| Title | Date Created | Description | Subject | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistical Analysis of Black Vote for President in Fulton County, November 2, 1976 | 1976-11-02 | Statistical analysis of the Fulton County Black vote for President, conducted by Clarence A. Bacote, including information regarding total registered voters, total votes for Carter, and total votes for Ford in the 1976 Presidential Election. 1 page. | Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Black Voter Registration Declining", November 1, 1976 | 1976-11-01 | Newspaper article describing that Black voter participation in national elections was declining steadily during the 1970s, even as the number of Black elected officials on the state and local levels soared. There were a number of reasons for this decline, including cynicism about the political process and a lack of faith that government would respond to the needs of Black voters. Despite this decline, Black voters still possessed the opportunity to play a decisive role in the 1976 presidential election, particularly in key industrial states. 1 page. | Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Get Out the Vote Peanut Roast" Flyer, November 1, 1976 | 1976-11-01 | Flyer for a "Get Out the Vote" Peanut Roast and Rally held before the 1976 Presidential Election, featuring guests like Congressman Andrew Young, Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller, and Mayor Maynard Jackson, held on November 1, 1976 in Central City Park. 1 page. | African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Damn the Politicians, You're Hurting Yourself", October 30, 1976 | 1976-10-30 | Article on how the VEP found that many southern Black voters, especially those under 30 who did not participate in the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, have become disenchanted with the power of the ballot due to growing skepticism about the system and recent governmental scandals, which may result in a low voter turnout and a decrease in the number of Black elected officials in the South. 1 page. | Voter registration, Voting, Political participation | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Record Number of Blacks Will Vote, VEP Says", October 29, 1976 | 1976-10-29 | The VEP predicted a record turnout of Black voters in the South for the 1976 US presidential election, based on reports of record Black voter registration in local drives conducted by the organization and enthusiasm on the part of local organizations and volunteers. 1 page. | Voter registration, Voting, Political participation | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| Jimmy Carter Campaign Envelope Adressed to John R. Lewis, October 28, 1976 | 1976-10-28 | Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondate campaign envelope addressed to John R. Lewis during the 1976 Presidential Campaign. 1 page. | Political campaigns, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Liberation Day November 2, 1976", October 27, 1976 | 1976-10-27 | Newspaper op-ed by John R. Lewis, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, imploring Black Americans to exercise their right to vote in the 1976 elections. Lewis argued that the vote was a powerful tool that could be used to transform communities, improve education, and achieve economic equality. He urged Black Americans to use their votes to elect officials who would represent their interests and create a better future for all. 1 page. | African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "De Svartas Kampanda Ska Vackas", October 18, 1976 | 1976-10-18 | Correspondence from Harald Hamrin, jounalist for the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, addressed to John R. Lewis regarding Hamrin's attached article discussing Lewis' civil rights activities in America. 3 pages. | African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| Working, From Selma to the Polls, John Lewis, October 12, 1976 | 1976-10-12 | John Lewis, the former director of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and a civil rights activist, is now leading the Voter Education Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting voter registration and participation among minorities and young people, but faces challenges due to voter apathy and distrust of public officials. 1 page. | African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Apathy Irks Man Who Fought For Vote", October 10, 1976 | 1976-10-10 | Newspaper article featuring the sentiments of John R. Lewis, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, as he discussed the importance of voting and the challenges facing voter registration efforts in the South. Lewis argued that voter apathy and cynicism were among the major obstacles to increasing voter turnout, especially among young people. He also cited the lack of universal voter registration and the intimidation of Black voters by law enforcement as problems that needed to be addressed. 1 page. | African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Lewis To Speak At 'Vote' Rally", October 8, 1976 | 1976-10-08 | Newspaper article describing plans for John R. Lewis, the executive director of the Voter Education Project (VEP), and Georgia State Rep. David Scott to speak at a "Get Out the Vote Rally" on Tuesday, October 12, 1976, at Texas College Martin Hall. The non-partisan event was designed to encourage people to vote in the upcoming general election. Lewis and Scott were also set to meet with local community leaders at Bethlehem Baptist Church prior to the rally. 1 page. | African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Bond's Message for the Powerless", October 6, 1976 | 1976-10-06 | Senator Julian Bond delivered a speech at the NAACP convention in Chicago, where he discussed the importance of the ballot and how the government affects lives, and the need for sustained effort on the part of Black leadership to register and to prepare for a lasting political war. 1 page. | African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Local Leagues Pushed For Debates", October 3, 1976 | 1976-10-03 | Newspaper article describing local Mississippi chapters of the League of Women Voters' petitioning of the national League to sponsor televised debates between Jimmy Carter and President Ford. The League agreed to sponsor three televised debates between the two candidates, and one vice presidential debate. 1 page. | African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Carter Speaks at 3rd Annual VEP Dinner", September 29, 1976 | 1976-09-29 | Article on President Jimmy Carter speaking at the Third Annual Benefit Dinner of the nonpartisan Voter Education Project, advocating for a universal voter registration law that would automatically register 18-year-old citizens and make the VEP unnecessary, and how it was supported by both Republicans and Democrats. 2 pages. | Voter registration, Voting, Political participation | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Voter Registration Urged Of Blacks", September 29, 1976 | 1976-09-29 | Newspaper article describing John R. Lewis sentiments on voter registration after speaking at a press conference in Greenville, South Carolina, on September 26, 1976. Lewis urged Black voters to register to vote before the October 2 registration deadline. Lewis said that he and his colleagues found that 80% of the students at a community college in Mississippi were not registered to vote. He also insisted that the federal government do more to make it easier to register to vote. 1 page. | African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Voter Education Project on Voter Mobilization Tour", September 19, 1976 | 1976-09-19 | The VEP launched a voter mobilization tour which aimed to visit all 11 southern states before election day, and featured a combination of voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, with a focus on educating and motivating nonparticipating segments of society to take an active role in selecting government leaders and having a voice in decisions affecting collective lives. 1 page. | Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| "Black Voter Participation," September 16, 1976 | 1976-09-16 | Newspaper article recording remarks made during a Congressional session held on September 16, 1976 regarding Black voter participation. The speaker, "Mr. Glenn", noted the obstacles to Black voter participation in the United States, particularly in the South. Glenn cited examples of voter intimidation, discrimination, and harassment, and argued that these practices were still prevalent despite the passage of the Voting Rights Act. The author also highlighted the work of the Voter Education Project (VEP), in its work to register and mobilize Black voters. 1 page. | Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| Jimmy Carter with John Lewis and Coretta Scott-King, September 2, 1976 | 1976-09-02 | Newspaper printed photo of John R. Lewis, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Gail Fisher, televison actress, Coretta Scott-King, widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jimmy Carter, former Georgia Governor and 1976 Democratic nominee for President, at the VEP's Third Annual Benefit Dinner. 1 page. | African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
| Correspondence Between Mr. John Lewis and Mrs. Beatrice Clay, September 1, 1976 | 1976-09-01 | Correspondence between Mr. John Lewis and Mrs. Beatrice Clay discussing funds to conduct voter registration/citizenship education program. 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 |
| "Women Voters to Sponsor Debates", August 31, 1976 | 1976-08-31 | The Federal Election Commission authorized the League of Women Voters to sponsor the proposed presidential campaign debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, which are expected to cost $150,000 each and start about the third week in September, but there remains a question regarding the role of independent candidates like conservative Lister Maddox and liberal Eugene McCarthy, who have indicated they will go to court if necessary to force the networks to give them equal time with the two major candidates. 1 page. | Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers, African American women | Voter Education Project Organizational Records |
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.
