Joliet Region League of Women Voters Records

The Joliet League of Women Voters formed and received provisional status from the National League in 1950.  The thirty-one charter members, plus additionally recruited women, undertook three programs that year--a “Know Your Town” study, a study of the unit system in education, and a Voters Service program.  Their continued determination through 1951 earned them local league status from the national board on March 20, 1952.  Since then the Joliet League has worked to “promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government.”   The League’s programs and projects over the years focused on many topics.  In 1954 they studied and supported the Council-Manager form of government which passed in November of the same year.  The busy year of 1956 included a “Know Your County” study, supporting a successful referendum for grade school education tax rate increase, working with the Citizens Committee, preparing a “Handbook for New Residents” and cooperating with efforts for a Unit School District.  Other projects through their history included studying the desirability of permanent registration for local elections, studying methods to improve assessment and collection of property taxes, and studying all measures which would assure full enjoyment of civil rights and liberties by all citizens of the community.   Currently, the League continues to hold candidates’ meetings (the first occurred in l95l), conducts studies on topics of social concern, and supports measures such as an open space plan for the Will County Forest Preserve District, effective county planning and coordination with communities, and recommendations of the Will County Court Monitoring project.  Their research and subsequent publications provide important political information to the citizens of Joliet and Will County.

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