MOPIRG began in March, 1971, after students at St. Louis University heard a speech by Ralph Nader. Nader inspired the students to organize citizen action groups modeled after similar groups in Oregon and Minnesota. The Center for Student Action at St. Louis University and the Missouri Public Action Council at Washington University lobbied to establish a public interest research organization funded by a small assessment added to student activities fees. Student referenda on both campuses supported the fee assessment. The two student groups combined their operations and formed MOPIRG. MOPIRG is a research and advocacy organization for consumer, citizen, and student interests in Missouri.
MoPIRG's earliest campaigns included a successful appeal to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate deceptive advertising and sales practices by some St. Louis used car dealers in 1972. The group was also represented on the St. Louis Advertising Review Board, a self-regulatory board of the Advertising Club and the Better Business Bureau. MOPIRG gained national attention for its criticism of self-regulation by the advertising industry. MOPIRG also championed the right torepresentation for St. Louis City Jail prisoners. Their proposal led to the establishment of an ombudsman position by the St. Louis Department of Welfare in August, 1973.
MOPIRG was active in campaigns to stop legislation that would raise the legal ceiling of small loan interest rates in Missouri,, drafted a consumer protection ordinance presented to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in September, 1973, and published research on a variety of consumer and citizen related issues. It researched and developed legislation that helped improve workers' compensation laws in Missouri and was also successful in stopping an effort to eliminate the public display rating system for area restaurants. From 1975 to 1981, MOPIRG developed a comprehensive revision of the state landlord-tenant law and successfully worked for its passage twice in the Missouri House of Representatives, although the bill was defeated both times in the Senate.
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter attempted to reform the patronage system of judicial selection for the Circuit Court of Appeals. MOPIRG responded by forming a coalition of eleven political organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the NAACP, to urge Senator Thomas Eagleton to establish a merit nominating process on the state level. Senator Eagleton's resistance to this idea led MOPIRG to work successfully for legislation requiring the President to develop merit selection guidelines.
Other issues MOPIRG has been involved with include requiring school testing services to make test results available to students, curbing utility rate increases, reforming media practices, and passing a national advisory referendum that would allow a non-binding public vote on government policy questions. Although funding for the group has decreased with a concomitant decrease in student activism, MOPIRG continues to work -for social reform.
The Missouri Public Interest Research Group records of 1971 to 1981 document the founding and early history of the group, the development of MOPIRG legislative proposals, attempts to establish PIRG's on other St. Louis campuses, and group campaigns for various social reforms, with significant amounts of material on consumer protection, landlord-tenant law, and the merit selection of judges.
Included with the collection are board meeting minutes, bylaws, news releases, press clippings, public testimony, memoranda, legislative research and proposals, notes, correspondence,, surveys, petitions and publications.
The collection is divided into four series: (1) Organizational Records; (2) Subject Files; (3) Publications; (4) Scrapbooks.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
SERIES 1 - ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS, 1971-1981, folders 1-30
The organization and Administration series includes board meeting minutes, bylaws, news
releases, correspondence, press clippings, and legislative memoranda. Arranged alphabetically.
SERIES 2 - SUBJECT FILES, 1971-1981, Folders 31-140
The Subject Files series include notes, public testimony, correspondence, surveys, memoranda, reports, legislative proposals, notes, petitions, newsclippings, flyers, and endorsements. Arranged alphabetically with substantial amounts of material filed under Consumer Protection Law (Folders 46-56); Landlord-Tenant Law (Folders 81-95); and Merit Selection of Judges (Folders 96-112).
SERIES 3 - PUBLICATIONS, 1973-1981, Folders 141-160
The Publications series includes handbooks, guides, information booklets and proposals published by MOPIRG. It also includes issues of MOPIRG News Notes and MOPIRG Reports. Arranged alphabetically.
SERIES 4 - SCRAPBOOKS, 1971-1977, folders 161-165
The Scrapbooks series includes five press clippings scrapbooks. Arranged chronologically.
FOLDER LIST
BOX 1 (21902)
Series 1 - ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS
1. Administrative and Program Staff Personnel Policy, 1981
2. Board Meeting Minutes, 1971-1973
3. Board Meeting Minutes, 1973
4. Board Meeting Minutes, 1974-1978
5. Bylaws, 1973
6. General Information'. nd., 1978, 198o
7. Intern Information', nd.
8. Introduction to Political Fund Raising, nd.
9. Letters from Legislators To and About PIRG'S, 1971-1975
10. News Releases, 1972
11. News Releases, 1973
12. News Releases, 1975
13. News Releases, 1976
14. News Releases, 1977
15. News Releases, 1978
16. News Releases, 1979
17. News Releases, 1980
18. News Releases, 1981
19. Newspaper Columns, 1975
20. Organizing Material, 1974
21. PIRG History, 1979
22. Press Clippings, Campus, 1974-1978
23. Press Clippings, Campus, 1979-1981
24. Press Clippings, Community, 1973-1978
25. Press Clippings, Community, 1979-1980
26. Press Clippings, Community, 1980-1981, nd.
27. University of Missouri, MOPIRG Chapter, Attorney General's Opinion, 1975
28. University of Missouri-St. Louis, Legal Memorandum and Correspondence on Establishing MOPIRG Chapter, 1972-1975
29. University of Missouri-St. Louis, Proposal to Establish MOPIRG Chapter, 1972-1975
30. University of Missouri-St. Louis, Proposed MOPIRG Chapter Correspondence, 1973-1975 (See also University Archives Student Oraganizations)
BOX 2 (21905)
Series 2 - SUBJECT FILES
31. Abandoned Buildings, Notes and Testimony, 1977
32. Advertising Review Board, Correspondence, 1971-1972
33. Advertising Self-Regulation by Publishers, 1971-1972
34. Citizens Consumer Advisory Commission, Correspondence, 1972
35. Class Action Suits, General, 1972
36. Comments and Petitions to Federal Agencies, 1974-1976
37. Consumer Affairs Division, Missouri Statute, nd.
38. Consumer Affairs Office, St. Louis, Candidate Surveys, 1977
39. Consumer Affairs Office, St. Louis, Correspondence, 1973
40. Consumer Affairs Office,, St. Louis, Established Support, 1977
41. Consumer Affairs Office, St. Louis, Memo to Mayor Conway, May, 1977
42. Consumer Affairs Office, St. Louis, Notes, Reports and Newsclippings, 1977
43. Consumer Affairs Office, St. Louis, Pending Support Sources, 1977
44. Consumer Cases, KMOX Call for Action, 1978
45. Consumer Groups, Descriptive Literature, 1972-1973
46. Consumer Protection in Missouri Research Report, nd.
47. Consumer Protection Law, State Legislation, 1972-1973
48. Consumer Protection Ordinance,, General,, 1972
49. Consumer Protection Ordinance, Board Bill 180, Summary and Lobby Strategy, 1972
50. Consumer Protection Ordinance, Kansas City Correspondence, 1972-1973
51. Consumer Protection Ordinance Legislative Notes, 1972
52. Consumer Protection Ordinance, Legislative Notes, 1972
53. Consumer Protection Ordinance, Nassau County, New York, 1971
54. Consumer Protection Ordinance, New York City, 1972
55. Consumer Protection Ordinance, Other Cities, 1972-1973
56. Consumer Protection Ordinance, St. Louis City, Correspondence and Proposal, 1972
57. Credit Advertising, 1971
58. Credit Life Insurance, Correspondence, 1976
59. Federal Trade Commission, Billboard Petition, 1977
60. Federal Trade Commission, Cigarette Advertising, Correspondence, 1975-1977
61. Fair Credit Reporting Act, Correspondence, 1976
62. Federal Trade Commission'. Congressional Oversight, 1976
63. Federal Trade Commission, General, c-1976-1979
64. Federal Trade Commission, National Advertising Board of Review Petition, 1976
65. Federal Trade Commission, Procedural Petition, Correspondence, 1975-1976
66. Federal Trade Commission, Ryan Testimony Before the Committee on Government Operations, 1976
67. Federal Trade Commission, Used Car Financing in St. Louis, Correspondence, 1976
BOX 3 (21916)
68. Freedom of Information, Correspondence, 1975
69. Freedom of Information, Newsclippings, 1975
70. Freedom of Information, Notes, 1974
71. Freedom of Information, "Public Access to Public Documents in Missouri" by Tom Ryan, Drafts and Correspondence, May-July, 1975
72. Holder in Due Course, Correspondence, 1972
73. Holder in Due Course, General, 1971-1973
74. Holder in Due Course, Notes and Drafts, 1973-197h
75. Holder in Due Course, Reports and Testimony, 1972-1973
76. Housing, Displacement Lawsuit Against Pantheon Corporation, 1978
77. Housing, The Model Lease, nd.
78. Housing Project, nd.
79. Juvenile Court Commissioner Appointment, December, 1977
80. Laclede Gas, Non-Rate Policies, Notes and Report, 1975
81. Landlord-Tenant Law, Background for Tenants Handbook,, 1979
82. Landlord-Tenant Law, Board Bill 198, 1980
83. Landlord-Tenant Law, Code Enforcement Notes, nd.
84. Landlord-Tenant Law, Contact Lists, 1979
85. Landlord-Tenant Law, Drafts, nd.
86. Landlord-Tenant Law Correspondence, 1977-1979
87. Landlord-Tenant Law, Legislative, 1978-1979
88. Landlord-Tenant Law, General, 1979, nd.
89. Landlord-Tenant Law, Memoranda, 1979
90. Landlord-Tenant Law, Notes, 1979
91. Landlord-Tenant Law, Rent Control Packet, nd.
92. Landlord-Tenant Law, Summaries and Endorsements of HB572 and HB1132, 1978-1979
93. Landlord-Tenant Law, Summary of HB1568, 1980
94. Landlord-Tenant Law, Tenants' Rights Handbooks, nd.
95. Landlord-Tenant Law, Testimony, 1978-1979
96. Merit Selection of Judges, Correspondence, 1977
97. Merit Selection of Judges, Correspondence, 1978
98. Merit Selection of Judges, Correspondence, 1979
99. Merit Selection of Judges, Correspondence, 1980
100. Merit Selection of Judges, News Releases, nd., 1979
101. Merit Selection of Judges, Newsclippings, 1976-1977
102. Merit Selection of Judges, Newsclippings, 1978-1979
103. Merit Selection of Judges, Newsclippings, 1980, nd.
104. Merit Selection of Judges, Notes, c-1978
105. Merit Selection of Judges, Public Testimony, 1979
106. Merit Selection of Judges, Ryan vs. Department of Justice, Halpern vs. Department of Justice, Correspondence, December, 1978 - May, 1979
BOX 4 (21917)
107. Merit Selection of Judges, Support, 1977
108. Merit Selection of Judges, Eighth Circuit Nominating Panel, Correspondence, 1978
109. Merit Selection of Judges, Judicial Selection Project, 1978-1979
110. Merit Selection of Judges, Krauskopf Nomination, 1979
111. Merit Selection of Judges, Magazine Articles, 1978-1979
112. Merit Selection of Judges, Memoranda, 1977-198o
113. Merit Selection of Judges, Ryan vs. Department of Justice, Halpern vs. Department of Justice, Testimony, 7/29/79
114. Merit Selection of Judges, Ryan vs. Department of Justice, Halpern vs. Department of Justice, Testimony, 7/29/79
115. Merit Selection of Judges, St. Louis University Law Journal, 10/77
116. Merit Selection of Judges, Women Lawyers' Judicial Screening Panel,, 1978-1979
117. National Advisory Referendum, Correspondence, 1978-1979
118. National Advisory Referendum, Literature, 1978-1980
119. National Advisory Referendum, Newsclippings, 1979-1981
120. National Consumers Relations Act, 1981
121. Physical Culture Advertising Abuse, Correspondence, 1972-1981
122. Product Liability, Literature, 1978-1980
123. Product Liability, Miscellaneous, nd., 1980
124. Product Liability, Statements and Testimony, 1977-1979
125. Public Interest Research, Newsclippings, and Correspondence, 1977-1978
126. Sex Discrimination and Credit Policies by Richard Gottlieb, 1975
127. Small Loan Interest Rate Increase, Correspondence, 1973
128. Small Loan Interest Rates, General,- 1973
129. Small Loan Interest Rates Increase, Press Releases, 1973
130. Student Fee Amendment, Correspondence, 1976
131. Tenant Information Center, Information Flyers, 1980
132. Truth-in-Lending, General, 1973-1975
133. Tenants' Union, 1979
134. Truth-in-Testing, Articles, 1979-1981
135. Truth-in-Testing, Contacts, 1979
136. Truth-in-Testing, Endorsements, 1978-1981
137. Truth-in-Testing, General, 1978-1981
138. Truth-in-Testing, Legislation, 198o-1981
139. Truth-in-Testing, Press Releases, 1979-1980
140. Utility Rate Structures, 1975-1976
Series 3 - PUBLICATIONS
141. Ask Me No Questions and I'll Tell You No Lies!, A Study in Support of the Moss-McGovern Truth in Advertising Act, 1974
142. Cable Television in St. Louis, A Citizens' Handbook, 1974
BOX 5 (21983)
143. Changing More Than the Channel, A Citizens' Guide to Forming a Media Access Group, 1979
144. Consumer Complaint Guide, 1976
145. Emergency Medical Services in St. Louis, A Review of 911 Phone Systems, Categorization of Hospital Emergency Services, St. Louis City Ambulance Service, nd.
146. Handbook on Women and the Law in Missouri, 1977
147. Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due, A Citizens' Guide to the Equal Opportunity Act, 1977
148. Information Guide to the Utilities and Crther Related Issues, nd.
149. Misleading Advertising: Everybody's Business, A Study of the National Advertising Review Board, 1974
150. Missouri Energy Conservation Resource Guide, 1980
151. MOPIRG News Notes, 1974
152. MOPIRG Reports, 1974-1981,t@@@
153. Opening Your Files, A Citizens' Guide to Fair Credit Reporting and the Federal Privacy Act, 1975
154. Prescription Drug Pricing, The Politics of Pills and Profits, 1975
155. Public Interest Report Card, Missouri General Assembly, 1978
156. Public Service Guide for Radio and TV, 1980
157. Publications List, 198o
158. St. Louis Employment Agencies and Unlawful Employment Practices, 1977
159. What Can We Do About the City Jail? A Proposal to Establish An Ombudsman for the St. Louis City Jail, 1973
160. Workmens' Compensation in Missouri, 1973
Series 4 - SCRAPBOOKS
161. Press Clippings, April, 1971 - May, 1973
162. Press Clippings, 1971-1977
163. Press Clippings, May, 1973 - March, 1975
164. Press Clippings, 1974-1976
165. Press Clippings, 1975-1976
INDEX
Abandoned Buildings, f. 31
Advertising Review Board, f. 32, 33, 128, 136
Banking, f. 126-129
Cable Television, f. 142
Center for Student Action (St. Louis University), f. 160
Citizens' Consumer Advisory Commission, f. 34
Class Action Suits, f. 35Community Organizing, f. 160
Consumer Affairs Office, f. 37-43
Consumer Protection Law, f. 46-56
Consumerism, f. 1-147
Credit Advertising, f. 57
Credit Life Insurance, f. 58
Emergency Medical Services, f. 145
Employment Agencies, f. 158
Energy Conservation, f. 150
Fair Credit, f. 153
Federal Privacy Act, f. 153
Federal Trade Commission, f. 59-67
Freedom of Information, f. 68-71
Holder in Due Course Law, f. 72-75
Housing, f. 76-78
Juvenile Court Commissioner, f. 76
KMOX Call for Action, f. 44
Laclede Gas, f. 80
Landlord-Tenant Law, f. 81-95, 131, 133
Legislation, f. 1-160
Media Access, f. 142-143
Merit Selection of Judges, f. 96-116
Missouri General Assembly, f. 155
Missouri Public Action Council (Washington University), f. 1-160
Missouri Public Interest Research Group, f. 1-160
Missouri Public Service Commission, f. 1-16o
MOPIRG (see Missouri Public Interest Research Group)
Nader, Ralph, f. 1-165
National Advisory Referendum, f. 117-119
National Consumers Relation Act, f. 120
Pantheon Corporation, f. 76
Physical Culture Advertising, f. 121
Prescription Drug Pricing, f. 154
Product Liability, f. 122-124
Public Interest, f. 1-160
Radio, f. 156
Ryan, Tom-and Evonne, f. 1-160
St. Louis City Jail, f. 159
Sex Discrimination'. f. 126
Small Loan Interest Rates, f. 127-129
Television, f. 142, 156
Truth-in-Lending, f. 132
Truth-in-Testing, f. 134-139
University of Missouri, MOPIRG Chapter, f. 28-30
Utility Rate Structures, f. 14o, 146
Women--Legal Status, Laws, Etc., f. 146
Workers' Compensation, f. 160
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
222 THOMAS JEFFERSON LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF MSSOURI-ST. LOUIS
8001 NATURAL BRIDGE ROAD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63121
(314) 516-5143
whmc@umsl.edu