The Green Bay League of Women Voters (LWV) officially was organized in 1932 after three years of activity by local members-at-large of the Wisconsin LWV. As a chapter of the Wisconsin LWV and affiliate of the national LWV, the Green Bay League was organized to promote voter awareness and participation in government, particularly among newly- enfranchised women voters. Over the years, the League as a whole has become active in lobbying and persuasion on the local, state, and national levels. Each chapter chooses from among a number of study topics suggested by the national and state organizations; each chapter studies these “continuing responsibilities,” reaches a group consensus on the topic, and then takes “action” in the form of writing letters and testifying at legislative hearings, at the time designated by national and state leadership. Many of the study topics involve broad local welfare categories: education and school systems; public health; natural resource conservation; voter education and registration; equal rights; and local, county, and state government.
During its early years, Green Bay League members mainly studied city, town, and county government, and social and child welfare. Members took part in 1930's campaigns to get out the vote and in lobbying city politicians after the Green Bay City Council passed a resolution in 1939 barring married women from city employment. Beginning in 1943, the League studied the conditions of the county jails where juveniles were confined, and the feasibility of establishing a county-wide detention home. In 1947 their efforts finally were successful. During the early 1950's, the League worked to reorganize the Brown County Sheriff's Department and to employ the sheriff on a salary basis rather than an outmoded fee basis. Once again, the LWV studied the issue, presented facts and proposals for change to the County Board, and ultimately persuaded a majority of the Board to take the League position. Over the years, other issues studied and promoted by Green Bay League members included air pollution, drinking water fluoridation, reapportionment, establishment of a county executive office, health services, a county library, juvenile delinquency, education, hunger in Brown County, public transportation, foreign trade, the Equal Rights Amendment, environmental issues, and voter education.
The Green Bay League produced a national leader in member Ruth Clusen. Mrs. Clusen joined the Green Bay League in 1952, and almost immediately was chosen to serve on the board of directors. Until 1978 she served continuously as a local, state, or national board member. Mrs. Clusen was president of the Green Bay LWV from 1957-1959; state LWV president, 1962-1966; national director and Environmental Quality Chair, 1966; national vice-president, 1972; national Public Relations chair, 1973; and national president, 1975.
In October 1937, the Green Bay League hosted its first state LWV convention at the Hotel Northland, followed by other conventions in 1944, 1948, 1968, and 1977. In 1965 the Green Bay and De Pere Leagues merged. Over the years, the group has had several name changes including:
- Green Bay League of Women Voters, 1929-1945
- League of Women Voters of Brown County, 1946-1951
- League of Women Voters of Green Bay-Brown County, 1951-1957
- League of Women Voters of Green Bay and League of Women Voters of De Pere, 1957-1965
- Green Bay-De Pere Area League of Women Voters, 1965-1970
- League of Women Voters of Greater Green Bay, 1970-
In 1979 the Green Bay League celebrated its 50th anniversary. For the occasion, the league researched and published a historical booklet, under the guidance of member Marion Gould.
