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League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-1123-BC

Scope and Contents

This archive contains information about LWVCNM publications, including a monthly newsletter, called The Voter, an annual Who’s Who directory that gives contact information for elected officials, and the Voter Guides for elections. It also includes records of administrative activities of the Central New Mexico League, details of work on various issues and activities, and background information on studies conducted to adopt formal positions on issues.The material is organized into the following series:

Publications. This series consists of the monthly newsletter, The Voter (1949-2023), member handbooks (1966-2023), Know Your Local Government pamphlets (1972, 1975, 1988, 1992), Who’s Who directories (1966, 1987-2023), and the Voter Guide (1950-2022).

Administrative Material. In this series are board and general meeting minutes (1947-2023), bylaws (1947, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1991, 2007, 2023), annual reports (1950-51, 1958-59, 1959-60 to 1983-84), fundraising (1985-2020), history.

Issues & Activities. Air quality & transportation (1971-1999), election activity (1981-2017), land use (1971-1996), local government (1951-2013), natural resources (1996-2004), nuclear (1977-1989), Petroglyph National Monument (1980-2006), solid waste (1980-85), state government (1977-2012), state & US government (1975-1995), US government (1973-1997), Zimbabwe visit (2001).

Studies. Alcohol abuse (2004-13), campaign financing (1971-89), child care (1975-90), drug policy (1998-2012), election code ratification (1995), health care consensus (1984, 1994), health care delivery & financing (1993), immigration reform (2007-08), initiative & referendum (1994-96), judicial reform (1960-96), land use (1983-85), recreation in Albuquerque (1947-48), reproductive choices (1980-82), sentencing (1983), tax structure (1984-85), US Congress survey of performance (1971), urban renewal (1960-78).

Dates

  • 1947- ongoing

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publications or distribution.

Biography/History

The League of Women Voters of Albuquerque was chartered by the U.S. League of Women Voters in 1948 and has operated continuously as a good government non-profit entity. The name changed from the LWV of Albuquerque (LWVA) to the LWV of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County (LWVABC) in 1974. In 2008 the name was changed to LWV of Central New Mexico (LWVCNM), covering Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia Counties. The U.S. League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt and other suffrage leaders to educate women about how to exercise the right to vote. There is some evidence of a League of Women Voters in Albuquerque in 1923, but it left no records and was not formally aligned with the U.S. League of Women Voters. In Albuquerque the League has been particularly active in supporting good government and provision of public services. The League has participated in city and county planning activities, worked to eliminate discrimination in housing, advocated on a variety of environmental issues, and compiled and printed a Voter Guide for elections since the early 1950s. The League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico is one of four currently operating local Leagues in New Mexico. Information about the other Leagues in New Mexico can be found at the League of Women Voters of New Mexico website. The Central New Mexico League is an all-volunteer organization. The League is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates. It conducts candidate forums and publishes a Voter Guide with information about candidates and their positions on public issues. The League takes positions on important public policy questions after a process of study and discussion and advocates for those positions.

Extent

11 boxes (11.5 cu. ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This archive contains information about LWVCNM publications, including a monthly newsletter, called The Voter, an annual Who’s Who directory that gives contact information for elected officials, and the Voter Guides for elections. It also includes records of administrative activities of the Central New Mexico League, details of work on various issues and activities, and background information on studies conducted to adopt formal positions on issues.

Arrangement

Divided into four series:
  1. Publications, 1947-2023
  2. Administrative Material, 1947-2023
  3. Issues & Activities, 1948-2023
  4. Studies, 1960-2023

Physical Location

Placeholder

Related Materials

League of Women Voters of New Mexico Records (MSS 471 BC)

Separated Materials

Placeholder
Title
Finding Aid of the League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico,1947- ongoing
Status
Approved
Author
Samuel Sisneros
Date
2024
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451