Oral History Overview

Annie joined the Beloit LWV in 1957 and celebrated 50 years of membership in 2007. She retains her membership and attends occasional events. Although less active than in the past, she continues to contribute financially and firmly believes in the League's work, particularly its attention to promoting voting, advocating for voting rights and access to voting, and bringing attention to critical issues through studies.

1. Biography

I grew up in Kenosha and attended Mary D. Bradford High School. It was named after the first female Superintendent of the Kenosha School System, and when I attended, it was located in the center of the city. It had been the first free high school west of the Alleghenies. Mary D. Bradford High School is now located in the northern outskirts of Kenosha. Today, an alternative school sits at the original site.

I attended the University of Wisconsin, where I earned a Bachelor's degree and studied elementary education. I began my studies there in 1947. After graduating, I spent a year teaching in Dodgeville before marrying Dave Collins. I then moved to Charlottesville, where he was attending the U.S. Army's JAG school. We had such fun exploring Virginia. Virginia is beautiful. At that time, you could drive up to Jefferson's Monticello and park right next to it to admire the view.

For about a half of a year I taught at a white-only school in Stanardsville, VA. It was so poor that there was only one light bulb in a room, windows were broken, and some of the children had no shoes. They were just beginning to require school attendance.

Dave's father died, so he was released from the Army and we moved to Beloit around Christmas to live with his mother. She lived just two houses down from where Dave and I built our home and where I continue to live.

While a student in Madison, I had volunteered for the Young Democrats, while living in the Elizabeth Waters residence hall. Because my friend and I had leafleated for Harry Truman, we were invited to attend the party for him, but because we had a 10:30 curfew, and we thought he would lose, we didn't go. What a mistake! On top of that, we were too young to vote: You had to be 21.

2. When did you join the League?

I joined the Beloit League while living with my mother-in-law, who was a member. I remember attending one of my first committee meetings with Lillian Lamb and Mrs. Lucius Porter. I thought they were so old, in part because they were dressed so differently from me. I now realize they were younger than I am now.

I had my 18-month old daughter with me; in those days there weren't any babysitters during the day, only in the evening. Liberated from her playpen, my daughter loved crawling around on the floor. I still have Lillian Lamba's recipe for date cakes; she was famous for them. In those days, there were always refreshments at meetings, and League members always made them.

3. Why did you want to be a member of the League and why did you remain a member? 

I was motivated to join because my mother-in-law was a member, but I also wanted to meet other women with interests similar to mine.

I stayed because I made such good friends and because I was interested in politics and in supporting voting.

4. How were you active in the League?

As a League member, I helped tally Rock County votes, which had to be done by hand. I wonder how manymistakes were made! As a League member, I also helped call in poll results after the polling stations had closed. Beyond that, I helped register Beloit College students to vote.

Aside from that, a lot of League members were poll workers. Me, too. This wasn't official League work, but it fit. I don't actually live in Beloit but instead on the outskirts in Turtle Township. For years I served as a poll worker in the old Turtle Township Hall. That small building no longer stands. Poll workers had very long days there when elections took place.

I retired from poll worker duties before voting machines were introduced.

5. What is most valuable about the LWV's work?

Getting out the vote. Drawing attention to elections. Promoting absentee voting. Doing non-partisan studies. And also promoting voting rights and access to voting. The work is so important because voting suppression continues to be a problem. I'm also really interested now in redistricting; voting maps need to be more fair.

6. How has the LWV influenced you?

I have become more aware of things in the world. The studies have been informative.

7. Reflections on the 19th Amendment Celebration?

The amendment was a long time coming. I'm so glad the voting age is now 18, not 21.