The materials in this collection date from roughly 1964-1987, with the bulk of the agenda, report, resolution and subject files documenting the period between 1968 and 1977, when Ashman held office as an alderwoman. The major topic documented in this collection is Ashman's work on various units of the city council, mainly the Board of Estimates. The materials also document Ashman's participation in other city council committees, particularly issues related to the 10th Ward, for which she served as alderwoman. She was also an active member of both the League of Women Voters (LWV) and Capital Community Citizens (CCC), and was heavily involved in elections and civic activities.
The collection is divided into two series: CITY COUNCIL and CAPITAL COMMUNITY CITIZENS. Due to her intermingled work responsibilities, materials from one subseries may be found with another subseries. For example, a folder containing primarily papers from the Public Works Board concerning the 10th Ward might also contain reports related to the Board of Estimates due to budget issues. This combined approach to record-keeping has been preserved, within reason, in order to reflect Ashman's interconnected work in different city councils and civic organizations as a progressive alderwoman.
The CITY COUNCIL series provides the best documentation of Ashman's roles as alderwoman and civic activist, through documentation of her involvement with the Board of Estimates and other city councils. Within the CITY COUNCIL series, there are three subseries: Board of Estimates, 10th Ward, and Election. Materials within these subseries are arranged alphabetically according to folder title. The bulk of the materials in this series are agendas, reports, and resolutions from the Board of Estimates. Ashman's handwritten notes provide evidence of Madison's financial situation in the 1970s and local government's solutions towards particular issues. The agendas, reports, and resolutions are intermingled and reflect the original order of these work papers as well as the governmental decision-making process, from meeting agenda to solution reports to final resolutions. Inter-departmental correspondence from the mayor also points to Ashman's significant role as the mayor's assistant. However, it is not by any means a detailed look and does not provide Ashman's comprehensive view on specific issues.
Ashman's work and responsibilities on other city council issues are documented through subject files related to the 10th Ward. Although not a complete picture of Ashman's civic responsibilities (for example some council work is not documented at all such as the Board of Libraries), prominent examples about the impact of her work can still be found in this subseries, such as her efforts for the preparation and establishment of Madison's Civic Center Auditorium Complex and the constituent letters written by ward citizens.
Ashman also actively participated in local and state elections beginning in the 1960s as a member of the League of Women Voters. The collection includes thank-you letters and cards sent by candidates to Ashman, which documents Ashman's active support of voters, especially women voters, and candidates for office.
The CAPITAL COMMUNITY CITIZENS series includes administrative files from the pioneering civic organization, which aimed to solve the city's environmental and development problems, as well as personal correspondence between other members and Ashman. As an alderwoman and also a progressive member of Capital Community Citizens, Ashman worked to promote the adoption and implementation of far-sighted civic policies in various governmental projects. Ashman also contributed significantly to the revision of the organizational by-laws.
