League of Women Voters of Yellow Springs Records

The League of Women Voters of the United States (formerly, in 1946, the National League of Women Voters) evolved from the National American Woman Suffrage Association, following the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote. Consisting of 110,000 members, in 32 regional, 50 state, and 1250 local groups, the League is a voluntary organization of citizens, both men and women, 18 years old and over.

The League promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government by distributing information on candidates and issues, and campaigning to encourage registration and voting, without directing supporting or opposing specific candidates or political parties. Members also select and study public policy issues at local, state, and national levels, and take political action as deemed appropriate. National concerns include government, international relations, natural resources, and social policy.

The Yellow Springs League of Women Voters was established in 1934 with a membership of 25. In addition to promoting political responsibility, one of the founders, Mrs. Adeline Bassett, hoped that the League would provide a common ground to draw the Yellow Springs village people and the Antioch College permanent staff members, and their families, together under a worthy cause. So with the help of Opal Davis, a League delegate from Dayton, Mrs. Bassett founded the first league in the immediate local area, only 14 years after the National League was founded. Xenia, on the other hand, did not set up a league until the mid-1960's.

One of the earliest activities of the Yellow Springs League, which eventually became an annual event, was the establishment of the Candidates' Meeting. Held in October, the meeting allowed the voters to meet the candidates and listen to their platforms. It also gave the candidates a chance to communicate with people outside their own political party.

Another early important project was an effort to improve the methods of garbage disposal in Yellow Springs. In 1951, garbage was collected by six privately-licensed haulers that paid $1.00 a year to the town for their license. They operated a variety of vehicles, from small, uncovered trucks, to horse-drawn carts. The haulers set their own collection schedules and fees. Once the garbage and trash was collected, it was hauled uncovered through the town and spilled into the open dump (at the present site of the swimming pool). After surveying 250 towns across the country as well as the local residents, and consulting with experts on health, dumps, rodents, and sanitary landfills, the League presented the village with suggested recommendations for improvement. The village soon adopted an ordinance to have garbage collected door-to-door by covered trucks, and transported to a sanitary landfill outside the village.

Other League involvement includes projects on the charter form of government (1944-1945), school building needs (1947), school financing (over several years), fluoridation (1955), bicycle safety (1969), and sewage treatment (1970's). Often, the Yellow Springs League would participate in the Greene County Interleague Council to address county issues. In the mid-1970's, the Yellow Springs League attended the Little Miami Interleague Group to work on the Little Miami River project.

In spring of 1980, the Yellow Springs League merged with the Xenia League to form the Greene County League of Women Voters. In 1992, the Greene County League disbanded, and its members joined the Dayton League. Funds from the Greene League were given to Dayton with the understanding that they would be used to promote public knowledge of Greene County