League of Women Voters of Florida

The League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVF) is a non-partisan political organization affiliated with the League of Women Voters of the United States. It was founded in 1939 as the Non Partisan League of Women Voters of Florida (NPLWVF). A previous state organization named the Florida State League of Women Voters (FSLWV) had been established in 1921 with Mrs. J.B. O'Hara as the first president. It coordinated lobbying activities through annual conventions, sponsored citizenship schools, and started publishing the Florida Voter newsletter. However, the FSLWV was disbanded in 1937 by the president of the national League of Women Voters because of difficulties in maintaining its non-partisanship.

The NPLWVF had its first organizational meeting on October 29, 1939. The participants elected the officers (Mrs. Nelson Poynter was the first president) and adopted a budget and bylaws (documents from the first organizational meeting can be found in box 1). Early activities focused on three main goals: study of Florida's state government, surveying the school system, and monitoring the foreign policy of United States. From 1940 to 1947 the NPLWVF held annual state conventions at which officers were elected and budget and program of works were discussed and approved. The NPLWVF board of directors also held periodic meetings between the statewide conferences.

At the 1947 Convention, the members agreed to change the name of the organization to the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVF). During that same convention, the assembly resolved that the LWVF hold a biennial convention in even numbered years and council meetings in alternate years. Starting in 1968 the state conferences were scheduled in odd numbered years.

Although the LWVF has functioned as a non-partisan association, it has had considerable influence on state politics. From the 1950s through the 1980s, the LWVF promoted and participated in the constitutional revision process, and focused on reapportionment and election reform. The LWVF began using lobbyists in 1949 when Maxine Baker was elected as the first lobbyist to be sent to Tallahassee. During this period she founded the newsletter Tallahassee Topics (later Tally Topics ) to inform members about legislative activities in the capital (see box 4, Tally Topics). Beginning in 1981, the LWVF began hiring professional lobbyists. Starting in the 1950s a large number of LWVF leaders have also held office in the state and national legislatures.

Education has been one of the main areas of interest for the LWVF throughout its history. The League started monitoring the state of Florida's public schools in the 1940s and has fought for improvement of the education system for several decades. In 1972 the LWVF established an Education Fund to support citizen education activities. In addition to education, the LWVF also has focused on other subjects including housing, taxation, environmental quality, natural resources, social policy, and equal rights amendments.

The LWVF also coordinates the activities of local leagues and serves as the channel of communication between the local groups and the League of Women Voters of the United States. The local leagues have to operate under bylaws that are not in conflict with the state and national League bylaws (e.g., they must adhere to the non-partisan policy). Each local league holds an annual meeting, elects its officers, and participates in state or national programs. In addition, they have to periodically report their activities to the LWVF.

Sources: Arnetta Brown, Recollections: A History of the League of Women Voters of Florida 1939-1988, League of Women Voters of Florida, St. Petersburg, 1989. Virgil D. Chandler, "Brief History of the Florida State League of Women Voters," in Florida State League of Women Voters Year Book, 1932-1933. League of Women Voters of Florida website: www.lwvfla.org

From the guide to the Records of the League of Women Voters of Florida, 1939-1978, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)