League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville (Calif.)

First established as the Berkeley Center of the California Civic League in 1911. In 1921, the California Civic League merged with the League of Women Voters and the organization was renamed the Berkeley League of Women Voters. In 1994, Albany and Emeryville were added to the service area of the Berkeley League and the name was changed to the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville. The LWVBAE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, political organization. Since its establishment, the League has maintained two major goals: to encourage active and informed citizen participation in government, and to act on public policy issues.

From the description of League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville records, 1911-2001 (bulk 1939-1992). (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 85015627

Organizational History

The League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville (LWVBAE) was first established as the Berkeley Center of the California Civic League in 1911, when women won the right to vote in California. The League of Women Voters of the United States was established in 1920, the same year that the 19th amendment was ratified. One year later, the California Civic League merged with the League of Women Voters to became the California Unit of the League of Women Voters of the United States. At the same time, the Berkeley Center of the California Civic League became the Berkeley League of Women Voters. The most recent administrative change occurred in 1994, when Albany and Emeryville were added to the service area of the Berkeley League and the name was changed to the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville.

The LWVBAE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, political organization that acts on select governmental issues in the public interest. Since its establishment, the League has maintained two major goals: to encourage active and informed citizen participation in government, and to act on public policy issues based on League positions. League positions are reached after research and study has been conducted on topics of interest, and agreement on the positions has been reached through member consensus.

The topic of the League's first study during 1911 was incineration. Other early issues that concerned the League include prohibition (which the League strongly supported), equal rights, fair housing, libraries, recreation, school desegregation, counseling and guidance in public schools, sanitary landfills, storm sewers, health and mental health, recycling, juvenile justice, and labor relations. The League's current local support positions fall under several broad subjects including government structure, city finances, city planning, government services, education, and social policy. The current positions reflect long-standing themes in the League's mission to address and act on issues of public interest.

In addition to League action on issues of public interest, the League provides a variety of election services to encourage informed citizen participation in government, including voter registration campaigns, the publication and distribution of educational materials, the provision of speakers to local groups, and by sponsoring candidates' meetings. The LWVBAE Election Services program officially began in 1924 when it sponsored public candidate's meetings. However prior to its formal establishment, in 1916 the LWVBAE supplied the Alameda County Clerk with over four hundred copies of a League publication, the Election Primer, for distribution to each precinct. In addition to voter education activities, voter registration services were also established early in the League's history and continue to play an important role in the League's mission.

From the guide to the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville records, 1911-[ongoing], (The Bancroft Library)