OUR LEAGUE’S HISTORY
Originally compiled by Mrs. Dallas A. Dollase and published in April, 1970, and revised and reissued annually since.
In 1947, while women around the world heeded Paris and lowered their hemlines, a small group in Harrisburg, PA rolled up their sleeves for action. They hoped to bring a “New Look” to their city.
Headed by long-time civic leader Mrs. Harvey F. Smith, the women in December, 1947, organized the League of Women Voters of Harrisburg as an affiliate of the State and National Leagues. The first meetings were held in the Harrisburg Civic Club.
The first major League-sponsored event was a candidates’ meeting on April 21, 1948. Termed the “most unique happening of the current campaign” by the Patriot, the debate featured Senator M. Harvey Taylor, Walter Mumma, and William B. Freeland.
In 1949, in cooperation with many local men’s and women’s service organizations, the League pioneered the Harrisburg Town Meeting Series “to air publicly local grievances.” Seven weekly meetings featuring panel discussions by experts were held in the auditorium of Steele School. The meetings – heavily publicized by billboards, loud speakers, radio, newspapers, streamer towing airplanes, and a “Town Crier” dressed in Colonial garb – were broadcast live for half an hour on the radio. Subjects covered were the design of the bridge to be built at Forster Street (Harrisburg’s number one controversy), zoning, state veterans’ bonus, city recreation facilities, Harrisburg’s volunteer fire department, the downtown traffic problem, and socialized medicine.
The Patriot editorialized on September 27, “It seems that until Harrisburg’s women decide to do something about our town, it is most difficult to get anything done…Today’s Town Meeting, again largely the work of women, may awaken Harrisburg to making decisions on some of the problems with which it has been dallying too long.” The meetings drew 500 people, with the last an overflow crowd of 600.
The 1950’s saw many Harrisburg League “Firsts”:
First “Voters Guide”, listing candidates’ bio information and answers to questions was published for the November 1950 election
Bowman’s downtown store was the location of the first pre-election Voter Information Booth in July, 1951.
United Nations Day was first observed by local members in 1951. The League conducted a UN booth at the PA National Horse Show.
The first annual “Legislative Guide” (changed to “Facts for Voters”) listing city, county and state officials.
The semi-annual Voters Service program of providing registering and voting information to newly naturalized citizens held at YWCA in January 1954.
Successful campaigns by the State and Local Leagues in 1950 and 1951 for a State Secretary of Health and passage of the “yellow oleo” law.
Six Anti-Inflation Workshops and a Price Stabilization Center sponsored with other organizations in late 1951 and early 1952.
The naming of local League founder Mrs. Harvey F. Smith a “Distinguished Daughter of PA” by Governor Fine in October, 1952.
“Operation Registration” in March, 1957, when members went door to door fro one week in Harrisburg and suburbs to find individuals not registered to vote, answer questions, and provide rides to register.
A 10 week course on American Foreign Policy sponsored with another. local organization in November and December 1958.
Then the 1960’s saw even more activity:
· The Local and State League Leaders witnessed Governor Lawrence sign the Absentee Voting Law. The PA League had worked on this for 4 years. In October, 1960 the Harrisburg League canvassed hospitals for patients eligible to vote by absentee ballot and assisted them in applying for the ballots.
· In 1959, the League established 2 monthly units which met at members’ homes to discuss League programs. Each study item was thoroughly researched. An Uptown Hbg, Hbg East, and West Shore units were announced in 1961 with a 4th added in 1963.
· Harrisburg League joined other Leagues statewide to study funding of public education, election law reform, constitutional revisions, and state taxation. The League also participated in national studies concerned with the United Nations, foreign aid and trade, China, representative government, water quality, equality of opportunity for education, employment and housing, and the Electoral College.
· Harrisburg members worked to educate the public on state and national items and League positions on them thorough press releases, letters to the editor, speeches, and providing literature to citizens and libraries. The League also contacted legislators and public officials.
· For study-related first hand information, members tool trips to the state legislature (1963), The United Nations (1964), Washington DC (1965), Harrisburg water facilities (1965), Harrisburg city schools (1967), Employment Securities Bureau (1967), the PA Constitutional Convention (1968), and the Hamilton Redevelopment Area (1969).
The PA League with other statewide organizations, was active in the formation of the Committee for State Constitutional Revision which opened its office in April 1962. The purpose was to provide an extensive statewide educational campaign to increase public awareness of the shortcomings of the state constitution and to provide a forum for discussion of remedies.
Fall of 1963, state and local Leagues threw their energy into a Vote Yes campaign for passage of the referendum for a state Constitutional Convention that was on the November ballot. Meetings, surveys, speeches, door to door campaigns, colorful election-eve motorcade with brass band through Dauphin and Cumberland Counties were methods used.
In honor of the League’s hard work, Governor William Scranton proclaimed October 30, 1963, “League of Women Voters Day.”
In March, 1963, the Harrisburg League published a comprehensive survey entitled, “Know Your City”. The booklet reviewed the city’s history, governmental structure, and aspects of city life.
· In May 1963 at its Annual Meeting, the League Study of Technical Education was adopted. Lt. Governor Raymond Shafer remarked during his luncheon speech, “We need both plumbers and Philosophers in our society, and unless we provide education for both, neither our pipes nor our ideas will hold water.”
· In an intense campaign in the fall of 1964, League members made speeches, sponsored meetings, distributed literature, wrote letters to the editor, and attended school planning meetings dealing with public area technical schools in Dauphin and Cumberland counties. By 1969, the goal was realized when 3 area vocational-technical schools were organized.
· In 1964, a program of sending observers to local governmental and school board meetings was initiated.
· In fall of 1964, the League receives recognition as a local Area League of 19 municipalities in Dauphin, Cumberland, and York counties.
· The League of Women Voters Information Center for the State Constitutional Convention went into operation in Harrisburg, December 1967. The Center, a project of the State League and funded by the Sears-Roebuck foundation, was open 5 days a week for 3 months. It consisted of an information desk at the entrance to the Capitol Rotunda and an office in the North Office Building. Mrs. Louis Sorett, former Harrisburg League resident, was the full-time director, and Harrisburg League members contributed over 1100 hours in volunteer service staffing the Center. Members answered questions, organized tours, gave speeches, and distributed literature.
· The League through study and advocacy helped changed the government of the city of Harrisburg from a Mayor-Commission to Mayor-Council form. In a Mayor-Commission, the Mayor is a member of the Commission and has limited powers.
· In 1969, primary election the League was disappointed throughout the state with the defeat of the referendum providing for merit selection of statewide judges, an issue hotly debated at the Constitutional Convention and finally left to the voters.
· Spring of 1969 also saw the Hershey unit become a provisional League of its own.
Program Studies 1969-1974
· Human Resources, International Relations, Electoral College, Water, TV Conferences, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Equal Rights, Taxes, US Congress, Environmental Quality, Housing, Representative Government, Environment, Role of the State in Local Government, Legislature Study, Election Laws, Solid Waste, Daycare, Political Parties, Education, Campaign Finance, and Local Land Use
Program Studies 1975-1981
· Transportation, Land Use, Solid Waste, Consumer Protection, Energy, Greater Harrisburg Movement, Flood Insurance, Health System Agencies, Foreign Policy, Women’s Issues, Equal Rights Amendment, Solar Homes Tour, Energy Solid Waste, Home Rule, Energy Homes Tour, Solid Waste Home Rule, Juvenile Justice, Tuition Tax Credits and Health.
Program Studies 1982-1992
· National Security, Hazardous Waste, Transportation, Collective Bargaining, National Security, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Drinking Water, Public Water Supply, Abortion Rights, Education, Susquehanna River Coalition, Solid Waste, Agriculture, Meeting Basic Needs, District Justice, Tax Reform, Child Health Care, Agriculture, Education, Initiative and Referendum and National Healthcare.
A Period of Growth and Mergers (2016-2023)
Interest in the League and its activities grew during this period approaching the decennial census and legislative and congressional redistricting. In addition, the PA Legislature passed PA Act 77 and it was signed into law in 2019 by Gov. Tom Wolfe. Act 77 introduced historic election reforms to Pennsylvania voters, including authorizing no-excuse mail in balloting for the first time. The period allowing for voter registration was extended, and more time was granted for absentee ballot submission. In addition, state monies were bonded to allow each PA county to purchase newly required modern voting machines.
During this time, the League of the Harrisburg Area actively worked to collaborate with sister Leagues in Hershey and Carlisle, exchanging resources and information, coordinating activities, reaching out to a broader set of partner organizations, and sharing our energy and commitment to the mission of the League. In 2022, the Harrisburg Area League merged with the Hershey League, and in 2023, the Harrisburg Area League and Carlisle Area League decided to join forces to become known as the League of Women Voters of the Pennsylvania Capital Region. The change in name reflects the change in our coverage area as well as the reality that our growth in membership has included residents of York, Lebanon, and Perry counties as well as Dauphin and Cumberland counties.