League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area.

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The early history of what is now known as the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area is uncertain. According to some accounts, this chapter of the League was first organized in 1920 as a by-product of the woman's suffrage movement. Meetings were held in the high school building. For much of the 1920s, however, except for an occasional speaker, the organization was inactive. In November 1934, the Ann Arbor chapter was reorganized and with approval of the state office the reorganized league chapter was given encouragement to act as a clearinghouse of governmental and political information to be taken to local civic organizations. Issues of concern to the league in these years included maternal health, child welfare, civil service reform, and problems arising out of the depression.

During the war years, the Ann Arbor League directed its energies toward the revision of the city's charter and the various activities that came to be known as Voter Service. To help the citizenry make informed choices, League members now began gathering and distributing information about the candidates running for local elections, about ballot proposals, and about legislation pending before the state legislature or the U.S. Congress.

In 1974, the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti League chapters merged to form the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area. The purpose of the league today continues to be the promotion of political responsibility in government. Voter education remains its primary emphasis. As a nonpartisan group, the League does not take a position on political parties or candidates, only on issues, and only after its members have made a thorough study of the issue and reached consensus.

From the guide to the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area records, 1920-2009, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Jean C. Crump papers, 1966-2000 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area records, 1920-2009 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area. League of Women Voters of Ann Arbor records, 1942-1993. Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Crump, Jean C. person
associatedWith Michigan. Constitutional Convention (1961-1962) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Michigan--Washtenaw County
Michigan
Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Washtenaw County (Mich.)
Washtenaw County (Mich.)
Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Michigan--Ann Arbor
Subject
City planning
City planning
Elections
Elections
Environmental quality
Hospitals
Hospitals
Municipal government
Municipal government
Public health
Public health
Public schools
Public schools
Taxation
Taxation
Women
Women
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1942

Active 1993

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