
22
11
Voter's Guide
1985
22
12
Voter's Guide
1986
22
13
Voter's Guide
1987
22
14
Voter's Guide
1988
22
15
Voter's Guide
1989
22
16
Voter's Guide [Primary]
1994
22
17
Voter's Guide
1994
Series XII. Scrapbooks
1939-1970
Arranged chronologically. Scrapbooks, account book, guest book, newspaper clippings, publicity information, proclamations, and school survey.
23
23
1
Scrapbook
1939-1942
23
2
Scrapbook
1942-1943
23
3
Scrapbook
1943-1946
24
24
1
"Mostly State"
November 1947 - February 1948
24
2
Scrapbook (Publicity)
April 1947-April 1949
24
3
Newspaper Clippings regarding the Juvenile Court of Dallas
1948-1952
25
25
1
Scrapbook
May 1949-July 1950
25
2
Scrapbook
March 1955-June 1956
25
3
Scrapbook
July 1956-January 1958
25
4
Scrapbook
May 1958-July 1958
25
5
Guest Book
1954-1962
26
26
1
Know Your Schools Survey [A Survey of the Dallas, Highland Park, and Richardson Independent School Districts]
June 1958-June 1959
26
2
Scrapbook (Publicity)
July 1958-January 1961
27
27
1
Scrapbook
1961-1962
27
2
Scrapbook
1962-1963
28
28
1
Scrapbook
August 1963-December 1964
28
2
Scrapbook
January 1965-May 1966
28
3
Scrapbook (loose pages only)
1967
28
4
Bentsen-Bush Senate Candidate Luncheon Notebook
1970
29
1
Account Book
1965-1989
30
30
1
Proclamation-City of Dallas, League of Women Voters Week
1975
30
2
Proclamation-City of Dallas, League of Women Voters Week
1976
Series XIII. Photographs and Tapes
1958-1985
Arranged chronologically. Photographs of League members involved in various DLWV activities and program events. Audio tape of Alex Burton's KRLD radio commentary "Persons".
31
31
1
League display booth
ca. 1958
31
2
League-A-Rama
1962
31
3
Dallas Transit Dedication
1978
31
4
Field trips to Glen Rose Nuclear Power Plant and the Fairfield Lignite Plant
1980
31
5
LWV open house
September 22, 1985
31
6
Audio tape-Alex Burton, KRLD Commentary "Persons"
May 2, 1984