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.
54 Objects displayed
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  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
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  • Decade = 1970-1979
  • Subjects = Civil rights movements
Newspaper article describing the U.S. Senate voting down of an amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that would have expanded the law to all 50 states. The amendment was proposed by Sen. Herman Talmadge, who argued that the law should be applied to all areas of the country where minority voting participation has been low. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Expanded Vote Act Refused by Senate", July 23, 1975
Date Created
1975-07-23
Description
Newspaper article describing the U.S. Senate voting down of an amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that would have expanded the law to all 50 states. The amendment was proposed by Sen. Herman Talmadge, who argued that the law should be applied to all areas of the country where minority voting participation has been low. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's efforts to to secure a 10-year extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, despite Southern pushback from Sens. James Allen and Jesse Helms, who tried to block the bill from being debated. Mansfield warned that the Senate would "confront the issue" if such tactics continued to be used. The updated bill would expand the law to cover Mexican-Americans and other language minority groups. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Act Extension Is Pressed", July 19, 1975
Date Created
1975-07-19
Description
Newspaper article discussing Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's efforts to to secure a 10-year extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, despite Southern pushback from Sens. James Allen and Jesse Helms, who tried to block the bill from being debated. Mansfield warned that the Senate would "confront the issue" if such tactics continued to be used. The updated bill would expand the law to cover Mexican-Americans and other language minority groups. 2 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing Voter Education Project (VEP) Director John R. Lewis's calls for a permanent and national voting rights law to replace the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was set to expire. Lewis argued that it was demeaning for minorities to have to petition the government for renewal of their constitutional rights on a periodic basis. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"VEP Calls For Permanent Voting Rights Law", March 22-28, 1975
Date Created
1975-03
Description
Newspaper article discussing Voter Education Project (VEP) Director John R. Lewis's calls for a permanent and national voting rights law to replace the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was set to expire. Lewis argued that it was demeaning for minorities to have to petition the government for renewal of their constitutional rights on a periodic basis. 2 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing Congressman Andrew Young urging of Congress to extend and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was set to expire. Young, who participated in the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, ten years prior, presented a documentary film on the voting rights movement to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Renew, Strengthen Voting Act, Young Urges Congress", March 8, 1975
Date Created
1975-03
Description
Newspaper article describing Congressman Andrew Young urging of Congress to extend and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was set to expire. Young, who participated in the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, ten years prior, presented a documentary film on the voting rights movement to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis and Coretta Scott-King walk across Edmund Pettis Bridge on the ten-year anniversary of Selma's Bloody Sunday.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Marches in Selma With Coretta Scott King, 1975
Date Created
1975
Description
John R. Lewis and Coretta Scott-King walk across Edmund Pettis Bridge on the ten-year anniversary of Selma's Bloody Sunday.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Gerald Blessey talks to an audience of people during his political campaign.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Gerald Blessey Speaks to People During His Political Campaign, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Gerald Blessey talks to an audience of people during his political campaign.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Gerald Blessey talks to a group of young people during his political campaign.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Gerald Blessey Speaks With a Group of Young Voters, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Gerald Blessey talks to a group of young people during his political campaign.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis poses for a photo with a group of people following a speaking engagement.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Poses for a Photo With a Group of People, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
John R. Lewis poses for a photo with a group of people following a speaking engagement.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A group of VEP workers talk, while one of the workers writes down notes.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Group of VEP Workers Talk, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A group of VEP workers talk, while one of the workers writes down notes.
Subject
African American civic rights workers, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A woman reads a speech at a podium.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Woman Reads a Speech to a Small Crowd, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A woman reads a speech at a podium.
Subject
African American civic rights workers, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis addresses a small crowd of people.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Addresses a Small Crowd, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
John R. Lewis addresses a small crowd of people.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Three men talk while one of them writes down notes.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Three Men Talk at a Table, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Three men talk while one of them writes down notes.
Subject
African American civic rights workers, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis speaks at a panel event.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Gives a Speech, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
John R. Lewis speaks at a panel event.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis speaks at a panel event.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Gives a Speech, circa 1976
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
John R. Lewis speaks at a panel event.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man sings at a church podium, while other people sing in the background.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Sings at a Church Podium, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A man sings at a church podium, while other people sing in the background.
Subject
African American civic rights workers, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis and eight other people stand outside of a building for a photo.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Poses for a Photo With a Group of People, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
John R. Lewis and eight other people stand outside of a building for a photo.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis speaks with a man and woman on a sidewalk.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
John R. Lewis Speaks with Two People, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
John R. Lewis speaks with a man and woman on a sidewalk.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man addresses a conference room of people during a meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Speaks to a Conference Room, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A man addresses a conference room of people during a meeting.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A group of young black boyscouts smile for a photo.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Group of Boyscouts Pose for a Photo, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A group of young black boyscouts smile for a photo.
Subject
Children, Civil rights movements, Recreation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A group of VEP event attendees pose for a photo outside of a building.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Group of VEP Event Attendees Pose for a Photo, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
A group of VEP event attendees pose for a photo outside of a building.
Subject
African American civic rights workers, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records