• About the Arkansas League of Women Voters
• About the Collections
• Contents of the Collection

The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 as a nonpartisan organization to inform the electorate and increase citizen participation in government. Organization in Arkansas apparently began as early as the 1920s, but it was not until the early 1950s that a concerted effort resulted in official recognition of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas in 1955. Provisional and Local Leagues have been organized since that time. Special Collections is the repository of records for the state organization as well as some local units.

The material consists of annual reports, correspondence, minutes of meetings, and material relating to the organization of local leagues; reports, minutes, and correspondence of the state organization, as well as information and clippings pertaining to the League of Women Voters in general.

Material relating to the Arkansas League of Women Voters was donated to Special Collections by Betty B. Pickett, President, League of Women Voters of Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas on October 18, 1983.Included in the original donation were bulletins and other publications of the Local Leagues, as well as of the state and national organizations. These have been removed to the Arkansas Collection and cataloged in InfoLinks.

Additional materials were donated by Peg Anderson of Fayetteville (Washington County), Arkansas, on April 25, 1989. Most of these supplementary papers are subject files containing both correspondence and reference material. They were accessioned as MC 934 and described as an Addendum. In 1983 Ms. Anderson transferred a second addendum to Special Collections as part of an agreement to make Special Collections the repository for the records of the Arkansas League of Women Voters. This was accessioned as MC 966, Addendum II.

Series 1. Local and Provisional Leagues. Boxes 1-14
Series 2. Arkansas State League. Boxes 15-19
Series 3. Photographs. Box 20

Most of the material is arranged by the name, usually a city or county name, of the Local (or Provisional) League. Alternative names are given when applicable. Within each Local League, material includes:

Annual Reports. Usually, printed forms were filled in by Local and Provisional Leagues and returned to State and National offices. In some years, the questionnaires were replaced by instruction leaflets, answers to be given on separate sheets of paper; in many cases, Special Collections has only the answer sheets, not the instructions. In many cases, Annual Reports are incomplete.

Annual Reports include general information (size of the city or county, membership figures), treasurer's report, financial chairman's report, information on Local Leagues' activities in voter service, public relations, publications, any unusual or outstanding service, and participation in National and State programs.

During this period, national concerns included the United Nations, foreign policy, development of human resources, water resources, environmental quality, and representative government in the District of Columbia. State concerns included human resources, constitutional reform, education, State finances, election procedures, and water conservation.

Correspondence. Correspondence includes letters received and copies of letters sent pertaining to League business, copies of letters sent to officeholders regarding League positions on issues, and form letters sent to members.

Minutes. These include minutes of board meetings, general meetings, annual meetings, and (sometimes) committee meetings. Agendas are also sometimes included.

Organization. Included is material pertaining to the organization of the Local or Provisional League, including copies of bylaws, Consultant's Reports, information about the Local or Provisional League, and studies done by the Local or Provisional members.

Included here are press releases, newspaper clippings, reports, study guides, publications intended for Local League members rather than for the public, and ephemera, such as legislative guides, candidate questionnaires, and instructions for voter registration.

Box 1

1. Form for Interim Report, 1972; questionnaires and instructions for Local League Annual Reports, 1973, 1974 (2 copies, one containing table of Local Leagues with sections to be checked off as received), 1975, 1976 (contains chart), and 1978.

BATESVILLE.

2. Annual Report, 1954; Correspondence, 1953-1957; Minutes, 1955-1956.

BAXTER COUNTY ("Baxter County and Mountain Home" through 1968).

3. Annual Reports, 1958, 1960-1968.
4. Annual Reports, 1969-1978, 1980.
5. Correspondence, August 15, 1959 - October 6, 1977.
6. Minutes, 1958-1963.
7. Minutes, 1964-1972.
8. Minutes, 1973-1981.
9. Organization.
10. Publications and Publicity.

BENTON COUNTY.

11. Annual Reports, 1969-1980.
12. Correspondence, September 25, 1969 - January 5, 1982.

Box 2

1. Minutes, 1969-1974.
2. Minutes, 1975-1981.
3. Organization.
4. Publications and Publicity.

BOONE COUNTY.

5. Annual Report, 1980/81; Correspondence, June 5, 1962 - February 5, 1968, March 6, 1980 - November 24, 1980.

CAMDEN.

6. Annual Reports, 1965-1976, 1980.
7. Correspondence, September 30, 1965 - [February] 1981.
8. Minutes, 1965-1971.
9. Minutes, 1972-1981.
10. Organization.
11. Publications and Publicity.

Box 3

COLUMBIA COUNTY ("Magnolia" 1958-1968).

1. Annual Reports, 1958, 1960-1968.
2. Annual Reports, 1969-1978, 1980-1983.
3. Correspondence, May 6, 1961 - February 3, 1984.
4. Minutes, 1957-1963.
5. Minutes, 1964-1970.
6. Minutes, 1971-1976.
7. Minutes, 1977-1981.
8. Organization.
9. Publications and Publicity.

Box 4

CONWAY.

1. Annual Reports, 1974-1978, 1980.
2. Correspondence, February 19, 1975 - December 2, 1976.
3. Minutes, 1975-1981.
4. Organization.
5. Publications and Publicity.
See also MC 1411.

CRITTENDEN COUNTY.

6. Annual Reports, 1981-1982, 1984.
7. Correspondence, October 9, 1983 - February 3, 1987; n.d.
8. Minutes, 1979-1984; n.d.
9. Organization. (1 of 2)
10. Organization. (2 of 2)

Box 5

1. Publications and Publicity.

CROSSETT.

2. Annual Reports, 1962-1974.
3. Correspondence, March 19, 1962 - October 25, 1976.
4. Minutes, 1962-1974.
5. Organization.
6. Publications and Publicity.

EL DORADO.

7. Annual Reports, 1960-1974.
8. Correspondence, May 22, 1967 - February 6, 1976.
9. Minutes, 1959-1975.

Box 6

1. Organization.

FORREST CITY.

2. Correspondence, July 24, 1963 - November 29, 1963; Organization.

FORT SMITH

3. Annual Reports, 1958, 1960-1969.
4. Annual Reports, 1970-1978, 1980.
5. Correspondence, June 2, 1968 - July 11, 1980; n.d.
6. Minutes, 1959-1965.
7. Minutes, 1966-1981.
8. Organization.
9. Publications and Publicity.

Box 7

GARLAND COUNTY.

1. Annual Reports, 1974-1978, 1980-1981, 1985.
2. Correspondence, December 17, 1973 - May 23, 1985; n.d.
3. Minutes, 1974-1986.
4. Organization.
5. Publications and Publicity.

JONESBORO.

6. Annual Reports, 1958, 1960-1972.
7. Annual Reports, 1973-1980.
8. Correspondence, September 2, 1959 - August 11, 1980.

Box 8

1. Minutes, 1957-1968.
2. Minutes, 1969-1973.
3. Minutes, 1974-1977.
4. Minutes, 1978-1981.
5. Organization.
6. Publications and Publicity.

Box 9

MENA AND POLK COUNTY.

1. Annual Reports, 1965-1978.
2. Correspondence, February 27, 1965 - November 4, 1981.
3. Minutes, 1964-1970.
4. Minutes, 1971-1979.
5. Organization.
6. Publications and Publicity.

MONTICELLO.

7. Annual Reports, 1972-1974.
8. Correspondence, May 23, 1972 - March 21, 1977.
9. Minutes, 1972-1975.
10. Organization.
11. Publications and Publicity.

PINE BLUFF.

12. Annual Reports, 1958, 1960-1966.
13. Annual Reports, 1967-1972.
See also MC 904.

Box 10

1. Annual Reports, 1973-1978, 1980-1981.
2. Correspondence, September 20, 1965 - May 13, 1974.
3. Correspondence, September 20, 1974 - April 18, 1984; n.d.
4. Minutes, 1956-1965.
5. Minutes, 1966-1979.
6. Organization.
7. Publications and Publicity.

POPE COUNTY - RUSSELLVILLE
("Pope County" 1971-1974, "Russellville" 1969-1971).

8. Annual Reports, 1972 (interim report), 1974-1978, 1980.

Box 11

1. Correspondence, January 9, 1967 - [September 1979].
2. Minutes, 1971-1980.
3. Organization.
4. Publications and Publicity.

PULASKI COUNTY ("Little Rock" 1960-1965).

5. Annual Reports, 1958, 1960-1969.
6. Annual Reports, 1970-1976, 1978, 1980.
7. Correspondence, November 3, 1964 - August 4, 1980.
8. Minutes, 1958-1965.

Box 12

1. Minutes, 1966-1969.
2. Minutes, 1970-1973.
3. Minutes, 1974-1977.
4. Minutes, 1978-1981.
5. Organization.
6. Organization (cont.)
7. Publications and Publicity.

SPRING RIVER.

8. Annual Reports, 1976-1978, 1980.
9. Correspondence, July 15, 1975 - March 29, 1981.

Box 13

1. Minutes, 1975-1981.
2. Organization.
3. Publications and Publicity.

SPRINGDALE PROVISIONAL.

4. Annual Report, 1964.
5. Correspondence, May 18, 1964 - February 28, 1966.
6. Minutes, 1964-1965.

WASHINGTON COUNTY ("Fayetteville" 1958-1965).

7. Annual Reports, 1958, 1960-1965.
8. Annual Reports, 1966-1971.
9. Annual Reports, 1972-1978, 1980.
10. Correspondence, October 4, 1968 - June 25, 1981.

Box 14

1. Minutes, 1958-1964.
2. Minutes, 1965-1973.
3. Minutes, 1974-1981.

This material is very similar to the material in Series 1, and is arranged in much the same way. Rather than the activities of Local and Provisional Leagues and their relationship with the State League, however, the emphasis here is on the activities of the State League and its relationship with the National League.

Box 15

1. Questionnaire for State League Annual Report, 1973; memos and packets regarding reports of Local Leagues to State office, 1975, 1977, 1978.
2. Annual Reports, 1955-1962.
3. Annual Reports, 1963-1970.
4. Annual Reports, 1971-1978.
5. General correspondence, October 29, 1953 - October 9, 1974.
6. General correspondence, January 4, 1975 - October 8, 1981; n.d.
7. Correspondence pertaining to attempted establishment of Local Leagues in Arkadelphia (1968), Benton (1969), Blytheville (1967, 1969), Eureka Springs (1968), and Hope (1968-1969).
8. Correspondence files of Arkansas League of Women Voters president (1973-1975) Peg Anderson (letters dated January 23, 1967 - November 24, 1971; n.d.).
9. Correspondence files of Arkansas League of Women Voters president (1975-1977) Barbara Weinstock (letters dated September 6, 1973 - November 4, 1976).

Box 16

1. Correspondence files of Arkansas League of Women Voters president (1975-1977) Barbara Weinstock (letters dated November 9, 1976 - April 14, 1980; n.d.).
2. Correspondence files of Arkansas League of Women Voters president (1977-1978) Gloria Cabe (letters dated May 10, 1976 - November 12, 1980; n.d.).
3. Correspondence files of Arkansas League of Women Voters president (1981-1983) Lois Imhoff (letters dated December 28, 1964 - April 11, 1983).
4. Correspondence and questionnaires to gather biographical information on past presidents of Arkansas League of Women Voters (1982). Originally included photographs of Mary Lynn Reese, Peg Anderson, Jo Fullerton Wheeler, and Carrie Martel (removed to Series 3, Box 20, Folder 1).
5. Post board summaries of National meetings: memoranda to State and Local League presidents, January 1978 - June 1981.
6. "Action Alert" memos from National League to State and Local League presidents, June 1977 - June 1980, including three "Citizen Alert" flyers.
7. Reports and minutes of League of Women Voters of Arkansas organization meetings, board meetings, conferences; treasurers' reports. October 29, 1953 - January 24, 1955, February 2, 1963.
8. Arkansas State Board Reports (also called "Guide for Planning for Local Boards") and form letters ("Post Board Letters") pertaining to reports, n.d., 1955 -1964.
9. Arkansas State Board Reports, 1965-1969.

Box 17

1. Arkansas State Board Reports, 1970-1973.
2. Arkansas State Board Reports, 1974-1979.
3. Arkansas State Board Meeting Minutes, 1955-1962.
4. Arkansas State Board Meeting Minutes, 1963-1966.
5. Arkansas State Board Meeting Minutes, 1967-1969.
6. Arkansas State Board Meeting Minutes (including agendas), 1970-1972.
7. Arkansas State Board Meeting Minutes (including agendas), 1973-1975.

Box 18

1. Arkansas State Board Meeting Minutes (including agendas), 1976-1981.
2. Budget reports, budgets, correspondence on budgets, 1955-1981.
3. Agendas, convention flyer, notebook (1955-1980), photocopy of program for 1921 "First Annual Convention Arkansas League of Women Voters," Little Rock, guest book from League of Women Voters 50th Anniversary Tea (1969).
4. Minutes of State Biennial Council Meetings, 1958-1980, call to Council 1982.
5. Minutes of State Biennial Conventions, 1955-1981.
Includes presidents' reports (1965, 1967) and evaluation (1956).
6. Directories of State and Local Boards, 1960/61-1969/70.
7. Lists of National, State, and Local presidents and Board members.
8. State organization, 1963-1979: field reports, instructions for Board members, leadership training, State Board policies and procedures.
9. State organization, 1980-1983, n.d.: State and Local League procedures.

Box 19

1. Organization: publications of other State Leagues, other organizations.
2. Projects: State quiz, energy conservation, natural resources, water quality, clean air, county judge vacancies, interviews of candidates and officeholders, utility regulation, estate taxes, reproductive rights, and voting rights.
3. Projects: 50th Anniversary Celebration (1970): correspondence, newsletters, publicity, Woman Suffrage stamp first day cover.
4. Publications and publicity, 1954-1973, n.d. (originally included two photographs of Marilyn Milam and Arkansas Attorney General Jim Guy Tucker, 1973, and mounted photograph of Mrs. S. L. McCartney, Fort Smith, n.d.; all removed to Series 3, Box 20, Folder 1); reprints from magazines about League of Women Voters, 1954, 1959, and 1970.
5. Newspaper clippings, 1950s, 1960s.
6. Newspaper clippings, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s.
7. Speeches, notes for speeches, 1961, n.d.

Box 20

Photographs removed from Series 2:
1. Mary Lynn Reese. Formal portrait. 7" x 5".
2. Peg Anderson. Formal portrait. 4 1/4" x 3 1/2".
3. Jo Fullerton Wheeler. Formal portrait, color. 3 1/4" x 2 1/4".
4. Carrie Martel. Portrait, Polaroid. 4" x 3".
5. Marilyn Milam and Jim Guy Tucker posed with stacks of publications. Two prints. 7" x 5".
6. Mrs. S. L. McCartney. Informal portrait. 4 1/4" x 3 3/4" mounted on 11" x 8 1/2" poster.
2. Color transparencies and prints. Eight 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" color transparencies and five 4" x 5" prints made from them. Apparently a League of Women Voters banquet. Includes photographs of Orval Faubus and Esther Clark.
3. White House, John F. Kennedy, League of Women Voters. Three 7" x 9" prints (2 identical) and one 8" x 10" color print (badly faded) of League [members? delegates?], including Esther Clark, with Kennedy.
4. J. William Fulbright (one signed by Fulbright). Three 8" x10", two with Esther Clark (by Chase, Ltd., Photo, Washington, D.C.).
5. David Pryor and League of Women Voters. Three 8" x 10" prints, one signed by Pryor.
6. John Paul Hammerschmidt, Pat Frick, and Marilyn Hudgens at League of Women Voters National Conference, Washington, DC. No year. 8" x 10".
7. Esther Clark. 7" x 5" formal portrait (photo by Moncrief Studios, Fayetteville) and 10" x 8" print of Esther Clark in hat and sandwich board advertising Arkansas agriculture.

Last modified: Friday, January 23, 2009