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
For:
  • Subjects = African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta
  • Subjects = African Americans--Civil rights
  • Subjects = African American civic leaders
Andrew Young, a prominent civil rights activist and former United Nations ambassador, failed to become Georgia's first Black governor in a run-off election, despite efforts to build a multiracial coalition and attract businesses to the state. The article highlights the challenges faced by Black candidates in the South, including a lack of support from White voters and an inability to mobilize enough Black voters to win statewide races. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Young Lost for Many Reasons", 1990
Date Created
1990
Description
Andrew Young, a prominent civil rights activist and former United Nations ambassador, failed to become Georgia's first Black governor in a run-off election, despite efforts to build a multiracial coalition and attract businesses to the state. The article highlights the challenges faced by Black candidates in the South, including a lack of support from White voters and an inability to mobilize enough Black voters to win statewide races. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African American civil rights worker, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the candidacy qualification of 50 Atlanta residents to run for office in the 1981 city elections. The race for mayor was viewed as particularly competitive, with Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young and state Rep. Sidney Marcus considered the front-runners. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"50 Candidates Pay Their Qualifying Fees For Atlanta City Elections", August 19, 1981
Date Created
1981-08-19
Description
Newspaper article discussing the candidacy qualification of 50 Atlanta residents to run for office in the 1981 city elections. The race for mayor was viewed as particularly competitive, with Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young and state Rep. Sidney Marcus considered the front-runners. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. has compiled a list of 12 qualities he believes his successor should have, including a commitment to eliminating racial discrimination, willingness to make difficult decisions, ability to cooperate with other governments, and determination to continue programs to rebuild deteriorating parts of the city, among other qualities. Vernon Jordan, head of the Southern Regional Council's Voter Education Project and a former advisor to President Bill Clinton, expressed his interest in the political scene in his hometown of Atlanta after his name was inadvertently left off a list of mayoral candidates being discussed. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Allen Gives List of Qualities He Thinks Mayor Should Have", January 20, 1969
Date Created
1969--01-20
Author
Coffin, Alex
Description
Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. has compiled a list of 12 qualities he believes his successor should have, including a commitment to eliminating racial discrimination, willingness to make difficult decisions, ability to cooperate with other governments, and determination to continue programs to rebuild deteriorating parts of the city, among other qualities. Vernon Jordan, head of the Southern Regional Council's Voter Education Project and a former advisor to President Bill Clinton, expressed his interest in the political scene in his hometown of Atlanta after his name was inadvertently left off a list of mayoral candidates being discussed. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Atlanta legislators are drafting a bill to annex Sandy Springs to the city without a referendum, which could greatly enhance the chances of a Republican becoming Atlanta's next mayor; however, Negro community leaders are reluctant to support the move, which would dilute their influence in the upcoming mayoral election, and the proposed ward-based election system for half of Atlanta's aldermen and all of its school board members is opposed by Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. as one of the "most detrimental practices in American politics." 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Mayoralty May Rest on Annexation Bill", January 18, 1969
Date Created
1969--01-18
Author
Hurst, Margaret
Description
Atlanta legislators are drafting a bill to annex Sandy Springs to the city without a referendum, which could greatly enhance the chances of a Republican becoming Atlanta's next mayor; however, Negro community leaders are reluctant to support the move, which would dilute their influence in the upcoming mayoral election, and the proposed ward-based election system for half of Atlanta's aldermen and all of its school board members is opposed by Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. as one of the "most detrimental practices in American politics." 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records