League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley Records, 1956-2005

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Summary

Creators:
League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley
Abstract:
The collection chronicles the activities of the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley and its state and national counterparts over the course of several decades. The collection includes studies and reports on issues, correspondence with lawmakers, information about candidates' forums held by the organization, the organization's newsletters, and other records documenting the organization's operations.
Extent:
17.8 Linear Feet (38 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley Records, Collection no. 0052, Pomona Valley Historical Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes studies, reports, correspondence, press releases, news clippings, computer disks, and other records documenting the history and activities of the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley over a nearly five-decade period from 1955 to 2005.

The records contain information about issues that the League and its state and national counterparts studied and the issues on which the organizations took action, including health care, housing, juvenile justice, and the Equal Rights Amendment. There are also reports and other materials related to state and local measures and issues, including California's Proposition 13 and local water and land use issues. The collection also includes correspondence with lawmakers including former United States Senator Alan Cranston and former Congress members from California, David Dreier and Esteban Torres.

Biographical / historical:

The League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley is a local organization belonging to the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan civic organization that was formed in 1920. The League of Women Voters and local leagues are involved in two main functions: studying issues and then advocating for or against certain policies and informing voters about elections and the voting process.

The East San Gabriel Valley League started in June of 1956 when 43 women met at the home of Phyllis Ogden, who was later elected president of the organization. The organization's initial name, as indicated in its early newsletters, was the "Provisional League of Women Voters of West Covina." The organization sought official status in November of 1957 and the national organization granted the status in January of 1958.

The new League was active in local affairs, forming an "Observer Corps" to attend meetings of the West Covina City Council, local school board, and meetings of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The League also became involved in local studies to evaluate West Covina's Master Plan and develop a Recreational and Cultural Survey. Later, the organization was involved in a study of the West Covina annexation to the Metropolitan Water District, a study that produced consensus and enabled the League to support the annexation.

In 1969, the League officially became the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley. The name change allowed the local organization to extend membership and participation to nine surrounding communities. In addition to studying local issues, the organization also holds candidate forums, bringing together voters and candidates for public office.

Over the years, the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley has focused on a number of issues to study, including water and air quality, waste management, transportation, and land use. In 1994, the organization was also one of 500 local Leagues that was awarded a grant to participate in a Community Town Hall Meeting teleconference about health care in the United States. The local League is still active as of 2017.

Acquisition information:
The collection was donated to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley in 2005.
Processing information:

The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

The collection was initially processed by members of the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley in 2005. The collection underwent further processing and the finding aid was revised in 2018 by Rob Strauss, Alex Dan, Elainna-Marie Herrera, and Emily Chavarria to enhance findability and access. The collection number was changed from SC2005.12 to 0052 and the collection title changed from League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley Collection to League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley Records.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into the following series: Series 1. Administration and Operations; Series 2. Program: Study and Action; Series 3. Voters Service and Citizen Information; Series 4. Publications.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley Records, Collection no. 0052, Pomona Valley Historical Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Location of this collection:
3801 West Temple Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768, US
Contact:
(909) 869-3775
speccollections@cpp.edu
Website