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.
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  • Subjects = African Americans--Education
The U.S. Census Bureau reported significant gains in housing and education for the African American population during the 1970-80 decade, with higher educational attainment, increased school enrollment, and rising homeownership levels, but income levels for Blacks still lagged behind those of Whites, and the gains were later tempered by increased unemployment, divorce rates, and the rise in the number of Black families headed by females, particularly during the economic downturn that began in 1974. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Registered Substantial Gains in 70, 80 Decade", August 23, 1983
Date Created
1983-08-23
Description
The U.S. Census Bureau reported significant gains in housing and education for the African American population during the 1970-80 decade, with higher educational attainment, increased school enrollment, and rising homeownership levels, but income levels for Blacks still lagged behind those of Whites, and the gains were later tempered by increased unemployment, divorce rates, and the rise in the number of Black families headed by females, particularly during the economic downturn that began in 1974. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Housing, African Americans--Education, African Americans--Civil rights, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
NAACP resolution on the treatment of Black school students and how they are subject to higher numbers of punishment and expulsion in the system. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"NAACP Resolution", March 1982
Date Created
1982-03
Description
NAACP resolution on the treatment of Black school students and how they are subject to higher numbers of punishment and expulsion in the system. 1 page.
Subject
Race relations, Race discrimination, African American students, African Americans--Education
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the call for eliminating the high rate of school suspensions, as they actively tie into the incarceration rate of the state. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Senate Panel, Limit School Suspensions", February 28, 1982
Date Created
1982-02-28
Description
Article on the call for eliminating the high rate of school suspensions, as they actively tie into the incarceration rate of the state. 2 pages.
Subject
Race discrimination, African American students, African Americans--Education, Crime
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the return of about 500 Black students in McIntosh County, Georgia to public schools following a four-week boycott. The boycott was in response to the expulsion of two Black high school students who allegedly attacked a white teacher. The boycott ended pending a decision from a federal judge on whether the two students should be reinstated. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"McIntosh Blacks End Boycott Over Students' Expulsion", February 1982
Date Created
1982-02
Description
Newspaper article discussing the return of about 500 Black students in McIntosh County, Georgia to public schools following a four-week boycott. The boycott was in response to the expulsion of two Black high school students who allegedly attacked a white teacher. The boycott ended pending a decision from a federal judge on whether the two students should be reinstated. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American student movements, Protest movements, African Americans--Education
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding 225 people, mostly African Americans, marching in Hampton, South Carolina to protest red tape and slowness in implementing federal poverty programs. The march was organized by the Hampton NAACP and included students from Notre Dame University and St. Mary's College. There were no arrests during the march, but four people were arrested on Thursday for blocking traffic on U.S. 601. The students from Notre Dame and St. Mary's had been in the area conducting a survey of poverty conditions. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Protestors Stage March", April 12, 1969
Date Created
1969-04-12
Description
Newspaper article regarding 225 people, mostly African Americans, marching in Hampton, South Carolina to protest red tape and slowness in implementing federal poverty programs. The march was organized by the Hampton NAACP and included students from Notre Dame University and St. Mary's College. There were no arrests during the march, but four people were arrested on Thursday for blocking traffic on U.S. 601. The students from Notre Dame and St. Mary's had been in the area conducting a survey of poverty conditions. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American student movements, Protest movements, African Americans--Education
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A public information meeting in Atlanta, which was meant to be a presentation on the city's schools, turned into a heated debate between White and Black attendees on the commitment of school officials to improving education in economically deprived areas, with some speakers criticizing the quality of education in these areas and others endorsing the efforts of the school board to improve the situation. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Bitter Debate Rages on Ghetto Schools", February 11, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-11
Author
Hurt, Bob
Description
A public information meeting in Atlanta, which was meant to be a presentation on the city's schools, turned into a heated debate between White and Black attendees on the commitment of school officials to improving education in economically deprived areas, with some speakers criticizing the quality of education in these areas and others endorsing the efforts of the school board to improve the situation. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Education, Voting, Race relations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Atlanta Board of Education has finally agreed to discuss the Better Schools Atlanta report, which highlights shocking disparities in the city's school system, and this could signal the beginning of a real dialogue and citizen participation in the business of the schools. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Schools: Answers Now?", February 10, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-10
Description
The Atlanta Board of Education has finally agreed to discuss the Better Schools Atlanta report, which highlights shocking disparities in the city's school system, and this could signal the beginning of a real dialogue and citizen participation in the business of the schools. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Education, African American students, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Atlanta School Board's choice of a successor to Mrs. Sara Mitchell was criticized by Negro leaders who warned of a possible boycott, while a church committee called for the resignation of Atlanta School Supt. John Letson and urged the board to obtain his resignation in order to replace him with an educator who will exhibit progressive leadership. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Leaders Hint Boycott Over School Board Choice", January 7, 1969
Date Created
1969--01-07
Description
The Atlanta School Board's choice of a successor to Mrs. Sara Mitchell was criticized by Negro leaders who warned of a possible boycott, while a church committee called for the resignation of Atlanta School Supt. John Letson and urged the board to obtain his resignation in order to replace him with an educator who will exhibit progressive leadership. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, African Americans--Education
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the election of Edward L. Simon to Clark College's Board of Trustees as its chairman. Simon was the general auditor of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and was a Clark College alumnus. Four new members were also appointed to the board: Vernon Jordan, J. C. Daugherty, Major Jones, and Charles Kindelberger. Jordan was the director of Voter Education for the Southern Regional Council, Daugherty was a member of the Georgia legislature, Jones was the president of Gammon Theological Seminary, and Kindelberger was a professor of economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Clark Board Elects Simon As Chairman", November 26, 1968
Date Created
1968-11-26
Description
Newspaper article discussing the election of Edward L. Simon to Clark College's Board of Trustees as its chairman. Simon was the general auditor of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and was a Clark College alumnus. Four new members were also appointed to the board: Vernon Jordan, J. C. Daugherty, Major Jones, and Charles Kindelberger. Jordan was the director of Voter Education for the Southern Regional Council, Daugherty was a member of the Georgia legislature, Jones was the president of Gammon Theological Seminary, and Kindelberger was a professor of economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Education, African Americans--Civil rights, African American universities and colleges, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Philip B. Schaeffer to Vernon Jordan referencing an attached magazine article which discusses the state of education, employment, and housing for African Americans. 19 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black in White America: The Negro Today", November 19, 1967
Date Created
1967-11-19
Description
Correspondence from Philip B. Schaeffer to Vernon Jordan referencing an attached magazine article which discusses the state of education, employment, and housing for African Americans. 19 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Employment, African Americans--Education, African Americans--Housing, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Event program for Cooley's Athletic and Teen-Agers Club's Second Anniversary event, which served to give scholarships to needy students. The program lists information including the names of club members of all levels, reports of the club's special charities, programs, and educational trips, recognition of members in college and in honor societies, and the names of members considered for scholarships. 20 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Second Anniversary for Cooley's Athletic and Teen-Agers Club Inc." Program, September 26, 1966
Date Created
1966-09-26
Description
Event program for Cooley's Athletic and Teen-Agers Club's Second Anniversary event, which served to give scholarships to needy students. The program lists information including the names of club members of all levels, reports of the club's special charities, programs, and educational trips, recognition of members in college and in honor societies, and the names of members considered for scholarships. 20 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Education, Recreation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records