History of the League of Women Voters of Montana Presented by Claudette Morton, Helena Area League I am a researcher by trade, Lived in Helena since 1978 and am a native Montanan.

Introduction The LWV nationally began in 1920. When did the Montana League Began? April 26, 1920 Where did the organizational meeting take place? Great Falls The first regional convention was in Butte. Who were some of the founding members? A. F Rice of Butte was the first president. Tip: Add your own speaker notes here.

Other members included: Jeanette Rankin Maggie Smith Hathaway Frieda Fligalman Belle Fligalman Winesteen Maggie Smith Hathaway was Lewis & Clark Superintendent of Schools, Became a legislator from Ravalli County fron1916-1922, and later became the Secretary of the Montana Bureau od Child and animal protection. She got the animals transferred to another department. Frieda and Belle Fligalman went to college rather than finishing school & both received degrees from the U of Wisconsin. They were life long members of the league. Frieda study for her doctorate at Columbia, but because her work was a new field linguistic sociology, she did not receive her doctorate. But she was recognized for her ground breaking work in the 60s and 70s. She wrote poetry. Belle supported Jeanette Rankin and became her secretary in Washington. They both believed in reason in Politics and supported equal rights and peace throughout their lives.

Purpose: Work toward efficient government The good of public welfare in government International cooperation to prevent war Not be aligned with any party

Early Years 1920s &1930s Met in Helena during the Legislature Loosely structured organization In-active during WWII By 1952 local leagues in Billings, Butte, Greatfalls, Havre, Helena & Missoula Tip: Add your own speaker notes here.

1950s 1952 local leagues were in: Billings Butte Great Falls Havre Helena Missoula In 1953 state league to study Montana govt April 1955 first state convention Held in Butte Catherine Jones of Missoula elected president An agenda was adopted A budget was prepared Format for the state has continued ever since

By 1988 MT had 8 local leagues Billings Bozeman Flathead County Great Falls Helena Liberty County Missoula Ravalli County Also had MALs from Butte, Havre, Miles City & South Lincoln County

Issues the MTLWV has studied Montana Institutions Executive Reorganization Constitutional Revision Unicameral Legislature Human Resources re: welfare International relations Natural Resources Equal Right Amendment Montana High School Association State Prisons, Warm Springs, Boulder, etc. Under human resources also children services. Natural Resources including air and water pollution and the facilities siting act. Companies said it would take jobs.

On-going programs Voter Registration Candidate Forums Issues Forums Monitor Polling Places Get out the vote

Where to find League History Montana Historical Society Where else locally? Thank you.