The records of the League of Women Voters of Oshkosh are organized into two parts. The material from the original accessions, processed in the archives in 1978, constitutes the first seven boxes, dates 1925-1973, and contains administrative records as well as some correspondence, clippings, and scrapbooks. Part 2, which was put in order in 1986, comprises boxes 8-10, dates 1947-1984, and also contains administrative records, correspondence, scrapbooks and records relating to local issues.
Part 1, Original Accessions, 1925-1973
The collection contains a variety of papers dealing with administrative, financial and publicity matters. The records have been arranged in ten categories: Annual Reports; Minutes, Reports, Financial Records and Membership Lists; Bulletins; Correspondence; Studies; Receipts and Disbursements Ledger; Publicity Clippings; Other Wisconsin Local League Materials; Oshkosh Miscellany; and Scrapbooks. Though the collection dates from 1925, the early materials are limited to newsclippings and the bulk of the collection oeiginated after 1942.
Annual Reports, 1945-1965, include financial and membership reports and evaluations of League activities. Mimeographed local Bulletins, 1947-1973, generally contain dates of activities, League announcements, and news notes. Incoming and outgoing Correspondence, 1945-1965, pertains largely to the Wisconsin League of Women Voters and government officials. The League Studies, 1956-1972, contain printed complete studies, with notes and other related materials. Also included are four Scrapbooks, 1925-1969, containing news clippings and other materials relating to the League of Women Voters and its activities. The earliest of these scrapbooks was compiled by Mrs. Edward Noyes. The news clippings dated prior to 1942 deal only with the State and National League of Women Voters.
Part 2, 1986 Additions, 1947-1984, 2003-
The records in the 1986 additions are arranged into two subseries: General Records and Local Study Issues. The General Records include League bulletins; by-laws; a history; lists of chapter presidents and members a few minutes, notes, and other materials used in drafting by-laws of the Winnebago County Council LWV affiliate; a small file of correspondence of Oshkosh president, Helen Herlache; a few letters arranging interviews between League members and Congressional representatives; minutes and associated reports and programs from annual and board of directors' meetings; and scrapbooks. The four scrapbook volumes contain clippings of the activities of League and its members, and were compiled by Mrs. Edward Noyes. Other records of a general nature include a few legal and financial papers regarding a bequest to the Oshkosh LWV by Amy Davies, a small file on the national LWV's fiftieth anniversary celebration, a draft manuscript and reference material used to compile “Know Your Community, Oshkosh, Wisconsin: A Guide to Local Government and Services,” published by the Oshkosh League in 1976; and reports to the national LWV.
Records of Local Study Issues are fragmentary, and mainly consist of near-print study and informational materials generated by the state and national LWV organizations. Most of the files concern issues of national scope, such as apportionment and the Dirksen Amendment, the Bricker Amendment, District of Columbia Home Rule, the Electoral College, loyalty and security during the 1950's, representative government, and the urban crisis. Of greatest interest is the file on the City Council-City Manager form of government, studied by the League when the City of Oshkosh was considering a change in government structure during the 1960s.
