The Voter Education Project (VEP) began in 1962 as part of the Southern Regional Council. Initially VEP granted funds to civil rights organizations to support voter education, voter registration drives, and voting-related research. In 1964, Vernon Jordan, the second executive director of the VEP, expanded the programs goals to include citizenship training, voter education, and leadership training in the southern United States, while continuing to provide funds to independent voter and civil rights groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the League of Women Voters. The VEP’s work with the League of Women Voters is highlighted in the materials below.   In 1971, VEP under the leadership of John Lewis, became an independent organization and functioned as a research center and became known as an authoritative source for statistics on southern elections and voter registration in general. Lewis also forged the VEP into an activist organization, launching Voter Mobilization Tours with Georgia state legislator and civil rights advocate Julian Bond. 

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.
Sep 4, 2020

Voter Education Project Organizational Records

The Voter Education Project (VEP) began in 1962 as part of the Southern Regional Council. Initially VEP granted funds to civil rights organizations to support voter education, voter registration drives, and voting-related research. In 1964, Vernon Jordan, the second executive director of the VEP, expanded the programs goals to include citizenship training, voter education, and leadership training in the southern United States, while continuing to provide funds to independent voter and civil rights groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the League of Women Voters. The VEP’s work with the League of Women Voters is highlighted in the materials below. In 1971, VEP under the leadership of John Lewis, became an independent organization and functioned as a research center and became known as an authoritative source for statistics on southern elections and voter registration in general. Lewis also forged the VEP into an activist organization, launching Voter Mobilization Tours with Georgia state legislator and civil rights advocate Julian Bond.

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.

For:
  • Geographic Location = Alabama
  • Decade = 1960-1969
Title Date Created Description Subject Collection
"The Right to Vote", March 21, 1969 1969--03-21 A newspaper clipping describing the changes in voting and voter registration in the South. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Mr. Olive and Marjorie C. Hirth, July 25, 1968 1968-07-25 Correspondence between Mr. Olive and Marjorie C. Hirth discussing finances with enclosed financial report. 3 pages. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, Women--Societies and clubs, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
County Placement of Federal Examiners List, April 11, 1967 1967-04-11 List of dates regarding the placement of federal examiners in various Southern states, organized by county. 1 page. Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"New Negro Voting Watched in South", November 7, 1966 1966--11-07 A newspaper clipping describing the growing number of Black voters in the South. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Alabama Trip Report, 1966 1966 Report written by Marvin Wall detailing voter turnout in Alabama state elections. Voting, Voter Registration, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"A Message From Governor George C. Wallace, 1966 1966 Booklet from the Alabama Board of Registrars reminding citizens that they must be registered to vote and have paid their poll tax in order to vote in the election. The Board offered special registration sessions in January and February, and citizens could also check their local Board of Registrars for additional dates. The Board also reminded citizens that persons over 45 years of age and veterans of wartime service may not have to pay the poll tax. Citizens with questions about the poll tax were directed to contact their judge of probate. 4 pages. Political participation, Political campaigns, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Lingo Denies Charges of 'Police State'", May 29, 1964 1964-05-29 A newspaper clipping in which public safety director for the state of Alabama, Al Lingo, denies that Alabama is a "political police state." 1 page. Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Brief News Alabama", May 17, 1964 1964-05-17 A newspaper clipping describing candidates in the November elections. 1 page. Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Alabama in Sad Shape, Marshall", May 15, 1964 1964-05-15 A newspaper clipping quoting U.S. Assistant Attorney General Burke Marshall and discussing the enactment of civil rights legislation. 1 page. Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Wallace Slate Won 66 Counties", May 9, 1964 1964-05-09 A newspaper clipping describing the results from a state election. 1 page. Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ballot Day in Alabama", May 6, 1964 1964-05-06 A newspaper clipping regarding election day. 1 page. Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Letdown for LBJ Expected Tuesday", May 3, 1964 1964-05-03 A newspaper clipping describing the unpledged elector slate in Alabama. 1 page. Political campaigns, Political science, Political participation Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Let's Be Realistic", April 26, 1964 1964-04-26 A newspaper clipping of a flier advocating votes for pledged democratic electors. 1 page. Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ala. Negro Democrats Hit Wallace in 2-day Session", April 18, 1964 1964-04-18 A newspaper clipping referencing two articles, outlined in red. The first article (center) describes a meeting of the Alabama Democratic Conference in which they condemn Governor George Wallace's racism. The other article, entitled "State Political Leaders Meet," references the annual meeting of the Alabama State Coordinating Association for Registration and Voting and a presentation by the Voter Education Project. 2 pages. Voter registration, Voting, Political campaigns, Political participation, Race discrimination Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Senator Leroy Johnson to Speak at Alabama Democratic Conference, April 1, 1964 1964-04-01 A newspaper clipping describing an upcoming meeting of the Alabama Democratic Conference featuring Georgia State Senator Leroy Johnson and Maryland State Senator Verda F. Welcome as speakers. 1 page. Voter registration, Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Unpledged Slate Waste of Ballot Rains States", April 1, 1964 1964-04-01 A newspaper clipping regarding the unpledged Democratic elector slate in Alabama. 1 page. Voting, Political participation, Political campaigns, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"For Unpledged Electors", March 29, 1964 1964-03-29 A newspaper clipping of an opinion column written by Jay Thornton describing his opposition to the Democratic Party. 1 page. Voting, Political campaigns, Political participation Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Race Committee Hires Agent", March 25, 1964 1964-03-25 A newspaper clipping describing the Alabama State Legislature's racial investigation committee hiring an investigators. 1 page. Race relations, Race discrimination, Political science Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"New Registration System in Use", March 12, 1964 1964-03-12 A newspaper clipping describing the use of different voter registration questionnaires. 1 page. Voter registration, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Flowers to Seek Order Against Demonstrations", March 11, 1964 1964-03-11 A newspaper clipping regarding the Alabama State Attorney General Richmond Flowers's decision to seek injunctions to prevent planned protests. 1 page. Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Protest movements Voter Education Project Organizational Records