David Rose, Archivist, explaining LWVNR historical items on exhibit.
League of Women Voters of New Rochelle Celebrates Centennial Year
On March 26, approximately forty members and friends of the League of Women Voters of New Rochelle gathered at the New Rochelle Public Library to begin a yearlong celebration of the LWVNR’s 100th birthday. The opening reception included an exhibition of League historic memorabilia curated by the library’s archivist David Rose and an historical talk by Mr. Rose.
The exhibit, Rose explained, documents the history of the League’s mission to educate the public about the importance of voting, the electoral process, election reforms, and active participation in government. The archived material on display included meeting minutes of the Executive Board, educational literature, voters’ guides, correspondence, and scrapbooks. Assisting Rose in creating the exhibit were Tobe Sevush, Programming Coordinator for the library; Ann Gombiner, New Rochelle High School student; and Leona Newman, LWVNR board member.
The League of Women Voters of the United States was founded in 1920, six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave women the right to vote. During the years following its national founding, state and local League chapters were created. Carrie Chapman Catt, a founder of the national League, moved to New Rochelle and founded the LWVNR in 1924. Her home on Paine Avenue is now privately owned but features a commemorative plaque on the front lawn.
The mission of national, state, and local Leagues is to promote informed citizen participation in government. A nonpartisan organization that is not for women only, the LWVNR gets out the vote, sponsors candidate forums, publishes voters guides online, and studies and takes positions on civic issues.
The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the League as “one of the largest nonpartisan political organizations in the United States and one of the only such organizations that successfully provides broad comprehensive information on a wide variety of political issues.”
For more information about the League, contact Joan Alexander at royjoanalex@yahoo.com.