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Record group consists of Administration, Office Reference, and Reforms subgroups; files relate to lobbying efforts on behalf of campaign reform, ethics in politics, lobbying reform.

The records of Common Cause in Michigan comprise nearly seventeen linear feet of materials and consist of agendas, minutes, newsletters, correspondence, memoranda, press releases, reports, and drafts and comments on pending legislation. The materials document this public interest group's efforts to secure a more ethical, open, responsive, and representative government in Michigan. The strengths of the record group derive from its reflection of the reform issues salient to the Michigan electorate and the perspective it manifests on the close relations between the Michigan legislature and lobbyists in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The records also shed light on the internal workings and outreach efforts of Common Cause in Michigan. The record group is arranged into three series: Administration, Office Reference, and Reforms. Each series is further divided by period of time (with overlap) reflecting the different dates of accessioning.

Student papers, 1930-1987 prepared for classes in history at the University of Michigan (primarily Michigan history class taught by Lewis G. VanderVelde, but also including research papers for classes taught by Sidney Fine and others); topics concern Michigan social and political history; Michigan biography and bibliography; and local community history.

The student papers are organized alphabetically by author in two series, which are similar in date range and topics covered. Topics of papers concern Michigan social and political history; Michigan biography and bibliography; local community history and University of Michigan history. A topical index to the papers is available in the first box of the collection.

Minutes, annual reports, presidents' letters, legislative programs, issue files concerning its involvement with such issues as child welfare, civil service, the Constitutional Convention of 1961-1962, election law reform, environmental quality, fair employment practices, human resources, reapportionment, taxation, and voters services; also include records of local branches.

The Michigan League of Women Voters was formed in the early 1920s. The records of the Michigan League of Women Voters cover the period from the 1940s to the 1990s. The issues series document such concerns as environmental quality (air pollution, pesticides, solid waste, and water) as well as human resources (teacher accountability, busing, the Equal Rights Amendment, housing, and social services). There are also large portions of material on taxation, reapportionment, international relations, election law reform, and on the Michigan Constitutional Convention of 1961-1962.

Each local chapter of the LWV was required to send its annual reports to the state league. These reports summarized special programs, membership, and financial information. These, as well as correspondence, by-laws, and in some cases, minutes, bulletins, special reports, and voters guides reflect the concerns and issues which confronted the league on the local level.

In many cases local leagues were disbanded because of lack of interest or because the members joined with other local leagues. These discontinued leagues have been designated by the word defunct after their name. Individuals interested in the Farmington leagues should also consult the material under the heading of West Bloomfield - Farmington. Huntington Woods and Lathrup Village joined the league of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge. For those interested in the League of Women Voters in the Upper Peninsula consult the local league series under each community as well as the heading of Copper Country.