Summary Information
League of Women Voters of Greater Milwaukee
1920-1981
- League of Women Voters of Greater Milwaukee (Wis.)
Milwaukee Mss 80
12.0 c.f. (22 archives boxes, 1 record center carton, and 19 volumes)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Records of a Milwaukee area civic group primarily for women, involved in studying local community and political issues, influencing political decision making, and encouraging voter participation. Included are general records such as minutes and reports of annual, executive board, and board of directors meetings, bulletins, by-laws, scattered committee records, some general correspondence, fiftieth anniversary records, a few financial records, membership records, some national and state LWV records, and scrapbooks. Local study issues illustrate societal and political concerns of the Milwaukee League, but files are incomplete. With the exception of a file on open housing dating from 1933, most local study materials date from the 1960s and 1970s, and cover such topics as the administration of justice, air pollution, city government, education, energy, environment, Equal Rights Amendment, foreign trade, housing, human rights, Lake Michigan water quality, land use, reapportionment, sewerage, solid waste, transportation, voter registration and rights, and water resources. The collection includes partial records of the Inter-League Council, formed in 1959 to coordinate local League activities, consisting of agreements and amendments, minutes and reports of annual meetings, bulletins, by-laws, convention reports, financial records, and minutes of meetings. There are also small files of annual reports, bulletins, minutes, correspondence, financial records, membership records, scrapbooks, and a few local study files from the League of Women Voters of Greendale and the League of Women Voters of West Allis.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00080 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Milwaukee County League of Women Voters was organized to continue the activities of the Milwaukee County Woman Suffrage Association after the latter group disbanded in 1920. On February 21, 1920, a temporary organization drafted a constitution and by-laws for the new League, which held its first mass meeting at the Milwaukee Public Library on February 18, 1921. Jessie Jack Hooper, a founder of the state League of Women Voters, helped form the Milwaukee chapter.
As a chapter of the Wisconsin LWV and an affiliate of the League of Women Voters of the United States, the Milwaukee League was organized to promote voter awareness and participation in government, especially 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; members study these “continuing responsibilities.” reach a group consensus on the topic, and then take “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 resources conservation; voter education and registration; equal rights; and local, county, and state government. The League also raises money for its operations through regular finance drives. In 1969, the League of Women Voters of the United States celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, which was celebrated by the Milwaukee League with a dinner and other activities.
As the Milwaukee suburban areas grew in population, other local leagues were formed. In 1943, the Wauwatosa League was organized, followed by leagues in West Allis (1957 or 1958), Ozaukee (1957 or 1958), Whitefish Bay (1958), Brown Deer (1961), Greendale (1964), and others. In 1959, the individual leagues in metropolitan Milwaukee joined in establishing the Inter-League Council to coordinate League activities. The ILC also coordinates state and national LWV issues, and studies issues on a regional or statewide basis. Joining the ILC at later dates were the Greendale, North Shore (organized in 1969 from the Brown Deer and Whitefish Bay leagues), and Wauwatosa leagues. Eventually, the local leagues in the metropolitan Milwaukee County area formed the League of Women Voters of Greater Milwaukee.
Scope and Content Note
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.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by the League of Women Voters of Greater Milwaukee, via Frances B. Swigart, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1982; and separated from the papers of Sandra and William O. Brown, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Accession Number: M74-167, M77-470, M79-417, and M82-232
Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt in June 1986.
Contents List
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Series: General Records
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Box
1
Folder
1-2
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Annual Meeting Minutes and Reports
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Bulletins
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Box
1
Folder
3-6
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September 1956-1969
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Box
2
Folder
1-4
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1970-1975
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Box
2
Folder
5
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By-Laws, 1971, 1972; National By-Laws, , 1978
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Committee Records
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Environmental Quality Committee
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Box
2
Folder
6
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General, 1975
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Statements, 1967-1973
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Legislative Committee, 1969
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Men's Advisory Committee
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Box
2
Folder
9-10
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Correspondence, 1958-February 1962
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Minutes, 1958-1961
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Educational Foundation
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Box
3
Folder
1
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By-Laws and Trust Agreement, 1957
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Box
3
Folder
2-3
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Correspondence, 1949-1965, 1970
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Minutes, 1954-1964
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Box
3
Folder
5
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“A Seminar in Practical Politics,” 1965
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Conference on Military Spending and National
Security, September 27-29, 1970
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Box
3
Folder
7
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General Correspondence, 1951-1952, 1966-1980
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Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, 1970
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Records, 1968-1970
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Dinner, February 21, 1970- Minutes,
Correspondence, and Financial Records
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Financial Records
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Box
3
Folder
10
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“The Art of Raising Money,” 1964; and Other General Publications
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Box
3
Folder
11
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Audit Reports, Financial Statements, and Treasurer's Reports
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Box
3
Folder
12
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Bank Books
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Budgets, 1960-1977
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Box
4
Folder
2-6
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Check Stubs, 1966-1974
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Box
23
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Contribution Record Cards
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Election Reporting Statements, 1961-1965
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Estate Records
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Box
4
Folder
8
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Dillman Estate and Investment Records, 1971-1974
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Box
4
Folder
9
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Grinker Estate, 1972-1973
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Finance Drives
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Box
4
Folder
10-13
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1925, 1941-1942, 1956-1957, 1971-1976
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Box
5
Folder
1
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1977
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Box
5
Folder
2
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General Records, 1967-1978
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Box
5
Folder
3
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Friends of The Leagues of Women Voters of Metropolitan Milwaukee (Contributors), 1971-1972
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Box
5
Folder
4-10
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Journal-Ledger, 1964-1974
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Box
5
Folder
11
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General Ledger, 1971-1974
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Ledger Work Sheets
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Box
5
Folder
12-13
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1972-1974
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Box
6
Folder
1
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1974-1975
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Box
6
Folder
2
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Financial Report to Department of Regulation and Licensing, 1970-1972
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Box
6
Folder
3
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Tax Returns, 1969-1973
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Box
6
Folder
4
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Local League Handbook, 1969
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Membership Records
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Box
6
Folder
5
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Applications, 1967-1968
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Box
6
Folder
6-7
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Lists, 1948-1966
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Box
6
Folder
8
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Handbooks and Lists, 1970-1975
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Box
6
Folder
9
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Survey of Members' Interests
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Minutes of Board of Directors, Executive Board and Special Meetings
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Box
6
Folder
10
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1920 Feb.-1925
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Box
7
Folder
1-7
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1926-1951
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Box
8
Folder
1-8
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1952-1972
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Box
9
Folder
1-4
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1973-1980 March
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Box
9
Folder
5
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Miscellany, 1949-1977
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National and State LWV Records
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National Board Reports
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Box
9
Folder
6-8
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1959-1970
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Box
10
Folder
1
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1971-1974, 1976, 1978
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Box
10
Folder
2-5
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National Convention, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974
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Box
10
Folder
6
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State Board Reports, 1969-1970, 1978
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Box
10
Folder
7
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State Convention Kits, 1969, 1971-1974
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Box
10
Folder
8
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Newsclippings
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Box
10
Folder
9
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Non--Partisanship and Political Policies, 1967, 1973
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Box
10
Folder
10
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Publications of LWV
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Scrapbooks
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Volume
1
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1930-1972
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Volume
2
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1935
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Volume
3
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1946
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Volume
4
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1947-1948
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Volume
5
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1948-1949
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Volume
6
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1950-1951
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Volume
7
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1951--1952
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Volume
8
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1953-1954
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Volume
9
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1954-1956
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Volume
10
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1956-1957
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Volume
11
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1956-1968
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Volume
12
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1957-1958
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Volume
13
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1959
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Volume
14
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1960
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Volume
15
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1969-1971
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Volume
16
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1971-1974
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Volume
17
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1974-1976
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Box
11
Folder
1-2
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Statements and Testimonies, 1972-1981
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Box
11
Folder
3
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Study Materials, ca. 1971-1972, for Unit Meetings
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Box
11
Folder
4
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Training Materials
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Series: Local Study Issues
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Box
11
Folder
5
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Administration of Justice and Court Reform, 1971-1974
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Box
11
Folder
6-7
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Air Pollution and Air Quality, 1969-1974
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Box
11
Folder
8
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All-America Cities Competition, 1970-1971
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City Government Structure and Organization
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Box
11
Folder
9
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1949-1964
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Box
12
Folder
1-2
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1966-1970
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Box
12
Folder
3
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Education, 1969-1975
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Box
12
Folder
4
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Energy, 1974-1975, 1980
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Box
12
Folder
5
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Environment - Environmental Education Council of Greater Milwaukee, 1974-1975
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Box
12
Folder
6
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Equal Rights Amendment, 1972-1980
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Box
12
Folder
7
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Foreign Trade Survey, 1956-1980
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Box
13
Folder
1
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Housing, 1970-1977
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Box
13
Folder
2-3
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Human Resources, 1958-1977
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Box
13
Folder
4
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Human Rights and Civil Liberties, 1950-1952
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Box
13
Folder
5-6
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Lake Michigan Inter-League Group, 1970-1975
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Box
13
Folder
7
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Land Use, 1974-1977
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Box
13
Folder
8
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Local Government Budgets and Citizen Control, 1974-1975
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Box
13
Folder
19
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Mental Health Treatment Center
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Box
13
Folder
10
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Milwaukee County Reapportionment, 1971
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Box
13
Folder
11
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Milwaukee Public Schools, 1970-1975
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Box
14
Folder
1
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Museum Transfer, 1968
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Box
14
Folder
2
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Non-Returnable Bottles, 1971
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Box
14
Folder
3-4
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Open Housing, 1933-1981
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Box
14
Folder
5
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Pesticides
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Box
14
Folder
6
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“Relocation: A Study of Displaced People and Businesses,” February 1966
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Box
14
Folder
7
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School Breakfast Program, 1975
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Sewerage
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Papers and Publications
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Box
14
Folder
8-10
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1959-1978
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Box
15
Folder
1
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1979, undated
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Box
15
Folder
2-3
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Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District Commission, 1973-1978
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Box
15
Folder
4
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“Deep Tunnel” (Chicago Metropolitan Sanitary District), 1977-1978
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Box
15
Folder
5
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Shoreline Erosion, 1974-1975
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Box
15
Folder
6
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Solid Waste, 1969-1973, 1980
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Box
15
Folder
7
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Transportation, 1973-1979
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Box
15
Folder
8
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Urban Crisis, 1979-1980
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Box
15
Folder
9-10
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Voter Registration and Election Monitoring, 1970-1974
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Voter Registration and Rights
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Box
15
Folder
11
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1964-1966
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Box
16
Folder
1-4
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1968-1978
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Box
17
Folder
1
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1979--1980
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Box
17
Folder
2
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Registration and Voting Conference, Washington,D.C., June 8-9, 1965
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Box
17
Folder
3
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Water Pollution, 1965-1975
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Box
17
Folder
4-5
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Water Resources, 1958-1977
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Series: Inter-League Council Records
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Box
17
Folder
6
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Agreements and Amendments, 1959-1966
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Box
17
Folder
7
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Annual Meeting Minutes and Reports, 1961-1970
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Box
17
Folder
8
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By-Laws, 1968, 1971, 1972
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Box
17
Folder
9
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Convention Reports, 1969-1973
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Box
18
Folder
1
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“County View” (formerly “County Page”) Bulletin, April 1969-June 1973
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Financial Records
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Finance Drives
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Box
18
Folder
2-7
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1958-1971
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Box
19
Folder
1-3
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1971-1974
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Box
19
Folder
4
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Finance Plans, 1958-1974
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Box
19
Folder
5
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S. Kranbuehl Memorial Book Fund, 1962-1963
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Box
19
Folder
6-8
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Ledger Sheets (Cash Received and Disbursed, Journal, Finance Drives), 1959-1974
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Box
19
Folder
9
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Treasurer's Reports, 1972-1974
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Minutes
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Box
19
Folder
10-11
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1958 June-1962
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Box
20
Folder
1-3
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1966-1968 March, 1969-1973, 1974 March
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Box
20
Folder
4
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Miscellany
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Box
20
Folder
5
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Nonpartisanship Policy
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Series: League of Women Voters of Greendale Records
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Box
20
Folder
6-7
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Annual Meeting Minutes and Reports, 1964-1973
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Box
20
Folder
8
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Correspondence, 1963-1972
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Financial Records
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Box
20
Folder
9
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Budgets, 1963-1974
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Box
20
Folder
10
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Ledger Sheets, 1963-1974
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Box
20
Folder
11
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Treasurer's Reports and Finance Drives, 1963-1974
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Box
21
Folder
1
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Membership Records, Lists of Officers, 1963-1966, 1970
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Box
21
Folder
2-5
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Minutes, May 1963-May 1974
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Series: League of Women Voters of West Allis Records
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Box
21
Folder
6
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Annual Reports, 1959-1971
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Box
21
Folder
7-8
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Bulletins, November 1965, 1966-1970
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Box
22
Folder
1
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By-Laws
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Box
22
Folder
2
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Financial Records - Ledger Sheets, 1970-1971
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Box
22
Folder
3
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General
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Box
22
Folder
4
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Lists of Members and Officers
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Local Study Issues
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Box
22
Folder
5
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City Government
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Box
22
Folder
6
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Library Services, 1959-1966, 1972
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Box
22
Folder
7
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Urban Renewal, 1970
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Scrapbooks
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Volume
18
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1957-1963
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Volume
19
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1963-1971
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