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
AllCollectionsObjects
  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Subjects = Political campaigns
  • Decade = 1960-1969
  • Subjects = African American civic leaders
Newspaper article discussing Maynard Jackson Jr.'s, an Atlanta attorney, announcement of his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Herman Talmadge. Jackson stated that he would run as a Georgian and a citizen of the United States, not as a Black person. He also stated that he believed in "Georgia power and people power" instead of "Black power." Jackson was confident that he could win the election, even though he was the first Black person to challenge Talmadge for the seat. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jackson Favors Georgia Power", June 6, 1968
Date Created
1968-06-06
Description
Newspaper article discussing Maynard Jackson Jr.'s, an Atlanta attorney, announcement of his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Herman Talmadge. Jackson stated that he would run as a Georgian and a citizen of the United States, not as a Black person. He also stated that he believed in "Georgia power and people power" instead of "Black power." Jackson was confident that he could win the election, even though he was the first Black person to challenge Talmadge for the seat. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping with an article describing Bayard Rustin's campaigning for the re-election of President Lyndon B. Johnson, putting him at odds with other civil rights leaders. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Rustin Politicks for LBJ", December 25, 1967
Date Created
1967-12-25
Description
A newspaper clipping with an article describing Bayard Rustin's campaigning for the re-election of President Lyndon B. Johnson, putting him at odds with other civil rights leaders. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Political campaigns, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A note and accompanying newspaper clipping quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that Nelson Rockefeller "is the only Republican who could split Negro and labor votes." 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Only Rockefeller Can Beat Johnson, Says Dr. King", December 22, 1967
Date Created
1967-12-22
Description
A note and accompanying newspaper clipping quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that Nelson Rockefeller "is the only Republican who could split Negro and labor votes." 2 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing Leon R. Tarver's announcement to run against Joe D. Waggonner for Congress. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Shreveport Negro to Run for Congress", circa 1968
Date Created
1963/1973
Description
A newspaper clipping describing Leon R. Tarver's announcement to run against Joe D. Waggonner for Congress. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Political campaigns, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records