Collection Summary
Citizen Party (U.S.) Records 1976-1993
(bulk 1979-1981)
1976-1993
(bulk 1979-1981)
MSS85427
Citizens Party (U.S.)
2,800 items
8 containers
3.2 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Political party composed of environmentalist and liberal groups. Correspondence, meeting
notes, local chapter records, financial records, membership directories, newsletters,
newspaper clippings, and printed matter pertaining to the organization of the Citizens
Party, the formation of its platform, and its early campaign efforts.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Commoner, Barry, 1917-2012.
Harris, LaDonna.
Leahy, Dan (Daniel B.)
Organizations
Citizens Party (U.S.)
Subjects
Environmentalism--United States.
Liberalism--United States.
Political parties--United States.
Presidents--United States--Election--1980.
Places
United States--Politics and government--1945-1989.
Provenance
The records of the Citizens Party (U.S.) were given to the Library of Congress by Dan
Lieberman in 2008. Additional records were given by Dan Leahy in 2018.
Processing History
The records of the Citizens Party (U.S.) were processed and cataloged in 2008.
Additional material was processed and the collection description was expanded into a
finding aid in 2018.
Related Material
Related collections in the Manuscript Division include the papers of [Barry Commoner] .
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of the Citizens Party (U.S.) is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The records of the Citizens Party (U.S.) are open to research. Researchers are
advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections
are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research
use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Citizens Party (U.S.) Records, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Organizational History
Date
Event
1979
Established in Washington D.C. as a progressive, environmentalist, and
liberal political party
Registered with the Federal Elections Commission
1980
Held first national convention in Cleveland, Ohio, where delegates nominated
Barry Commoner for President and LaDonna Harris for Vice President
1981
Terry Bouricius is first party candidate to win an election when elected to
the Board of Aldermen in Burlington, Vt.
1984
Held second national convention in St. Paul, Minn., where delegates nominated
Sonia Johnson for president and Richard Walton for vice president
1987
Disbanded after low votes cast for party nominees in 1986 elections
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Citizens Party span the years 1976 to 1993, with the bulk of the
material ranging in date between 1979 and 1981. The collection is arranged
alphabetically by topic or material type, with a significant portion concentrated in a
grouping representing papers maintained by Dan Leahy, executive director, national
secretary, and executive committee member of the party from 1979 to 1981.
The collection primarily chronicles the Citizens Party’s organization at the national
and local level, the formation of its platform, and its campaign efforts, especially
during the 1980 presidential election. Very little material related to the party’s
activities beyond 1983 and ultimate disbandment in 1987 is represented in these records.
Material types include correspondence, Executive Committee and Steering Committee
meeting notes, campaign strategy files, local chapter procedures and records, financial
records, membership directories, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and printed matter.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by topic or type of material.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm2008085427]
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Campaign material, 1980-1981,
1993
1980-1981,
1993
1
Conventions, 1980-1982
1980-1982
1
Correspondence, 1980-1983, 1992
1980-1983, 1992
(4 folders)
1
Dan Leahy papers
1
April convention, 1980
1980
(3 folders)
2
(1 folder)
2
Atlanta, Ga. chapter, 1980-1981
1980-1981
(3 folders)
2
Ballot access, 1979-1980
1979-1980
2
Chronological file, 1979-1980
1979-1980
(3 folders)
3
(5 folders)
3
Commoner, Barry and LaDonna Harris campaign,
1980
1980
4
Context papers, 1976-1979
1976-1979
(3 folders)
4
Executive Committee, 1980-1981
1980-1981
(4 folders)
5
Financial documents, 1979-1980
1979-1980
(3 folders)
5
Fundraising, 1979-1980
1979-1980
5
Inter-party relations, 1979
1979
5
Local chapter recognition, 1980
1980
5
Local organization, 1979-1980
1979-1980
5
National office, Washington, D.C., 1979-1980
1979-1980
5
Newsletters and clippings, 1979-1980
1979-1980
6
Nominations, 1980
1980
6
Platform, 1979-1980
1979-1980
6
Political Action Committee, 1980
1980
6
Position papers, 1979
1979
6
Seattle, Wa. chapter, 1980
1980
6
State caucus procedures, 1980
1980
(3 folders)
7
(2 folders)
7
Steering Committee, 1979-1980
1979-1980
(2 folders)
7
Strategies, 1979-1980
1979-1980
7
Western Regional Coordinating Committee,
1980
1980
7
Executive Committee and officers, undated
undated
7
Financial records, 1980-1983
1980-1983
7
Meetings, 1980-1981
1980-1981
7
Membership, 1980-1981
1980-1981
(1 folder)
8
(1 folder)
8
Notes, 1980-1981
1980-1981
8
Organization
8
Local chapters, 1979-1981
1979-1981
8
National, 1981
1981
8
Publicity
8
Brochures and circulars, 1979-1982
1979-1982
8
Newspaper clippings, 1979-1983
1979-1983
(2 folders)
8
Newsletters, 1980-1982
1980-1982
8
Speeches and statements, 1980-1981
1980-1981