PUBLIC "-//Arlington Public Library::Center for Local History//TEXT (US::ViAr::ViAr00017::A Guide to the Records of the Organized Women Voters of Arlington County, 1923-2015)//EN" "ViAr00017.xml" A Guide to the Records of the Organized Women Voters of Arlington County, 1923-2015 Organized Women Voters of Arlington County, Records of RG 17 Heather Crocetto Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History © 2017 Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word, created by Gregory Pierce, 20 August 2020 Description is in English A Guide to the Records of the Organized Women Voters of Arlington County, 1923-2015 A Collection in Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History RG 17

Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History 2017 Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History Descriptive Summary Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History Records of the Organized Women Voters of Arlington County, 1923-2015 RG 17 27 boxes. English The Organized Women Voters of Arlington Administrative Information Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Organized Women Voters of Arlington County, Collection # RG 17, Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Arlington Historical Society and Nancy Renfro.

Custodial History

These records were collected by one of the members of the Organized Women Voters and donated to the Arlington County Historical Society. The group was donated to the Library as part of a larger donation from the Arlington Historical Society. Further donations were made by Nancy Renfro.

Historical Information

The Organized Women Voters of Arlington County was founded in 1923 as the Arlington County League of Women Voters, and later that same year changed its name to the Organized Women Voters in order to remain clearly independent of the now nationally known League of Women Voters. As of 2017, the organization was still active in Arlington County.

The objectives of the organization were "to collect and disseminate political and civic information; to be non partisan; and to be free to take action on any County problem." The Organized Women Voters has been active in educating Arlington County voters on voting procedures and political candidates, as well as actively supporting women candidates for County Board positions. The organization also sponsored two yearly local events for a number of years -- the Woman of the Year Award and the annual Birthday Luncheon.

Scope and Content

Record Group 17 houses the scattered records of the Organized Women Voters of Arlington County. The collection measures 9.2 linear feet, and ranges from 1923 to 2015. Found in this group are scattered meeting minutes, membership lists, meeting announcements, by laws and constitution, financial documentation, memorabilia, and newsclippings. Of particular interest are the early meeting minutes and correspondence for the 1923 through 1925 period. The collection also houses several photographs of members at their various functions.

Series 18 and 19 are binders put together by Nancy Renfro and Mimi Simms as a sort of yearbook for the club. These contain meeting agendas, minutes, Treasurer's Reports, correspondence (usually related to organizing OWV meetings and special events), and published material that supported meeting speakers. Some binders contained materials for multiple years, and cover the 1960s through the 1990s.

Series 20 are materials collected and organized by longtime member Nancy Renfro, and contain meeting minutes, correspondence, and published material documenting the OWV's activities from the 1990s through 2015. There are committee reports, supporting material for invited meeting speakers, membership directories, OWV's constitution and bylaws, and detailed reports on larger events such as Candidate's Night.

Series 21 are materials created and collected by Sue Renfro, Nancy's mother and another longtime member of OWV. This series mostly deals with issues surrounding school integration and public housing, but also touches on other school issues such as appointment of School Board members and school curriculum and a Virginia state sales tax. There are clippings, drafts of speeches and correspondence, meeting minutes and other published material with notations made by Mrs. Renfro, and occasional personal papers scattered throughout. Series 20 and especially Series 21 show conservative viewpoints to local, state, and national issues, and contain published materials that support these viewpoints.

Arrangement

Record Group 17 is arranged into series by either type of material or organizational event. Most of the series are incomplete and scattered.

Series 18 and 19 are organized chronologically by binder. Series 20 is organized by binder; the creator, Nancy Renfro, placed selected materials in plastic sleeves (some labeled), so each folder is the contents of one sleeve. Series 21, Sue Renfro's materials, were originally filed in several accordion folders, many of which were labeled, and with some smaller mailing envelopes inside. Each subseries reflects one of those accordion folders, and Renfro's titles of the larger folders or mailing envelopes are in quotes [""]. The last subseries contains the smaller accordion folders.

Index Terms Subjects: Women in community organization Women -- United States -- Societies and clubs. Voting -- United States. Arlington (Va.) Arlington County (Va.) Contents List Biographies of Members A 1 B 1 C-D 1 E-F 1 G-H 1 J-L 1 M 1 N-P 1 R 1 S-Z 1 "Short Bios of Various Members" 1 Birthday Luncheon Awards 1 Background on speakers 1 Correspondence, 1938-1982 1 Correspondence, 1982-1991 1 Invitations 1 Press Releases, 1961-1987 (incomplete) 1 Programs, 1949, 1966, 1973-1982 1 Programs, 1983-1991 2 Reservation Lists, 1973-1984 2 Reservation Lists, 1987-1991, n.d. 2 Supporting documents 2 By-laws and Constitutions Original drafts 2 1928-1939 2 1945 2 1950s 2 1960s 2 1970s 2 1980s 2 Not dated 2 Correspondence Note: There is correspondence in Subgroup 14: Records (office) 1925-1927 2 1928-1929 2 1930 2 1931 2 1932 2 1933 2 1934 3 1935 3 1936 3 1937 3 1938 3 1939 3 1940 3 1941 3 1945 3 1946 3 1947 3 1950 3 1951 3 1952 3 1953 3 1954 3 1955 4 1956 4 1957 4 1958 4 1959 4 1960 4 1961 4 1962 4 1963 4 1964 4 1965 4 1967 4 1968 4 1969 4 1970 4 1977 4 1978 4 1979 4 1980 4 1981 4 1982 4 1983 4 1984 4 1985 4 1987 4 1988 4 1989 4 1990 4 1991 4 List of correspondents, 1973-1985 4 Personal correspondence to Sue Renfro, 1984-1985 4 Not dated 4 Financial Bankbooks, bank statements, cancelled checks 1928-1969 (incomplete) 5 1923-1941 5 1942-1949, 1953 5 1954 5 1955 5 1956 5 1957 5 1958 5 1959 5 1960 5 1961 5 1962 5 1963 5 1964 5 1965 5 1966 5 1967 5 1968 5 1969 5 1971 6 1972 6 1974 6 1976 6 1977 6 1978 6 1979 6 Cancelled checks, 1940-1953, 1974 (incomplete) 6 Check Stubs 1934-1953 6 1954-1962 6 1964-1970 6 Bank check records 1961-1968, 1970-1974, and cashbook, 1954-1963 6 Returned Checks 1936-1941 6 1926-1941 7 1951, 1956-1963 7 1964-1969 7 1970-1978 7 1974-1978 7 1979-1980, n.d. 7 Returned Checks 1936-1941 7 1926-1941 7 1951, 1956-1963 7 1964-1969 7 1970-1973 7 1974-1978 7 1979-1980, n.d. 7 Reports Auditor's reports, 1960-1979 7 Treasurer's reports, 1945-1962 7 Treasurer's reports, 1958-1977 (incomplete) 7 Treasurer's reports, 1962-1969 7 Treasurer's reports, 1972-1978 and DAR, 1974-1978 7 Notebooks Tax revenue notebooks, 1958-1959 8 Programs, timetables, log type lists, 1960, 1986, n.d. 8 Legal Hendrick case, re: Waycroft Subdivision, Ruby Simpson, 1930-1931 8 Arlington Investment Corporation, Ruby Simpson, 1931-1935 8 Legal citations 8 Membership Applications, 1976-1983 8 Lists of members, 1931-1939 8 Lists of members, 1940s-1950s 8 Lists of members, 1960s 8 List of members, 1970s 8 List of members, 1977-1979 8 LIst of members, 1980s 8 Lists of members, 1980s 9 Directories, 1982-1986 9 Directories, 1982-1986 9 Directories, 1990s 9 Not dated 9 Minutes of Meetings Announcements and Meeting Notices Announcements, 1960-1991 9 Notices, 1969-1989 9 Committee Minutes General, 1976-1978 9 Budget, 1961 9 Civic, 1929, 1930, 1939, 1990 9 Constitution and Bylaws, 1978 9 County Government, 1978 9 Education, 1924 9 Education, 1967-1969 9 Federal, 1977-1980 9 Hospital, n.d. 9 Legislative, 1935, 1939 9 Membership, 1967-1968 9 Nominating, 1931-1986 (incomplete) 9 State and County Government, 1939-1940, 1978 9 Sunshine, 1969 9 Tax and revenue, 1958, 1960, n.d. 9 Executive Meeting Minutes 1925-1927 10 1928-1929 10 1930-1931 10 1932-1935 10 1936-1937 10 1938-1939 10 1940-1941 10 1944 10 1945 10 1946 10 1947 10 1950-1953 10 1954 10 1955 10 1950-1953 10 1957 10 1958 10 1959 10 1960 10 1961-1965 10 1961 10 1963 10 1964 10 1966 10 1967 10 1968 10 1969 10 1970 10 1975 10 1976 10 1977 10 1978 10 1979 10 1980 10 1981 10 1982 10 1983 10 1984 10 1986 10 1987 10 1988 10 1989 10 1990 10 Not dated 10 General meeting minutes Charter Meeting and Membership List 1923 10 1923-1928 10 1929 10 1930 11 1931 11 1932 11 1933 11 1934 11 1935 11 1936 11 1937 11 1938 11 1939 11 1940 11 1941 11 1943 11 1945 11 1946 11 1947 11 1949 11 1950 11 1951 11 1952 11 1953 11 1954-1955 11 1956 11 1957 11 1958 11 1959 11 1960 11 1961 11 1962 11 1963 11 1964 11 1965 11 1966 11 1967 11 1968 11 1969 11 1970 11 1975 11 1976 11 1977 11 1978 11 1979 11 1980 11 1981 11 1982 11 1983 11 1984 11 1986 11 1987 11 1988 11 1989 11 1990 11 1991 11 Summary of minutes Summary of minutes 1934-1938 and 1950-1958 11 Newsletters 1963, 1982, 1984 11 Newspaper Clippings 1929-1990, n.d. 11 Juvenile Jail, 1960 11 Schools, 1957, 1959 11 Organization and Clubs Arlington County Civic Federation, 1935-1991 (incomplete) 13 Arlington County Government, 1957-1983 (incomplete) 13 County Manager Newsletter, October 1960 - July 1961 13 Federation of Homemakers and housing material, 1962, 1965, n.d. 13 Neighborhood civic associations, 1950-1984 (incomplete) 13 Schools 13 Speaker's bureau, 1980s 13 Numerous clubs A-M 13 Numerous clubs N-W 13 Photographs and Slides Photographs 13 Slides 13 Politics Candidate brochures 13 Candidate correspondence, 1981-1989 (incomplete) 13 Candidate questionnaire, 1959, 1976, n.d. 13 Election, 1982 13 Legislative packages, 1985-1988 14 Legislative issues, 1961, 1976-1989 14 Miscellaneous 14 National politics 14 Records (office) 1923-1930s 14 1940s 14 1950s 14 1960s 14 1970s 14 1980s 14 1990s 14 Not dated 14 Resolutions 1920s 14 1930s 14 1940s 14 1950s 14 1960s 14 1970s 14 1980s 14 1990s 14 1982 14 1983 14 1984 14 1986 14 1987 14 Not dated 14 Scrapbooks Scrapbook, 1941-1988 15 Scrapbook, 1935-1961 15 1970s Scrapbook, 1970-1974, n.d. 15 Subjects Aging, 1959-1962 16 Agriculture foreign investment, 1978 16 American Farm Land Trust 16 Arlington County board meetings 16 Arlington County budgets, 1963-1984 16 Arlington County - County manager form of government 16 Arlington County Ad HOc Advisory Committee on Alternative Services Delivery System, 1981-1982 16 Arlington County Jail, 1930 16 Birthday party for U.S. Senator Harry Byrd Jr., 1982 16 3 x 5 cards with gifts and costs with names 16 Civil Rights, 1957-1960 17 Civil Rights, 1977 17 Civil Rights, 1978 17 Civil Rights, 1980s 17 Commission on Aging, 1983-1984 17 Daycare Center, 1978-1980 17 Drug smuggling 17 Education, 1930-1977, n.d. 17 Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 17 Foreign affairs El Salvador and Nicaragua 18 Health, 1962-1977 18 Histories, 1923-1983 (incomplete) 18 Housing, 1982-1984 18 Miscellaneous 18 Obituaries, 1954-1989, n.d. (incomplete) 18 Panama Canal, 1977-1978 18 Playgrounds report 18 Police and fire department pension system 18 Report on clean-up campaign in Arlington County particularly the Negro settlment in Queen City and East Arlington, 1937-1938 18 Senior citizens, 1976-1984 18 Sheriff's office 18 Sketches written and performed at the first annual meeting 19 Solicitations from organizations (for money) 19 Television 19 Nancy Renfro Notebooks Binder 1 "Renfro Papers 1935," 1935 19 "Renfro Papers 1960," 1960 19 "Renfro Papers OWV 1967," 1965-1967 19 "Renfro Papers OWV 1972-1973," 1928, 1972 19 "Renfro Papers OWV 1976," 1976 19 "Renfro Papers OWV 1977," 1977 19 Binder 2 "OWV May 14, 1974 - May 23, 1978 (1)" 19 "OWV May 14, 1974 - May 23, 1978 (2)" 19 1977-1979 Binder "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979," 1962, 1967, 1968, 1975, 1976 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979," 1967, n.d. 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979," 56th Anniversary Booklet, 1979 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979: 1978 ERA," 1978 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979: no info or date - 1968?", n.d. 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979: 1978-1979," 1974, 1978-1979 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979: 1978," 1978, 1990 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979: 1977," 1977 19 "Renfro Papers, 1977-1979," 1986, 1989-1990 19 Lillian "Mimi" Simms Notebooks "Simms Papers 1950s-1980s, Book I," 1956, 1958, 1962, n.d. 19 "Simms Papers 1950s-1980s, Book II," 1970-1979, 1982-1984, 1989, 1991 19 "Simms Papers 1989-1999," 1988-1999 19 Administrative Binders "O.W.V., 8/93-5/98," 1993-1998 19 "OWV 9/1998-5/1999," 1998-1999 19 "OWV 9/1999-5/2000," 1999-2000 19 "OWV 9/2000-5/2001," 2000-2001 19 "OWV 9/2001 to 5/2002," 2001-2002 19 "OWV 2002-2003," 2002-2003 19 "OWV 2003-2004, 2004-2005," 2002-2005 19 "Organized Woen Voters, 2005-2006, 2006-2007," 2005-2007 19 "Organized Women Voters, 2007-2008," 2007-2008 19 "OWV June 2008 to May 2009," 2008-2009 19 "OWV 2009-2010," 2009-2010 19 "OWV 2011-2013," 2011-2013 (1)* 19 "OWV 2011-2013," 2011-2013 (2) 19 "Organized Women Voters of Arlington, June 2013-May 2015," 2013-2015* 19 Sue Renfro Records "2nd Vice President" Folder OWV Board Activities, 1961 19 Speaker Invitations, 1961-1962 19 County Board Dealings, 1958, 1961 19 Drafts of Public Statements, 1957, n.d. 19 Arlington Public Schools Personnel Policies and Salaries, 1953, 1955, 1956 19 Building Yorktown High School, 1958, n.d. 19 Schools (general), 1943, 1953-1956, n.d. 19 "Speech by Father Edmond A. Walsh," 1952, n.d.* 19 OWV Stationary and Envelopes 19 Personal Correspondence and Forms, 1940-1944, 1960-1961* 19 Miscellaneous, 1961, n.d. 19 "School Tuition Grants" Folder Tax and Revenue Committee, 1958, 1959, n.d. 19 Legislative Committee, 1959 19 Correspondence, 1958-1959, n.d. 19 OWV Proclamations, 1959, n.d. 19 Notes and Drafts, 1958, n.d. 19 School Segregation Strategies, 1959, n.d. 19 Clippings, 1958-1959 19 "Organized Women Voters Constitution and Bylaws," September 1958 19 Arlington County Civic Federation 19 Campaign Literature, 1958, n.d. 19 State and Federal Regulations, 1959 19 Congressional Record, 1959 19 "Redevelopment 1958 Tax and Revenue Committee" Folder Working Papers, 1958 (1) 19 Working Papers, 1950 (2) 19 Federal Publications, 1957, 1958, n.d. 19 Published Material, 1958 19 County Board Minutes, 1958 19 Clippings, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958 19 Personal Materials, n.d. 19 Public Housing Folder Material on Public Housing, National Association of Real Estate Boards, 1958 19 Articles on Segregation and Public Housing, 1954-1957, n.d. 19 "Public Housing in New York City," 1957 19 "Report on the Need to Establish a Housing and Redevelopment Authority, by Tax and Revenue Committee, OWV," October 28, 1958 19 "Public Housing Fact Book," 1958 19 Unnamed Folder "From Senate Document Room, HR 696," 1959 19 State Sales Tax, 1960 19 School Board Appointments, 1959 19 County Board and Planning, 1958 19 Clippings and Publications, 1959-1960 19 Personal Papers, 1958-1959, n.d. 19 Smaller Folders "Resolution for Public Hearing on School Board Nominations," 1957 19 "Election Data on Redevelopment and Housing," 1958 19 "Miscellaneous News Clippings," 1957-1962 19 Yearbooks, 1984, 1990-1993, n.d. 19 Audio Cassette Box 1 January 22, 1980, Martin Brown changes in Income Tax August 13, 1980 August 13, 1980, Vietnam Remembered September 1980 September 1981, House of Delegates Race Fall 1981, Col. Harrington Audio Casseette Box 2 February 23, 1982, Dr. Martin Wasserman March 5, 1982, Exec. Committee re: Constitutin and By-laws (2 tapes) March 23, 1982, County Manager Griffin April 27, 1982, Senatory Byrd's birthday (2 tapes) Audio Cassette Box 3 September 1983, Candidates County Board and committee officers April 1984, VEPC Walter Frankland guest representing Chamber of Commerce (the other side is dated February 27, 1979 May 22, 1984, 63rd Birthday October 25, 1983, Candidate meeting Warren Stambaugh Audio Cassette Box 4 April 28, 1987 May 4, 1987, Birthday May 8, 1987, Secore/Coulter/Jenkins (Ga.)/McCollum R. (Fla.) Green (3 tapes) May 11, 1987, McFarlane May 11, 1987 Audio Cassette Box 5 May 11, 1987, McFarlane (2 tapes) May 12, 1987 (2 tapes) May 13, 1987, McFarlane, Nunn, Rodino Audio Cassette Box 6 May 14, 1987, McFarlane, Sigur May 14, 1987, Sigur May 14, 1987, Sigur (2 tapes) May 15, 1987 January 23, 1990 Audio Cassette Box 7 March 27, 1990 April 2, 1990 May 21, 1991 March 24, 1992, Helen E. Fahey Commonwealth March 24, 1992 March 23, no year Act. County Manager Griffin guest speaker Artifact Box This material was the party favors that were given as souvenires at the Birthday Luncheons. The material includes pens, key chains, and potholders.