The League of Women Voters 35
The League of Women Voters in Dutchess County: Its Origin and Accomplishments by Eleanor Rubin Charwat From its founding in 1925 to its merger with the Mid-Ulster League in 1990, the League of Women Voters of Dutchess County made a significant impact on the lives of its members and the community.
Early Days of the League in Dutchess County-1920s and 1930s In 1919, two years after New York State gave women the right to vote, the League of Women Voters of New York State was created to educate women on their new-found rights and to encourage them to get involved in the political process. From its earliest days, the League declared itself a non-partisan organization, not endorsing any political party or candidates, although its members were free to support whoever they chose. Before the creation of a Dutchess County League of Women Voters, members of The Women’s City and County Club of Poughkeepsie participated in the State League convention as delegates in 1921 and as hosts in 1922. Miss Laura Wylie, a Vassar graduate and later head of the English Department, chaired the 1922 convention and led a workshop on “Steps in Civic and Political Education.” Miss Marian Dickerman spoke on “Women’s Interest in Industrial Affairs,” Mrs. Samuel Bens on “Women’s Interest in International Affairs” and National League President Mrs. Maud Wood Park on “Recent Achievements in National Legislation for Women.”1 The Poughkeepsie Eagle News reported that the convention was “crowded to the doors.”2 Eleanor Roosevelt attended, as did a delegation from Vassar College.Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe at 62 Market Street provided lunch for the participants for 75 cents. Three years later, in 1925, the Dutchess County League of Women Voters was formed and Mrs. Louise Hill of the Bennett School was elected president. The County League was divided into two districts: District 1 included Amenia, Pawling, Beacon, Dover, Fishkill, LaGrange, North East, Pine Plains, Pleasant Valley, Red Hook, Wappingers and Washington. Officers were: Anna Vincent Davis of Dover Furnace, Mrs.
