Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
MS 16
Citizens' Committee for a Constitutional Convention
Records, 1955-1960, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Citizens' Committee for a Constitutional Convention |
| title: | Records |
| dates: | 1955-1960, undated |
| extent: | 2.5 linear feet (6 document boxes) |
| collection number: | MS 16 |
| repository: | Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Citizens' Committee for a Constitutional Convention Records, MS 16, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Historical note
In August 1959 the Citizens' Committee for a Constitutional Convention (CCCC) was formed. The group lobbied for a constitutional convention for Iowa as a means to obtain reapportionment of the state's General Assembly. The CCCC did not support a particular plan for reapportionment, but believed that it was up to the delegates of a constitutional convention to decide. Plans for reapportionment ranged from favoring both houses based on population, to one house based on land area and the other on population. The officers were William B. Quarton, Cedar Rapids, president; Lumond F. Wilcox, Jefferson, vice-president; Mrs. Fred Doderer, Iowa City, secretary; Jonathan M. Fletcher, Des Moines, treasurer. Jack Mills, Des Moines, was executive director and there were sixteen directors. This committee functioned from August 1959 until the election in November 1960. In spite of tremendous amounts of time, energy, and effort expended, the question of a Constitutional Convention as the best means of obtaining reapportionment of the General Assembly was defeated. |
Collection description
The collection contains records of the Citizens' Committee for a Constitutional Convention (CCCC) including minutes, correspondence, promotional material, administrative and legal information, and news clippings. Of note is a survey by counties of newspaper reactions to the proposed constitutional convention. |
Related materials
For a related materials in Special Collections and University Archvies, see: |
Organization
The collection is organized in two series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Correspondence and Administrative Files | 1959-1960 |
| extent: | 1 linear foot | |
| description: | This series contains correspondence, minutes, legal and administrative information, and promotional material about the CCCC and reapportionment of the Iowa General Assembly. The correspondence includes communications with officers, county chairmen, and CCCC workers, as well as correspondence with other Iowa organizations. Also included is correspondence and information on a League of Women Voters conference on the CCCC. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Minnette Doderer, Secretary: Outgoing and incoming correspondence |
1959-1960 |
1 |
2 |
June meeting |
1959 |
1 |
3 |
Minutes, correspondence and memoranda |
1959-1960 |
1 |
4 |
Legal matters, Articles of incorporation |
1959-1960 |
1 |
5 |
Correspondence: CCCC county chairmen |
1960 |
1 |
6 |
League of Women Voters Conference |
1960 |
1 |
7 |
Correspondence: Iowa organizations |
1960 |
1 |
8 |
Correspondence: out of state |
1960 |
1 |
9 |
Advertising: CCCC and reapportionment plans (see also 4/6) |
1960 |
1 |
10 |
Radio and TV Kits (see also 4/1) |
1960 |
1 |
11 |
Call for workers (Counties A-B) |
1960 |
1 |
12 |
Call for workers (Counties C) |
1960 |
2 |
1 |
Call for workers (Counties D-G) |
1960 |
2 |
2 |
Call for workers (Counties H-J) |
1960 |
2 |
3 |
Call for workers (Counties J-L) |
1960 |
2 |
4 |
Call for workers (Counties M-P) |
1960 |
2 |
5 |
Call for workers (Polk County) |
1960 |
3 |
1 |
Call for workers (Counties S-W) |
1960 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Campaign Materials and Newspaper Articles | 1955-1960 |
| extent: | 1.67 linear feet | |
| description: | This series contains material related to the CCCC's campaign for a constitutional convention in Iowa. In addition to promotional material and news clippings, the series includes a survey of newspaper reactions to the proposed constitutional convention. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
3 |
2 |
Radio and TV Kits (see also 1/10) |
1960 |
3 |
3 |
Speaker's Bureau |
1960, undated |
3 |
4 |
Speaker's Kit |
1960, undated |
3 |
5 |
Promotional material for county chairmen |
1959-1960 |
3 |
6 |
Advertising campaign material for CCCC (see also 1/9) |
1959-1960 |
3 |
7 |
Poll of General Assembly, February |
1960 |
3 |
8 |
Newspaper reactions to a constitutional convention (Counties A-C) |
1960 |
4 |
1 |
Newspaper reactions to a constitutional convention (Counties D-G) |
1960 |
4 |
2 |
Newspaper reactions to a constitutional convention (Counties H-R) |
1960 |
4 |
3 |
Newspaper reactions to a constitutional convention (Counties S-W) |
1960 |
4 |
4 |
Summary of Iowa Newspaper reactions to CCCC |
undated |
4 |
5 |
Newspaper clippings alphabetically by county: Adair-Boone |
1959-1960 |
5 |
1-32 |
Newspaper clippings alphabetically by county: Bremer-Osceola |
1959-1960 |
6 |
1-8 |
Newspaper clippings alphabetically by county: Paige-Wright |
1959-1960 |
6 |
9-22 |
Newspaper clippings arranged chronologically |
1959-1960 |
6 |
23-24 |
Newspaper clippings |
1955-1960 |