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.
21 Objects displayed
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  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Subjects = Voting
  • Subjects = African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta
  • Geographic Location = Georgia--Atlanta
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan and objections for the program in 1986. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Introduction of the VEP, With Plan for 1986
Date Created
1985/1988
Description
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan and objections for the program in 1986. 11 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan, goals and budget for the program. 11 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Introduction of the VEP with Budget Report, circa 1985
Date Created
1984/1987
Description
A brief history of the VEP, with a plan, goals and budget for the program. 11 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP research department essay by Brian Sherman, Ph.D. and K. Farouk Brimah on the increase of participation in voting by the Black population in the South, listing states and percentages. 16 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Increase and Impact: Black Participation in Southern Electoral Politics During the First Half of 1984", July
Date Created
1984-07-25
Author
Sherman, Brian, Brimah, K. Farouk
Description
VEP research department essay by Brian Sherman, Ph.D. and K. Farouk Brimah on the increase of participation in voting by the Black population in the South, listing states and percentages. 16 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release announcing "The Plight of Black Colleges and Universities: The Political Impact" conference held at the Robert W. Woodruff Library in Atlanta, Georgia on October 28, 1983. The conference will address the threat to historically Black colleges and universities and explore solutions such as merger strategies, converting them into vocational institutions, and increasing voter registration among Black students. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Plight of Black Colleges and Universities: The Political Impact", October 27, 1983
Date Created
1983--10-27
Description
VEP Press Release announcing "The Plight of Black Colleges and Universities: The Political Impact" conference held at the Robert W. Woodruff Library in Atlanta, Georgia on October 28, 1983. The conference will address the threat to historically Black colleges and universities and explore solutions such as merger strategies, converting them into vocational institutions, and increasing voter registration among Black students. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American students, African American universities and colleges, Special events, Voting, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article about how Black voters voted majority for Wyche Fowler for 5th Congressional District. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Voted 71 Percent for Fowler in 5th" December 9, 1982
Date Created
1982-12-09
Description
Article about how Black voters voted majority for Wyche Fowler for 5th Congressional District. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article about how Black voters voted majority for Wyche Fowler for 5th Congressional District. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Atlantans voted 2 to 1 for Rep. Fowler", December 7, 1982
Date Created
1982-12-07
Description
Article about how Black voters voted majority for Wyche Fowler for 5th Congressional District. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the low percentage of voter turnout for GOP runoff elections and a VEP study on how Black voters were a very low percentage of that small group. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Just 2 Percent of Voters to Decide 5th District GOP Runoff", November 9, 1982
Date Created
1982-11-09
Description
Article on the low percentage of voter turnout for GOP runoff elections and a VEP study on how Black voters were a very low percentage of that small group. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the low percentage of voter turnout for GOP runoff elections and a VEP study on how Black voters were a very low percentage of that small group. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"GOP Runoff May Get Just a 2 Percent Vote", November 9, 1982
Date Created
1982-11-09
Description
Article on the low percentage of voter turnout for GOP runoff elections and a VEP study on how Black voters were a very low percentage of that small group. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Civil rights, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the VEP celebrating their 20th anniversary. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"VEP celebrates 20th Year Here October 21", October 19, 1982
Date Created
1982-10-19
Description
Article on the VEP celebrating their 20th anniversary. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the VEP taking a break to celebrate the voting rights act and their successes in increasing the Black vote in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Drive Changes the South", October 17, 1982
Date Created
1982-10-17
Description
Article on the VEP taking a break to celebrate the voting rights act and their successes in increasing the Black vote in the South. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
An analysis showed that there was little difference between the way Black and White Atlantans voted for the candidates with the highest percentages of votes in the city, and despite a 20% gap between the Black and White voting age population, one third of those registered to vote actually went to the polls, with Norman Underwood and Jack Watson receiving the highest percentages of votes. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, August 20, 1982
Date Created
1982--08-20
Description
An analysis showed that there was little difference between the way Black and White Atlantans voted for the candidates with the highest percentages of votes in the city, and despite a 20% gap between the Black and White voting age population, one third of those registered to vote actually went to the polls, with Norman Underwood and Jack Watson receiving the highest percentages of votes. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The General Election of 1982, Fulton County, study examines the impact of racial and regional voting behaviors on the race for governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state. 15 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The General Election of Fulton County, 1982
Date Created
1982
Author
Brimah, K. Farouk
Description
The General Election of 1982, Fulton County, study examines the impact of racial and regional voting behaviors on the race for governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state. 15 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A resolution by the Atlanta City Council urging the United States Congress to permanently extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which eliminated literacy tests and other barriers to the ballot, increased Black registration and the number of Black elected officials in the South, and insured meaningful participation in registration and voting. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Resolution Urging Congress to Permanently Extend Voting Rights Act, January 1975
Date Created
1975-01
Description
A resolution by the Atlanta City Council urging the United States Congress to permanently extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which eliminated literacy tests and other barriers to the ballot, increased Black registration and the number of Black elected officials in the South, and insured meaningful participation in registration and voting. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Booklet describing the VEP Information Service and how it collects, stores, and disseminates data and statistics to electorate and news organizations. Includes evaluation and reporting forms. 35 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Information Service Handbook, 1974
Date Created
1974
Description
Booklet describing the VEP Information Service and how it collects, stores, and disseminates data and statistics to electorate and news organizations. Includes evaluation and reporting forms. 35 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A short history and activities conducted by the VEP. 9 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"A Statement on the Voter Education Project of the Southern Regional Council, Inc.", June 14, 1969
Date Created
1969-06-14
Description
A short history and activities conducted by the VEP. 9 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
News clipping on Vernon Jordan, along with article on a poll taken in January to determine voter preferences for the next mayor of Atlanta, former U.S. Rep. Charles L. Weltner and Vice Mayor Sam Massell were about even, with Alderman Rodney Cook somewhat behind, however, the poll's reliability was questioned due to its early timing and small sample size of 300 registered voters. With correspondence from Billie and Harry Pfiffner. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Atlanta Attorney Jordan Named Alumnus of the Year at Depew", March 21, 1969
Date Created
1969--03-21
Description
News clipping on Vernon Jordan, along with article on a poll taken in January to determine voter preferences for the next mayor of Atlanta, former U.S. Rep. Charles L. Weltner and Vice Mayor Sam Massell were about even, with Alderman Rodney Cook somewhat behind, however, the poll's reliability was questioned due to its early timing and small sample size of 300 registered voters. With correspondence from Billie and Harry Pfiffner. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses political figure Julian Bond, who is well-known and influential in the Atlanta Black community, but may not fare well among White voters in Georgia, and questions whether it is equally "racial" politics to suggest that in the future Black voters will only vote for a Black candidate. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Mayors Race", February 19, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-19
Author
Gulliver, Hal
Description
The article discusses political figure Julian Bond, who is well-known and influential in the Atlanta Black community, but may not fare well among White voters in Georgia, and questions whether it is equally "racial" politics to suggest that in the future Black voters will only vote for a Black candidate. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Race relations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
In 1969, State Rep. Julian Bond predicted that a Black mayor would be elected in Atlanta, and that Black Atlanta would become the majority, resulting in either an orderly transition of government or a state of political cold war between the races, depending on the willingness of the Black community to unify and the White community to accept the inevitable future, and argued for the need for a strong political organization and ward elections in the city. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan concerning Julian Bond's interest in Congress over mayorship. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Last White Mayor in '69, Bond Says", February 13, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-13
Description
In 1969, State Rep. Julian Bond predicted that a Black mayor would be elected in Atlanta, and that Black Atlanta would become the majority, resulting in either an orderly transition of government or a state of political cold war between the races, depending on the willingness of the Black community to unify and the White community to accept the inevitable future, and argued for the need for a strong political organization and ward elections in the city. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan concerning Julian Bond's interest in Congress over mayorship. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Race relations
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
A short history of the VEP and explanation of how it would spend contributions to advance the minority vote. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"What is the Voter Education Project?", circa 1970
Date Created
1968/1972
Description
A short history of the VEP and explanation of how it would spend contributions to advance the minority vote. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records