Title: Wisconsin Women's Political Caucus Records
Inclusive Dates: 1971-1974

Creator:

• Wisconsin Women's Political Caucus

Call Number: Mss 506

Quantity: 0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records of the Wisconsin branch of the National Women's Political Caucus, founded in September 1971 to promote the active participation of women in politics. Present are files of correspondence, notes, reports, and clippings regarding the WWPC's political activities, particularly the selection of delegates, the Democratic state and national conventions of 1972, women's platform statements, elections, and district caucuses. In addition, files illustrating the internal structure of the WWPC contain correspondence, brochures and drafts, steering committee minutes, WWPC convention records, and treasurer's reports. A few folders relate to the national caucus.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00506

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On July 10-11, 1971, representatives from 27 states met in Washington, D.C., to form the National Women's Political Caucus, dedicated to organizing at local, state, and national levels to promote women in politics. Specifically, the NWPC wanted “to insure that women are fairly represented in elected and appointed political offices,” to raise women's issues in every election, and to see that women held policy making positions in political parties. The group was multi-partisan in composition. Two of the national organizers were Wisconsin Democratic Assembly Representative Midge Miller, and Betty Smith, long active in Madison and Republican politics. These two women helped establish the Wisconsin Women's Political Caucus (WWPC) on September 25, 1971.

The state headquarters of the WWPC were in Madison, although Caucus representatives throughout Wisconsin coordinated local activities under the direction of the state steering committee (later called the state policy council). These activities included encouraging women to register and vote, educating women about the presidential delegate selection process, and helping women to run for office. Other programs concern the introduction of women's rights planks into party platforms, communication with and support of other women's groups, and additional measures designed to end sexism, poverty, racism, and “institutional violence” toward women.

The collection primarily documents the activities of the WWPC from September 1971 to January 1973, while Patti Nowak was WWPC state coordinator. Included are a few folders of material regarding the NWPC, its organization, policies, and cooperation with the WWPC. The majority of the collection deals with the Caucus's statewide and national political activities; files of correspondence, notes, reports, and clippings concern the selection of delegates, the Democratic state and national conventions in 1972, drafts and proposals for women's platform statements, the fifth district delegate challenge, elections, and district caucuses. The internal structure and workings of the WWPC are illustrated in a small file of correspondence, July 1971 to 1974, brochures and drafts, steering committee memos and minutes, records of the second annual convention, and treasurer's reports. Information concerning the establishment of the WWPC may be found in the files of organizational papers, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

Presented by the WWPC via Patti Nowak, Connie Threinen, and Luida Sanders, Madison, Wisconsin, 1976 and 1977. Accession Number: M76-314, M77-323

Processed by Menzi Behrnd Klodt, December 1979.

	Series: National Women's Political Caucus Papers
Box   1 Folder   1	General and Miscellaneous, 1973, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	National Policy Council, 1971-1972
Box   1 Folder   3	Organizational Papers, 1971-1972, undated
Box   1 Folder   4	Re: WWPC Affirmative Action and National Recognition, 1972
	Series: Wisconsin Women's Political Caucus Papers	⇧
Box   1 Folder   5	Brochures and Drafts
Box   1 Folder   6-7	Correspondence, July 1971-1974
Box   1 Folder   8-9	Delegate Selection, 1971-1973
Box   1 Folder   10	Democratic State Convention, Apr-Jun 1972
Box   1 Folder   11	Democratic National Convention, Apr-Sep 1972
Box   1 Folder   12	District Caucuses, 1971-1972
Box   1 Folder   13	Fifth District Delegate Challenge, 1972
Box   1 Folder   14	Memos and Miscellany
Box   1 Folder   15	Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1973, undated
Box   1 Folder   16	Organizational Papers, Feb-Sep 1971
Box   2 Folder   1	Press Releases, 1972
Box   2 Folder   2	Republican National Convention, 1972
Box   2 Folder   3	Second Annual Convention, Dec. 1972-Jan 1973
Box   2 Folder   4	State and National Elections, 1972
Box   2 Folder   5	Steering Committee, 1971-1973
Box   2 Folder   6	Treasurer's Reports, 1972
Box   2 Folder   7	Wisconsin Women in Public Office
Box   2 Folder   8	Women's Platform Issues, 1971-1972