Correspondence, newsletters, annual reports, minutes and agendas, by-laws, newspaper clippings, and program files of the La Crosse County affiliate of the Wisconsin Women's Political Caucus. The records cover the life of the local organization from its first by-laws, adopted in 1972, to the letter announcing its final dissolution in 1982. The collection also includes by-laws and some reports, minutes, and news clippings of the Wisconsin Caucus. In tandem with the state and national groups, the La Crosse Caucus sought to promote the election or appointment of feminist candidates to political office and to advance the public discussion of issues and legislation of concern to women. The La Crosse Caucus sponsored local forums on national issues such as the Equal Rights Amendment and affirmative action; informed and urged its members to lobby the Wisconsin State Legislature on bills relating to sex discrimination, sexual assault, abortion, marriage, and divorce; and held candidate forums and workshops, and an annual Susan B. Anthony Birthday Party fundraiser to aid candidates for local office. Originally non-partisan, the state group began supporting selected candidates in 1976 through its Campaign Support Committee (also known as “WIN”). The La Crosse Caucus came to see its own role as primarily one of identifying, endorsing, advising, and helping to find the campaigns of female candidates for city and county office, and of monitoring local appointments.
