On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself in awe
of the remarkable passion that Latah County women bring to the causes they
champion. Over the last several months
the personal relationships I have cultivated with individual members have
provided me with countless examples of sincere devotion to the improvement of
our shared community. One of our Trustees
volunteers with TaxAid, assisting folks with tax preparation at no cost. Another has a weekly commitment at the local
food bank. A third not only serves our
organization, but also the Juliaetta-Kendrick Heritage Foundation. I suppose it is little wonder that the women
who donate countless hours to LCHS would also do the same for other worthy
groups, but that fact makes their generosity no less inspiring.
The list of charitable organizations in Latah County
is long, and women contribute significant time and energy to every cause, be it
childhood education, environmental stewardship, or human rights. Indeed the LCHS archive is filled with
records from non-profit organizations that bear witness to that fact. While nearly any charitable group could be
used to demonstrate my point, given that it is Women's History Month I could think of none more appropriate than Moscow’s
League of Women Voters.
The League of Women Voters was established as a
national organization in 1920 by suffragette Carrie Chapman Catt. From its beginning, the League was meant to
serve as a support structure for grassroots mobilization. With a commitment to the ideal that progress
often begins at the local level, League members were (and continue to be)
encouraged to engage in city and county politics and planning. The League also avows nonpartisan dialogue,
welcoming members of all political persuasions to contribute positively to a
more democratic society.
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| Published by state group, League of Women Voters of Idaho. Large Collection: League of Women Voters |
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| Example of the LWV commitment to fostering civic engagement. From "What You Should Know About Writing to Your State Legislator" |
Moscow’s chapter of the LWV was organized in 1951,
and immediately took up several projects that would set a precedent for the
work the group continues to this day. As
the article below notes, the group (still designated as “provisional” in May of
1951) surveyed the resources available to Moscow residents and compiled a “Know
Your Town” report.
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| From scrapbook found in Large Collection: League of Women Voters |
In the 1950s and ‘60s the League would publish
several of these studies, both for Moscow and Latah County.
As explained in the county guide, the League hoped that “this small
pamphlet can help to create the informed electorate necessary to initiate and
implement long over-due modernization of the county government and its relation
to city and state.” By providing basic
information, such as the names and numbers of County Commissioners and the
yearly budget of the county government, League members believed that citizens
would be better prepared to consider important issues regarding the financial
and social wellbeing of the area. A list
of ongoing challenges faced by Latah County was also included.
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| Large Collection: League of Women Voters |
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| Excerpt from "This is Latah County Idaho," published by the League of Women Voters, Moscow, Idaho 1957 |
By its own definition, “the League of Women Voters
is a non-partisan organization open to all women who are interested in
educating themselves and others for effective ‘participation in government as a
public trust’.” As is the case today,
most of the names of early League rosters can be found on the rolls of other
area civic and philanthropic organizations.
Mrs. Jeannette Talbott, for example, served on the League’s Board for
several years and has long been a friend and supporter of our historical
society. Another former League Board
member, Coralee Borning, was also a charter member of the Unitarian
Universalist Church of the Palouse.
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| Large Collection: League of Women Voters (Moscow Publications Folder) |
The Moscow chapter of the LWV remains active and
engaged in nonpartisan pursuits. Among
their many good works, the group sponsors candidate forums for most local elections, presents weekly educational presentations over the
noon-hour on Wednesdays in the 1912 Center, and produces valuable surveys on
topics such as affordable housing in Moscow.
As I noted earlier, the League of Women Voters is
just one of many organizations devoted to improving the lives of some or all in
Latah County. During this month of
recognition, LCHS extends its gratitude to all the women who make this county
such a wonderful place to live, work, and play.
-- Dulce Kersting
Executive Director
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