Guide to the Papers of the
League of Women Voters of Mobile, Alabama

Descriptive Summary
Creator: League of Woman Voters of Mobile
Title: Papers of the League of Women Voters of Mobile, Alabama
Dates: 1955 – 2007
Quantity: 18.25 Cubic Feet
Abstract: Correspondence, records, subject files, and clippings collected from the Mobile chapter dealing with local, state, and national interests.
Accession: 79-09-37

Bibliographical Note
The League of Woman Voters of Mobile held its first meeting on May 23, 1955, in the Mobile Public Library. There were twenty-four original members. In April 1956, the Mobile Chapter became a provisional member of the National League of Women Voters. League members attended city commission meetings, assisted poll workers, and supported numerous charities and causes in Mobile. Beginning in the 1960s, the Mobile League joined with other organizations in support of better environmental practices along the Gulf Coast. Twenty years later, in order to fight against an ocean waste incineration plan for Mobile Bay, League members helped found the Coastal Environmental Alliance. The Mobile League continues to be active in local politics today.

Scope and Content
The League of Women Voters of Mobile Papers contain correspondence, minutes, subject files, publications, and newspaper clippings dealing with local, state, and national issues relating to politics, environmental protection, and a variety of other topics. Of particular local interest is the large section about the Mobile League’s environmental activism and the series on the Coastal Environmental Alliance. Accretions to the collection are made from time to time.

Arrangement
The collection is divided into four series: 1) Organization Records (6 cubic feet); 2) Subject Files (5 cubic feet); 3) Environmental Subject Files (3.75 cubic feet); and 4) Coastal Environmental Alliance (1 cubic foot.)

Note:
More material on the league can be found in Box 6, folder 48 in the Frederick Whiddon Papers (accession #343).

Access Restrictions
The collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation
League of Women Voters of Mobile Papers, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

Series 1: Organization Records
Contains correspondence, meeting minutes, membership information, and printed materials and is subdivided into local, state, and national records.

Series 2: Subject Files
Alphabetically-arranged subject files relating to the Mobile League activities. Of particular interest are files on Mobile public education, criminal justice, and municipal government studies.

Series 3: Environmental Subject Files
Consists of subject files dealing with environmental activities along the Gulf Coast. There are large files on Mobil Oil and the Save Our Dunes Project. The series also contains newspaper clippings and miscellaneous printed materials. NOTE: Researchers should also consult Series 4: Coastal Environmental Alliance, The Mobile Bay Audubon Society Papers, and the EPA Vulcanus Papers for related material.

Series 4: Coastal Environmental Alliance
A coalition of organizations formed in the 1980s to combat environmental destruction along the Gulf Coast. The Alliance coordinated the efforts of several organizations to oppose oceanic waste incineration in Mobile Bay and other related projects. The series consists of correspondence, subject files, printed material, and minutes from the organization for the early 1980s. The material was removed from its original order among other League papers to facilitate research.

Local Records

Box 1

1-21. Correspondence, 1968-2006 and n.d.
22. Miscellaneous Notes
23. Articles of Incorporation
24-25. Board Meeting Minutes, 1955-1965
26-33. Board Meeting Minutes and Agendas, 1966-2005

Box 2

34-36. Board Meeting Reports, 1974-1983, 1984, 1990-1999
37-52. Annual Meeting Reports, 1963-2005, 2007 (one undated)
53. Certificate of Commendation, 2000
54. Mailing List, 1999
55. Non-Partisan Policy
56. Various Organizations, 1999
57. State Convention Material, 2001
58. Finances, 197301976
59-61. Finance Drive, 1966-1969; 1978-1979; 1985-1986
62-65. Financial Statements, May 2004-2006
66-68. Treasurer’s Reports, 1960-1998, 2004-2006
69-70. Annual Reports to National Office, 1956-1965, 1972-1983
71-74. Bay Area Women’s Conferences, 1980s, 1991-1994

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Box 3

75. Bylaws, 1973-1996
76. Bylaw Changes
77. Miscellaneous Policy Material
78. Observer Corps Report, 1986
79. Membership Booklets (Mobile, Montgomery)
80a. Membership Information, 1986, 1992-1996
80b-83. Membership Lists, 1956-1996, 1999-2000, 2004-2005
84. Membership Questionnaire
85. Membership Survey, 1966
86. Membership Surveys
87. Miscellaneous Material, 2002-2006
88. League Publications on Mobile
89-95. The Voter – Mobile, 1956-1989
96. Newsletter (Mobile), 1985
97-98. The Voter – Mobile, 1990-1996, 1997-
99. Mobile County Board of Registrars Miscellaneous Material
100. Miscellaneous Candidate Fliers

Box 3B (Audiovisual Material)

1.   “First Vote”
2.  League of Women Voters – Television Commercial
3.  League of Women Voters – Broadcast, October 13, 1990
4.  League of Women Voters – Training Teleconference, November 18, 1989
5.  League of Women Voters – Tools for Drinking Water Protection (NOTE:         Researchers should also consult the Drinking Water Subject File in Box 12.)
6.  League of Women Voters – Reel-to-Reel Taped Commercial
7.  League of Women Voters – Board Orientation, May 1990 (audiotape)

Box 4

1-2. Correspondence, 1969-1998
3-4. Directory, 1978-1999
5. Miscellaneous Notes
6. State Programs
7. State Council Reports
8. Various Reports and Agendas
9. Budget
10. Treasurer’s Reports
11. Bylaws, 1974-1991
12. Concurrence Policy
13. Organization Handbook
14. Handbooks, 1981
15. Secretary’s Handbook, 1966
16-19. State Convention, 1964-1987, 1991-1997
20-22. The Alabama Voter, 1956-1999
23. Facts and Issues
24. The Voter – Auburn
25. The Voter – Baldwin County
26. The Voter – Birmingham
27. The Voter – Gadsden
28. The Voter – Montgomery
29. The Voter – The Shoals
30. The Voter – Tuscaloosa

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Box 5

1-4. Correspondence, 1965-1999
5-6. Correspondence – Mass Mailings
7. Finances
8. Financial and Budget Reports
9. Treasurer’s Reports
10. Membership Committee
11. Bylaws (National)
12. Cahoun Conferences
13. Guidelines for League Boards
14. Membership Information
15. National Board, 1982-1983
16. National Board Reports
17. National Council
18. National Issues Forum
19. National Security Study, 1984
20. Program Planning Guides
21. National Programs
22. Programs of Action
23. State and Local Planning Guides
24. National Policy on Agriculture
25. 40^th Anniversary
26. 50^th Anniversary
27. 75^th Anniversary
28. Campaign Finance Reform
29-36. National Convention, 1982-1996

Box 6

37-46. The National Voter, 1960-1995, 1999-2000
47. Newspaper Clippings
48-50. "Reports from the Hill," 1975-1987, 1989-1994
51. Various League Newsletters
52-53. Capital Newsletter, 1973-1984, 1994-1996
54. League of Women Voters
55. In Touch, 1990-1993

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Box 7

1. Access to Public Records Clippings
2. Action, 1973-1974
3. Alabama Arise
4. Alabama Arise – Local Taxes
5. Alabama Ethics Commission
6. Alabama Forum
7. Alabama Forum – Miscellaneous
8. Alabama Humanities Foundation Grant
8a. Alabama Friends of Midwifes
9. Alabama Law Review – Legal Status of Women in Alabama, 1978
10. Alabama Welfare Reform – Governor’s Proposals
11. Alabama’s Court
12. Alabamians for Choice
13. American Forum
14. Battleship Harbor
15. Campaign for Annual Sessions
16. Candidates – 1974 Primary and Election
17. Challenge 2000
18. Child Care
19. Citizen Participation Project, 1989
20. Citizens for Better Schools, 1992
21. Citizens for Choice
22-23. City Government
24. Civil Rights Restoration Act
25. Claudia
26. Coalition of Woman’s Organizations, 1993
27. Community Events
28. Constitution Reform Rally (Alabama), 2000
29. Constitutional Revision (Alabama)
30. Consumer Protection, 1973-1975
31-34. Criminal Justice
35. Current Focus
36. Dawson, Robert K. – Nomination
37. Decision-Making Workshop, 1990
38. Economic Development Organization
39. Economy
40-47. Education

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Box 8

48. Education Reform (Alabama)
49. Education – State of Alabama Vote on Taxes for Funding
50. Election Guides, 1988, 1992
51. Election Law
52. Election Law Reform
53. Election Systems Project
54. Elections – 1992 Candidates Forum
55. Elections – 1992 Correspondence
56. Elections in Alabama
57. Elections – National and Local
58. Elections – Voter Polls
59. Envision 2000
60-63. Equal Rights Amendment
64. Fair Housing Seminar, 2000
65. Federal Elections
66. Federal Government
67. Financial Study of the City of Mobile, 1962
68. Food Forum Education Project
69. Fundraising
70. Glad-Bag-A-Thon
71-73. Goals for Mobile, 1985-1987
74. Halfway Home – A Long Way to Go
75. Hard Talk
76. Health Care
77. Health Care – Mobile
78-79. Health Care Reform
80. Health Care Video Conference
81. Holiday Party, 2000

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Box 9

82. Holnam Cement Plant
83. Homeporting
84. Impact on Issues – LWV Guide
85. In League
86. Insurance
87. International Relations
88. Interview Guides
89. Judicial Systems
90. Kindergarten Studies
91. Know Your School Project – Abstract and Typed Reports
92. Know Your School Project – Correspondence and Hand-Written Reports
93. Know Your School Project – Handbook for Teachers of Gifted Students
94. Know Your School Project – LeFlore Magnet School Report and Principal’s
Directory, 1980-1982
95. Know Your School Project – Published Materials
96. Know Your School Project – Typed Reports and Forms
97. League Catalogs
98. League Questionnaires
99. Legislative Acts
100. Legislative Election Questionnaire, Novembers 1993
101. Legislative Emphasis
102. Legislature
103. Local Justice, 1973-1975
104-105. Local League Program, 1963, 1992-1993
106. "Make it Work"
107. Making Democracy Work
108. Maps
109. Mayor-Council Form of City Government (Mobile)
110. McMillan File
111. Meeting Basic Human Needs Study
112. Metropolitan Issues
113. Miscellaneous Records, Mobile Area
114. Mobile City Boards, 1980s

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Box 10

115. Mobile City Elections, 1993
116. Mobile County Emergency Planning Committee
117. Mobile Politics
118. Mobile Public Library Study
119. Mobilian of the Year
120. Motor Voter
121. Motor Voter Petitions
122. Municipal Election Forums
123. Municipal Government
124. Municipal Government Study and Correspondence
125. National Program Planning
126-127. Newsletters – Various
128. Observer Corps
129. Oral History Project (Montgomery)
130. Other Organizations
131. Overseas Education Fund
132. Planned Parenthood
133-134. Political Activity – Local
135. Population Coalition
136. Population Issues
137. Post Board Summary
138. Poverty
139. Poverty in Alabama
140. Presidential Debates
141. President’s Packet, 1993-1994
142. Pride Award
143. Printed Material, Woman’s Commission
144. Program Priorities
145. Public Contracts with State Government
146. Public Education – Mobile County
147. Public Relations
148. Public School Survey
149. Public Welfare and Rights
150. Radical Right
151. Railroad
152. Reapportionment
153. Recruiting Literature
154. Referendum for Public Education, 1988
155. Referendums in General Elections
156. Renew America Project
157. Report on Consensus Development Aid, 1970

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Box 11

158. Representative Government
159. Reproductive Rights
160. Revenue Sharing
161. Rip-Off Artists
162. Satellite Teleconference, 1989
163. Satellite Teleconference, October 13, 1990
164. School System Articles
165. Shi, David – Simple Life Program, May 22, 1991
166. Show Business Mobile
167. Speakers Bureau
168. State Government
169. Study Committee Workbook
170. Survey on Public School in Mobile County
171. Taskforce on Infant Mortality
172. Tax Information
173. Tax Referendum, 2001
174. Tax Reform in Alabama
175. Tax Revenue for Mobile County, 1989-1990
176. Tell it to Washington
177. "This is Mobile – Know Your Community"
178. Trade Literature
179. United Nations Activities
180. United Way – Community Needs Assessment
181. Visa
182-183. Voter Services
184. Voters Education Fund
185. Voting Information
186. War Veteran Study
187. Welfare Reform – Alabama
188. Who’s Who in Your Government
189. Women’s Federation for World Peace
190. Women’s Yellow Pages
191. Zip Code Directory
192.-193. Miscellaneous Printed Material – League

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Box 11A 

194.-196.   Miscellaneous Printed Material – League
197.  Miscellaneous Printed Material

Box 11B 

198.   Miscellaneous Printed Material
199.  Miscellaneous Printed Material

Box 12

1. Alabama Coalition for Clean Air
2. Alabama Coastal Area Management Program
3. Alabama Coastal Area Management Program – Evaluation
4. Alabama Coastlines
5. Alabama Conservancy
6-7. Alabama Department of Environmental Management
8. Alabama Department of Environmental Management – Clippings
9-11. Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 1986-1994
12. Alabama Environmental Protection Plan, 1988
13. Barrier Islands, 1981-1982
14. Beach Mouse
15-16. Bulk Coal and Grain Handling Factory
17. Chemical Manufacturers Association
18. Chemical Waste Management – Emille (AL) Landfill
19. Clean Air Act
20. Coal Handling Factory
21. Coastal Information – Correspondence
22. Coastal Information – Publications
23. Coastal Information – Resolutions
24. Coastal Zone Management
25. Coastal Zone Management – Assessment
26. Coastal Zone Management – Legislation
27. Coastal Zone Management – Articles in Mobile Press Register
28. Coastwatch – Correspondence and Printed Material
29. Court Seminar – Environmental Coalition, 1991
30. Drinking Water
31. Drinking Water – Mobile
32. Drinking Water Survey
33. Energy
34. Environment – General File

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Box 13

35. Environmental Impact Statements – Dredging
36. Environmental Management Practices (Alabama)
37. Environmental Newsletters
38. Environmental Studies
39. Gulf Shores
40. Hazardous Waste
41. Hazardous Waste from Homes
42. Hazardous Waste – Ocean Incineration
43. "Hazardous Waste: Trials and Tribulations," By Sidney M. Wolf
44. Hollinger’s Island
45. Holnam Incinerator
46. Hydrocarbon Exploration
47. Land Use
48. Low-Level Radioactive Waste
49. Marsh Values
50. Mobile Harbor Disposal Plan
51. Mobile Harbor Dredging
52. National Energy Policy
53. Ocean Incineration
54-62. Miscellaneous Printed Materials

Box 14

63-67C. Miscellaneous Printed Materials
68. Recycling
69. Sand Dunes
70-75. Save Our Dunes – Litigation, March 1984-June 1985
76. Save Our Dunes – Litigation – Appeal Hearing
77. Save Our Dunes – Litigation – Affidavits
78. Save Our Dunes – Litigation – Motions to Dismiss
79. Save Our Dunes – Litigation – Usage (Water)
80. Save Our Dunes – Litigation – USEPA Injunction

Box 14A

81. Save Our Dunes – Litigation – USEPA Injunction
82. Save Our Dunes – Litigation – Environmental Impact Statements
83. Southern Environmental Law Center
84. Symposium on Natural Resources
85-86. Theodore Channel Extension
87. Theodore Industrial

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Box 15

88. Theodore Wastewater Outfall Pipeline
89. Tree Ordinance
90. Waste
91-92. Water Quality
93. Wetland Protection
94. Wetland Seminar
95. Mobil Oil Correspondence
96. Mobil Oil Permits for Gas Extraction
97. Mobil Oil Research Permit
98. Mobil Oil Research Permit Report
99. Ocean Incineration Research Strategy

Box 16A

Miscellaneous Bound Material Relating to Save Our Dunes v. Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Newspaper Clippings

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Box 17

1-6. Correspondence, May 1983-1986 and n.d.
7. Brochure
8. By-Laws
9. Meeting Agendas, 1983-1985
10-11. Meeting Minutes, 1983-January 1985
12. Treasurer’s Reports, 1984-1985
13. Newsletter, 1984
14. Speeches/Press Releases
15. Mailing Lists
16. Mobile Register Article, July 8, 1983
17. Undated Miscellaneous Material
18. Notes
19. Alabama Department of Environmental Management
20. ChemWaste Consent Agreement
21. Coastal Growth/Condos
22. Coastal Issues
23. Dune Hearings
24. Fowl River Spoil Site
25. Fundraiser, 1985
26. Mobil Oil
27. Networking Efforts
28. New Condo Permit Applications
29. Operations Task Force, 1984