League of Women Voters of Atlanta.

As early as 1921, League Board Minutes refer to conducting a citizenship school to inform citizens about the operation of city government, regulations about registration and voting, and about candidates.

The League of Women Voters of Atlanta was organized in 1920, one month before the establishment of the National League of Women Voters, later called the League of Women Voters of the U.S. The Atlanta League was initially called the Atlanta League of Women Citizens. It was founded after the August 1920 ratification of the woman suffrage amendment by many of the same women who were active in the Central Committee of Woman Citizens, an organization established in 1919 to administer the registration of women to vote in the 1919 Atlanta municipal election.

The purpose of the League of Women Voters of Atlanta, a non-partisan organization, was to obtain better government through an informed public. Because women were not granted suffrage in this country until 1920 (except for specific cases like the Atlanta municipal election mentioned above and other local or state exceptions), many women approached their recent franchisement with a conscientious attitude. The ex-suffragists of 1920 who joined the League of Women Voters of Atlanta not only exercised their right to vote. They were also active in the voter registration of other women; the study of citizenship, city government, and politics; research and massive publicity on voting issues, candidates, voting, and registration official procedures; and the involvement of Atlanta civic and business leaders in their work.

Eleanore Raoul (Mrs. Harry L. Greene) was the primary driving force behind the effective administration of the Atlanta League. Another active leader in the Atlanta League was Maude Pollard Turman, who served several terms as President and Board Chairman in the 1920's and 1930's.

League ward leaders seemed to head up organizational units of the League based on voting wards. Each ward leader or ward officer was a member of a governing committee known by several names. During 1927-1928, the committee was called the "Ward Officers' Council." However, during 1925-1928, the ward leaders were affiliated with the "Organization Committee" whose chairman corresponded with ward leaders concerning the structure of the ward organization. These were created to canvass the residents of their wards for new League members and to encourage the registration of women in the wards to vote. After about 1930, most of the canvassing for League membership and registration was done through a central Atlanta League office instead of through ward organizations.

The governing board of the Atlanta League was initially called the Central Committee of the League of Women Voters. By 1922, it was called the Executive Board and, later, the Board of Directors. Board meetings were usually held monthly, except for occasional especially-called meetings. They were attended by officers of the League, including elected officers, ward chairmen, and committee chairmen.

In 1933, a Candidates Committee composed of League members, Men's Council members, and other civic group members was formed "to develop civic leadership and attract a high type of citizen to public office." Studies of local government were conducted, citing needs to be fulfilled by candidates for specified public offices. The League hoped that candidates running for local offices would address the needs as assessed by this committee.

By 1938, a Citizens Committee was formed to perform a similar function. Correspondence refers to the fact that the Candidates Committee of 1933-1934 was not a success. Early plans of the Citizens Committee were to prepare a uniform questionnaire for candidates. The records do not indicate the success or failure of the 1938-1939 committee.

As there appear to be no other membership lists for the early years except for the Treasurer's Membership/Donation Books in this series, it is possible that the Membership Committee and the Treasurer operated from this one set of records. Later Treasurer's records can be found with those of the Finance Committee, Series Three; the Finance Committee members apparently used records both of the Treasurer and the Membership Committee in their work and filed them with the records of their own committee.

The governing board of the Atlanta League was initially called the Central Committee of the League of Women Voters. By 1922, it was called the Executive Board and, later, the Board of Directors. Board meetings were usually held monthly, except for occasional especially-called meetings. They were attended by officers of the League, including elected officers, ward chairmen, and committee chairmen.

The national organization of the League of Women Voters was called National League of Women Voters until about 1947 when publications indicate the name League of Women Voters of the U.S. was first used.

As there appear to be no other membership lists for the early years except for the Treasurer's Membership/Donation Books in this series, it is possible that the Membership Committee and the Treasurer operated from this one set of records. Later Treasurer's records can be found with those of the Finance Committee, Series Three; the Finance Committee members apparently used records both of the Treasurer and the Membership Committee in their work and filed them with the records of their own committee.

The Finance Committee apparently worked closely with the Membership Committee. League members were contacted by the Finance Committee concerning paying of dues and, in some cases, contributions. The committee also wrote and visited Atlanta business and civic leaders acquainting them with the work of the League, inviting them to join, and encouraging them to make a donation. In 1927, a Men's Council to the League was organized in order to obtain financial and other support from a wider sector of Atlanta citizens. Finance Luncheons held during the Annual meetings were a vehicle by which the League obtained pledges for financial support during the year. By 1946, the Atlanta League was obtaining $750 pledges from representatives of several major Atlanta companies at the Men's Council Finance Luncheons.

The national organization of the League of Women Voters was called National League of Women Voters until about 1947 when publications indicate the name League of Women Voters of the U.S. was first used.

League ward leaders seemed to head up organizational units of the League based on voting wards. Each ward leader or ward officer was a member of a governing committee known by several names. During 1927-1928, the committee was called the "Ward Officers' Council." However, during 1925-1928, the ward leaders were affiliated with the "Organization Committee" whose chairman corresponded with ward leaders concerning the structure of the ward organization. These were created to canvass the residents of their wards for new League members and to encourage the registration of women in the wards to vote. After about 1930, most of the canvassing for League membership and registration was done through a central Atlanta League office instead of through ward organizations.

The League of Women Voters of Atlanta was organized in 1920, one month before the establishment of the National League of Women Voters, later called the League of Women Voters of the U.S. The Atlanta League was initially called the Atlanta League of Women Citizens. It was founded after the August 1920 ratification of the woman suffrage amendment by many of the same women who were active in the Central Committee of Woman Citizens, an organization established in 1919 to administer the registration of women to vote in the 1919 Atlanta municipal election.

The purpose of the League of Women Voters of Atlanta, a non-partisan organization, was to obtain better government through an informed public. Because women were not granted suffrage in this country until 1920 (except for specific cases like the Atlanta municipal election mentioned above and other local or state exceptions), many women approached their recent franchisement with a conscientious attitude. The ex-suffragists of 1920 who joined the League of Women Voters of Atlanta not only exercised their right to vote. They were also active in the voter registration of other women; the study of citizenship, city government, and politics; research and massive publicity on voting issues, candidates, voting, and registration official procedures; and the involvement of Atlanta civic and business leaders in their work.

Eleanore Raoul (Mrs. Harry L. Greene) was the primary driving force behind the effective administration of the Atlanta League. Another active leader in the Atlanta League was Maude Pollard Turman, who served several terms as President and Board Chairman in the 1920's and 1930's.

Massive voter registration drives were conducted by the Atlanta League during 1924-1927, based on the idea of a "portable registration booth." The "Get Out the Vote" campaigns were begun in 1926 and were closely aligned with the voter registration drives. Numerous civic groups including the Chamber of Commerce and professional organizations cooperated with the League in these campaigns. In 1926, the Georgia League of Women Voters sponsored a Voters' Prize for the city that increased its voting by the largest percentage. The Fifth Ward of Atlanta won the prize. By the 1940's, the League contacted various major employers and numerous civic groups seeking their commitment to assist the League in the registration of employees and group members.

As early as 1921, League Board Minutes refer to conducting a citizenship school to inform citizens about the operation of city government, regulations about registration and voting, and about candidates.

Massive voter registration drives were conducted by the Atlanta League during 1924-1927, based on the idea of a "portable registration booth." The "Get Out the Vote" campaigns were begun in 1926 and were closely aligned with the voter registration drives. Numerous civic groups including the Chamber of Commerce and professional organizations cooperated with the League in these campaigns. In 1926, the Georgia League of Women Voters sponsored a Voters' Prize for the city that increased its voting by the largest percentage. The Fifth Ward of Atlanta won the prize. By the 1940's, the League contacted various major employers and numerous civic groups seeking their commitment to assist the League in the registration of employees and group members.

In 1933, a Candidates Committee composed of League members, Men's Council members, and other civic group members was formed "to develop civic leadership and attract a high type of citizen to public office." Studies of local government were conducted, citing needs to be fulfilled by candidates for specified public offices. The League hoped that candidates running for local offices would address the needs as assessed by this committee.

By 1938, a Citizens Committee was formed to perform a similar function. Correspondence refers to the fact that the Candidates Committee of 1933-1934 was not a success. Early plans of the Citizens Committee were to prepare a uniform questionnaire for candidates. The records do not indicate the success or failure of the 1938-1939 committee.