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.
21 Objects displayed
AllCollectionsObjects
  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Geographic Location = Georgia--Atlanta
  • Subjects = African American civil rights workers
  • Decade = 1970-1979
Correspondence with an article discussing how John Lewis, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, has been instrumental in the progress of Black political participation in the South, citing evidence such as increased voter registration and elected officials, and how Black voters played a significant role in electing Jimmy Carter as President, highlighting Lewis's role as a symbol of progress from protest to political activism. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Passage, From Civil Rights to the Ballot Box", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Correspondence with an article discussing how John Lewis, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, has been instrumental in the progress of Black political participation in the South, citing evidence such as increased voter registration and elected officials, and how Black voters played a significant role in electing Jimmy Carter as President, highlighting Lewis's role as a symbol of progress from protest to political activism. 3 pages.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Protest movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on VEP head John Lewis reported that Black voters in 11 Southern states turned out at a rate of 60 to 70 per cent and provided the decisive margin of victory for President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, marking the most significant exercise of minority political power of the century. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Gave Carter Victory in South", November 8, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-08
Description
Article on VEP head John Lewis reported that Black voters in 11 Southern states turned out at a rate of 60 to 70 per cent and provided the decisive margin of victory for President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, marking the most significant exercise of minority political power of the century. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
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 Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Education Project on Voter Mobilization Tour", September 19, 1976
Date Created
1976-09-19
Description
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.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John Lewis testified before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, stating that the southern states had not complied with the Voting Rights Act, and permanent voting rights protection was needed, as citizenship education efforts had been hampered by noncompliance with the Act. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Permanent Voting Rights Protection Needed", April 1975
Date Created
1975-04
Description
John Lewis testified before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, stating that the southern states had not complied with the Voting Rights Act, and permanent voting rights protection was needed, as citizenship education efforts had been hampered by noncompliance with the Act. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Flyer and memo advertising a meeting with Coretta King, Julian Bond, and John Lewis, as well as a chartered bus service to Selma, Alabama for the 10th anniversary of commemoration of "Bloody Sunday". 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Rights Rally and March", 1975
Date Created
1975
Description
Flyer and memo advertising a meeting with Coretta King, Julian Bond, and John Lewis, as well as a chartered bus service to Selma, Alabama for the 10th anniversary of commemoration of "Bloody Sunday". 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting, African American civil rights workers, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses the work of John Lewis, head of the Voter Education Project, which aims to register Black voters in 11 southern states, and has added 2.5 million new Black voters to the voting lists since 1965, and the significance of the Voting Rights Act, including the recent extension of the act by the US House of Representatives and Ronald Reagan's denial of knowledge of the act. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Through Hell at King Elbow", 1975
Date Created
1975
Description
The article discusses the work of John Lewis, head of the Voter Education Project, which aims to register Black voters in 11 southern states, and has added 2.5 million new Black voters to the voting lists since 1965, and the significance of the Voting Rights Act, including the recent extension of the act by the US House of Representatives and Ronald Reagan's denial of knowledge of the act. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, African American civic leaders, Race discrimination, African American civil rights workers, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report on the background of the VEP, the need for voter registration, technical assistance for minority elected and appointed officials, the need for citizenship education programs, and leadership development programs. 16 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Field Foundation Discussion Paper", 1974
Date Created
1974
Description
Report on the background of the VEP, the need for voter registration, technical assistance for minority elected and appointed officials, the need for citizenship education programs, and leadership development programs. 16 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Booklet describing the VEP Information Service and how it collects, stores, and disseminates data and statistics to electorate and news organizations. Includes evaluation and reporting forms. 35 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Information Service Handbook, 1974
Date Created
1974
Description
Booklet describing the VEP Information Service and how it collects, stores, and disseminates data and statistics to electorate and news organizations. Includes evaluation and reporting forms. 35 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man speaks during a VEP meeting, while other people listen and take notes.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Writes Notes at a VEP Meeting, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A man speaks during a VEP meeting, while other people listen and take notes.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones talks with another VEP member after a meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Woman Smiles After a VEP Meeting, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Vivian Malone Jones talks with another VEP member after a meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones reads a report while standing at a desk.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Woman Reads a Report at a Desk, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Vivian Malone Jones reads a report while standing at a desk.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones reads a report while sitting at a desk.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Woman Sits Down at a Desk, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Vivian Malone Jones reads a report while sitting at a desk.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man sits in a classroom during a VEP meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Sits at a VEP Meeting, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A man sits in a classroom during a VEP meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones sits in a classroom at a VEP meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Woman Sits at a VEP Meeting, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Vivian Malone Jones sits in a classroom at a VEP meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones speaks during a VEP meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Woman Speaks at a VEP Meeting, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Vivian Malone Jones speaks during a VEP meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man speaks during a VEP meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Speaks at a VEP Meeting, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A man speaks during a VEP meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Four women fill out voting ballots at a Fulton County voting center.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Women Vote at a Fulton County Polling Station, circa 1973
Date Created
1970/1976
Description
Four women fill out voting ballots at a Fulton County voting center.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Two men sit in a church pew during a VEP meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Two Men Sit at a VEP Meeting, circa 1973
Date Created
1970/1976
Description
Two men sit in a church pew during a VEP meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man sits in a church pew during a VEP meeting with a box of files.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Sits at a VEP Meeting, circa 1973
Date Created
1970/1976
Description
A man sits in a church pew during a VEP meeting with a box of files.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Two men and two women sit in a church pew during a VEP meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
People Sit at a VEP Meeting, circa 1973
Date Created
1970/1976
Description
Two men and two women sit in a church pew during a VEP meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records