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.
4 Objects displayed
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  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
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  • Subjects = African American civil rights workers
  • Subjects = Voter registration
  • Subjects = African American civic leaders
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Reflections on the Selma March and Plans for the Future", March 8, 1985
Date Created
1985--03-08
Description
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers, African American women
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
Flyer for a voter rally featuring John Lewis and Hosea Williams in Selma Alabama, along with a VEP request for payment form. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Rally, John Lewis and Hosea Williams", 1974
Date Created
1974
Description
Flyer for a voter rally featuring John Lewis and Hosea Williams in Selma Alabama, along with a VEP request for payment form. 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