League of Women Voters of Minnesota

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota (LWVM) was organized in October 1919 in meetings called by the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association. Clara Ueland served as its first president, and after a few months she was succeeded by Marguerite Wells.

The Minnesota League worked closely with the National League of Women Voters (LWV), which was organized at the same time, and with local Minnesota Leagues functioning in the congressional districts. The records reflect the intertwining of activities from local to national level, the common objectives sought, and the exchange of information among the various units.

In the early years the League's objective was the political education of the newly enfranchised female voters. Soon, however, the groups broadened their scope to include voter education in general, study of legislation, determining individual legislators' positions on issues, and communication of that information to the local leagues. Among the many areas of interest were social welfare measures, natural resources, pure food and drug measures, disarmament, trade, foreign policy, civil service, the World Court, the United Nations, government organizations, education, public finance, control of atomic energy, and civil rights.

Reflecting the growing interests in environmental and women's issues, the League extended its programs to include these areas, as well as encouraging further participation in the political process by disseminating information on precinct caucuses and political parties, preparing questionnaires and interviews of political candidates, and sponsoring candidate debates on the local and national levels.

From the guide to the League of Women Voters of Minnesota records., 1919-2012., (Minnesota Historical Society)