Local League History

Establishment of the League

There have been multiple iterations of the League of Women Voters of Washington County. The first was formed in 1915 by a suffragist group. Originally called the Political Equality League, it became the first League of Women Voters of Washington County on March 17, 1920, just five months before the passage of the 19th Amendment. Dues were 25 cents for active members.

For several years in the Washington County area, the League’s reach changed over time as local chapters popped up and eventually disbanded.

In March 1966, the current version of the League came into being when the Fayetteville League of Women Voters changed their name to the League of Women Voters of Washington County after a nearby League in Springdale was dissolved. The change enabled them to expand their reach in the community.

League Members

Members of the League, such as Lois Imhoff, have gone on to serve in public office and on state and national advisory boards.

Peg Anderson, League State President 1973-1975, authored the State League’s signature publication, Government in Arkansas, which is still available and updated as new legislation is enacted in Arkansas.

The League’s Work

Over the years, the Washington County League has been in the forefront of a number of local issues, such as:

Voter Registration and Voter Education

These issues have been the main focus of the League of Women Voters in Washington County from its inception to the present. The League regularly hosts voter registration drives and also provides trainings for individuals interested in registering voters.

Adequate Education for All Children in the Fayetteville School District

The League supported complete integration of Fayetteville elementary schools and conducted a preparatory summer program for Negro students (Lincoln school Project) in 1964.

The League has also supported special education classes, multicultural education, English as a Second Language programs and opportunities for gifted and talented students.

Support of Environmental Protection and Preservation

From its support of the Buffalo River as a National Scenic River in the 1960’s to its suing the City of Fayetteville for failure to enforce its tree ordinance in 2000, this issue has been close to the League’s heart.

The League has also taken action in support of recycling, water quality studies (wastewater treatment), solid waste disposal (the Incinerator Project) and, more recently, non-point pollution and hillside runoff.

Sources for this history come from records of the League of Women Voters of Washington County, which are housed in Special Collections of Mullins Library on the University of Arkansas campus. Betty Williams, Marion Wyckoff, Marion Orton and Libby Wheeler authored previous versions of this history.