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Summary
- Abstract:
- This collection contains records of the League of Women Voters, Schenectady County.
- Extent:
- 10.4 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, League of Women Voters, Schenectady County, 1925-2004. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the League of Women Voters, Schenectady County).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The League of Women Voters of Schenectady County Records includes eighty years' worth of information about all aspects of the local organization. The 10.4 cubic ft. collection is divided into six series according to the organizational structure and activities of the Schenectady County records, flowing from administrative files to publications that the League created. The collection contains meeting minutes, bulletins, and information on studies done by the organization. These collections will give researchers insight into the rights that the League fought for, the local issues they discussed, the goals they set, and how all of these evolved throughout the years. The League of Women Voters of Schenectady County is arranged alphabetically by format and then chronologically within each format, except for the scrapbooks which are arranged chronologically.
The collection contains information on the city of Schenectady. The League's Schenectady County branch focused on issues in the Schenectady County including their criminal justice system and healthcare facilities like Glenridge Hospital. The League also looked at the committees the County ran, including the committees on the county charter and the county manager search. The League's involvement in the Schenectady County ranged from the years of 1935-2005.
The collection also contains scrapbooks ranging from the years of 1933-1990. The scrapbooks hold newspaper articles that the local League was featured in, as well as photographs of members and local events that the League participated in.
- Biographical / Historical:
On April 30, 1925, Mrs. Charles Richmond, wife of the president of Union College, invited approximately fifty women to her home for a talk by Mrs. F.W. Slade, chairman of the New York State League of Women Voters. After Slade's talk, the women at the meeting decided to elect officers and adopt by-laws thereby forming the Schenectady County League of Women Voters (later renamed League of Women Voters, Schenectady County).
The League of Women Voters of the United States is a, "nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy, issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy." Originally, the organization began at the National American Women Suffrage Association's 50th convention in St. Louis, Missouri, when President Carrie Chapman Catt proposed the creation of a "league of women voters to finish the fight and aid in the reconstruction of the nation." One year later, on February 14, 1920 – the League was officially created in Chicago, Illinois. At a national level, the League has helped further Social Security, the Food and Drug Acts, as well as the involvement and legal status of women in the United States. The League was also one of the first organizations in the United States to be recognized by the United Nations has a non-governmental organization.
The League contains New York state section, which is divided into counties. The state's leagues get funds from the League of Women Voters of New York Education Fund, which is a nonprofit educational organization. The Schenectady County chapter adopted their bylaws on May 23,1979 and have continued to revise them until 2013. Their bylaws indicate that any person who subscribes to the purpose and policy of the League can become a member. The Schenectady County branch focuses on issues that happen within the Schenectady and Albany areas. Today the Schenectady County chapter supports the Women's Equality Act and works with high school students in the Albany area to promote government participation. The chapter also holds monthly meetings on the benefits of healthcare, local government, and children at risk in the Schenectady County.
- Acquisition information:
- All items in this collection were transferred to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives in 2005 and 2006.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2017 by Sheri Sarnoff.
- Arrangement:
The collection is processed into 6 series.Series 1-5 are arranged alphabetically and Series 6 is arranged chrnologically.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
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Access to this collection is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
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This page may contain links to digital objects. Access to these images and the technical capacity to download them does not imply permission for re-use. Digital objects may be used freely for personal reference use, referred to, or linked to from other web sites.
Researchers do not have permission to publish or disseminate material from these collections without permission from an archivist and/or the copyright holder.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. More information about U.S. Copyright is provided by the Copyright Office. Additionally, re-use may be restricted by terms of University Libraries gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.
The University Archives are eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, League of Women Voters, Schenectady County, 1925-2004. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the League of Women Voters, Schenectady County).