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.
10 Objects displayed
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  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Subjects = Voting
  • Subjects = African American civic leaders
  • Subjects = African Americans--Civil rights
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
"City commission term may be over before court decides on McLean suit", and "This time out, Black voters got their message across", articles on Jack McLean's delayed trial hearing and how increased Black voting turnout helped elect more Black political leaders and flip parties in some elections. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"City Commission Term May Be Over Before Court Decides on McLean Suit", November 8, 1982
Date Created
1982-11-08
Description
"City commission term may be over before court decides on McLean suit", and "This time out, Black voters got their message across", articles on Jack McLean's delayed trial hearing and how increased Black voting turnout helped elect more Black political leaders and flip parties in some elections. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders, Political participation, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights
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
County-by-county survey by the Voter Education Project, Inc. that found that Black voter registration in Tennessee stood at 242,000, while white registration was 1,600,000. The survey was conducted by VEP Research Assistant Claude Clopton and was the first such comprehensive effort to determine the level of Black registration in Tennessee since 1960. Mr. Clopton's survey found that levels of registration were fairly high in counties with large Black populations, indicating that voter discrimination was not now a major problem in Tennessee at the time of the survery. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, January 31, 1971
Date Created
1971-01-31
Description
County-by-county survey by the Voter Education Project, Inc. that found that Black voter registration in Tennessee stood at 242,000, while white registration was 1,600,000. The survey was conducted by VEP Research Assistant Claude Clopton and was the first such comprehensive effort to determine the level of Black registration in Tennessee since 1960. Mr. Clopton's survey found that levels of registration were fairly high in counties with large Black populations, indicating that voter discrimination was not now a major problem in Tennessee at the time of the survery. 6 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A note accompanying a copy of a newspaper article regarding a meeting of Black leaders and racial discrimination in the South. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"U.S. Policies Fuel Black Hostility", July 9, 1969
Date Created
1969-07-09
Description
A note accompanying a copy of a newspaper article regarding a meeting of Black leaders and racial discrimination in the South. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping with an article describing the National Civil Liberties Clearing House's annual meeting. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Rustin Sees 'Community Control' Unable to Solve Ghetto Problems", March 29, 1969
Date Created
1969-03-29
Description
A newspaper clipping with an article describing the National Civil Liberties Clearing House's annual meeting. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights, 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
Press releases from the Republican National Committee regarding two Republican senators, Sens. Howard H. Baker of Tennessee and Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, sharing an office together on Capitol Hill, the appointment of a black gubernatorial aide, William D. Johnson, to the Governor's Office of Pennsylvania under Gov. Raymond P. Shafer, and the establishment of a plan to attract Black voters to the GOP by Clarence L. Townes, Jr., special assistant to the Republican National Chairman at the time. These press releases demonstrate the issues that most impacted the GOP as it attempted to establish itself as a leading party. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Republican National Committee Press Releases, January 26, 1967
Date Created
1967-01-26
Description
Press releases from the Republican National Committee regarding two Republican senators, Sens. Howard H. Baker of Tennessee and Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, sharing an office together on Capitol Hill, the appointment of a black gubernatorial aide, William D. Johnson, to the Governor's Office of Pennsylvania under Gov. Raymond P. Shafer, and the establishment of a plan to attract Black voters to the GOP by Clarence L. Townes, Jr., special assistant to the Republican National Chairman at the time. These press releases demonstrate the issues that most impacted the GOP as it attempted to establish itself as a leading party. 4 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records