The Grand Rapids Citizens League was formed in 1918 with the purpose of insuring the success of the Commission-Manager form of city government. The Leagues' belief was that the operation of this form of government required the election of qualified public candidates to run this modern, business-like government. Roy C. Hattan, formerly assistant city attorney, was elected secretary and effectively functioned as the chief executive officer of the League. Hattan and his successor, Russel F. Griffin, attempted to have elected those candidates who best exemplified the ideals of the Citizens League. The League, through the early 1920s, became embroiled in local politics on all levels, joining in name-calling, deal making, and other facets of local politics as then existed.

The League adopted the cause of Prohibition, and fought for its passage and continued to support the efforts to eradicate illegal boot-legging and production. The League was generally supportive of efforts to apply "moral" standards to governmental issues, but these standards often were not supported by the greater part of the electorate. By 1926, support for the League had waned, and in the fall of 1926, the League was dissolved, and its records donated to the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Note: An earlier group, called the Citizens Alliance of Grand Rapids, appears to be a union labor organization, rather than a political oversight organization, such as the Citizens League. For items from the Citizens Alliance, see Coll. 263.