The records are arranged in series of General Records, Local Study Issues, Inter-League Council Records, League of Women Voters of Greendale Records, and League of Women Voters of West Allis Records. Of the several series, the General Records and Local Study Issues are most complete, while the others contain scattered records.
GENERAL RECORDS include minutes and reports of annual meetings; bulletins (called League Letters from 1956 through 1966; in December 1966 the title became The Bulletin); by-laws; scattered records of the Environmental Quality, Legislative, and Men's Advisory committees, and of the Educational Foundation; very small files of general correspondence; and records of the Milwaukee League's celebration of the national LWV fiftieth anniversary. There are lengthy runs of minutes of board of directors, executive board, and special meetings dating from the organization of the Milwaukee League in February 1920. Financial records are also small in quantity, with a few audit reports, financial statements, and treasurer's reports; bank books; budgets; check stubs; a few records of estates bequeathed to the League; records of finance drives; several journals and ledgers; and tax returns. During its finance drives, the League contacted area businesses and individuals for contributions; the collection contains numerous contribution record cards listing these solicitations and illustrating the fundraising program of the LWV. Membership records consist of a few applications, membership lists and handbooks, and a survey of members' interests. National and State LWV records include some national and state board reports and convention records. The activities of the Milwaukee area leagues are chronicled in 17 volumes of scrapbooks of news clippings, together with statements and testimonies prepared for presentation to the Legislature and local governmental bodies.
The records of the Milwaukee LWV's LOCAL STUDY ISSUES are fairly numerous but not comprehensive. With the exception of a file on open housing dating from 1933, most of the local study materials date from the 1960s and 1970s. The files contain little material generated by the Milwaukee LWV or illustrative of its activities. Rather, they mainly contain near-print study materials from the state and national LWV; studies, reports, and clippings collected by local members; and letters and LWV policy statements used to inform and persuade local and state legislators. Most of the news clippings with only a national focus were discarded. Among the issues suggested or authorized by the state and national organizations or chosen to meet particularly local interests were administration of justice and court reform, air pollution and air quality, the All-America Cities Competition, city government structure and organization, education and public schools, energy, environment, Equal Rights Amendment, a survey of foreign trade, housing, human resources and human rights, Lake Michigan water quality and shoreline erosion, land use, mental health, reapportionment, solid waste, transportation, urban areas, voter registration and rights, and water resources. The LWV did study intensively the Milwaukee and Chicago sewerage systems and the water quality of Lake Michigan. There are also a few records of the LWV's involvement with the Lake Michigan Inter-League Group.
The Milwaukee LWV records also include partial records of three other groups. The INTER-LEAGUE COUNCIL RECORDS include agreements and amendments, minutes and reports of annual meetings, bulletins, by-laws, convention reports; financial records, with records of finance drives and plans, records of receipts and disbursements, a journal, and treasurer's reports; and minutes of meetings.
The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GREENDALE RECORDS consist of small files of annual meeting minutes and reports, correspondence, financial records, membership records, and general minutes.
The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WEST ALLIS RECORDS include annual reports, bulletins, by-laws, financial records, lists of members and officers, files on a few local study issues, and two scrapbooks.
