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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  • Decade = 1970-1979
Report by the Southern Regional Council on selected characteristics of Southern change from 1957 to 1977, including characteristics regarding population change, poverty, income, and agriculture. The report found that the population experienced sustained growth overall as the tide of Black movement and migration out of the South began to stabilize, while Southern cities became increasinglyBblack. These population changes were detailed in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report on Selected Characteristics of Southern Change, 1957 to 1977
Date Created
1977
Description
Report by the Southern Regional Council on selected characteristics of Southern change from 1957 to 1977, including characteristics regarding population change, poverty, income, and agriculture. The report found that the population experienced sustained growth overall as the tide of Black movement and migration out of the South began to stabilize, while Southern cities became increasinglyBblack. These population changes were detailed in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 5 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Demographic surveys, African Americans--Social conditions
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Portrait of an unidentified VEP Worker.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Unidentified VEP Worker, circa 1979
Date Created
1976/1983
Description
Portrait of an unidentified VEP Worker.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African American women, Portraits and people
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper op-ed by John R Lewis, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, calling on the United States to withdraw its support for the apartheid government of South Africa. Lewis argued that the United States was morally obligated to support majority rule in South Africa and that its current policies are only prolonging the suffering of Black South Africans. He proposed a number of concrete steps that the United States could take to end apartheid, including isolating South Africa from public and private support, participating in the United Nations embargo against South Africa, and repealing the Byrd Amendment. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"John Lewis: Beginning Steps For South Africa", December 25, 1976
Date Created
1976-12-25
Description
Newspaper op-ed by John R Lewis, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, calling on the United States to withdraw its support for the apartheid government of South Africa. Lewis argued that the United States was morally obligated to support majority rule in South Africa and that its current policies are only prolonging the suffering of Black South Africans. He proposed a number of concrete steps that the United States could take to end apartheid, including isolating South Africa from public and private support, participating in the United Nations embargo against South Africa, and repealing the Byrd Amendment. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing controversy over Andrew Young's appointment as ambassador to the United Nations among his friends and constituents in Atlanta. Some of Young's closest friends believed that he could do more good for America's disadvantaged by staying in Congress and helping to steer passage of legislation critical to Blacks and other minorities. Others were concerned about the political chaos that could follow in the choice of Young's successor in his biracial 5th Congressional District. The district was 62% white, and it was generally believed that Young was the only public figure who could appeal enough to both races to defeat a white candidate. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Young's Decision Draws Criticism", December 19, 1976
Date Created
1976-12-19
Description
Newspaper article describing controversy over Andrew Young's appointment as ambassador to the United Nations among his friends and constituents in Atlanta. Some of Young's closest friends believed that he could do more good for America's disadvantaged by staying in Congress and helping to steer passage of legislation critical to Blacks and other minorities. Others were concerned about the political chaos that could follow in the choice of Young's successor in his biracial 5th Congressional District. The district was 62% white, and it was generally believed that Young was the only public figure who could appeal enough to both races to defeat a white candidate. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and Voter Education Project (VEP) Director John R. Lewis's plans to run for Congress. Jackson's top political advisor urged him not to run, but Jackson had not made an official decision yet. Lewis also had not made a decision, but he was encouraged by many people to run. State Rep. Mildred Glover was also expected to enter the race. She stated earlier that she did not want to run against Jackson, but she had since changed her mind. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Jackson Adviser Urges He Not Run for House", December 18, 1976
Date Created
1976-12-18
Description
Newspaper article describing Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and Voter Education Project (VEP) Director John R. Lewis's plans to run for Congress. Jackson's top political advisor urged him not to run, but Jackson had not made an official decision yet. Lewis also had not made a decision, but he was encouraged by many people to run. State Rep. Mildred Glover was also expected to enter the race. She stated earlier that she did not want to run against Jackson, but she had since changed her mind. 1 page.
Subject
Political campaigns, African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence between J. Stanley Alexander and Mrs. Beatrice Clay detailing finances with enclosed Voter Education Project reports. 20 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between J. Stanley Alexander and Mrs. Beatrice Clay, December 15, 1976
Date Created
1976-12-15
Description
Correspondence between J. Stanley Alexander and Mrs. Beatrice Clay detailing finances with enclosed Voter Education Project reports. 20 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, Women--Societies and clubs, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article about Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson announcing that he would not seek US Rep. Andrew Young's seat in the event that Young resigns to take a United Nations post, leaving City Council President Wyche Fowler as a potential front-runner for a possible Fifth District special congressional election.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Mayor Takes Himself Out of Bid for Young�s Seat", December 15, 1976
Date Created
1976-12-15
Description
Article about Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson announcing that he would not seek US Rep. Andrew Young's seat in the event that Young resigns to take a United Nations post, leaving City Council President Wyche Fowler as a potential front-runner for a possible Fifth District special congressional election.
Subject
African American mayors, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence between Nancy S. Bohman and Mr. J. Stanley Alexander with enclosed evaluation and newspaper clippings. 8 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Nancy S. Bohman and Mr. J. Stanley Alexander, December 10, 1976
Date Created
1976-12-10
Description
Correspondence between Nancy S. Bohman and Mr. J. Stanley Alexander with enclosed evaluation and newspaper clippings. 8 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, Women--Societies and clubs, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The 1976 southern Black vote, with record numbers of registered Black voters turning out to vote, was the most significant exercise of minority political power in the century, as evidenced by President-elect Jimmy Carter's margins of victory in the South and the victory of several congressional candidates, according to the VEP which conducted a year-long registration drive and mounted advertising campaigns and local drives to encourage voter participation. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Education Projects Report on Voting by Blacks", November 27, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-27
Description
The 1976 southern Black vote, with record numbers of registered Black voters turning out to vote, was the most significant exercise of minority political power in the century, as evidenced by President-elect Jimmy Carter's margins of victory in the South and the victory of several congressional candidates, according to the VEP which conducted a year-long registration drive and mounted advertising campaigns and local drives to encourage voter participation. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper op-ed by Vernon E. Jordan, Executive Director of the National Urban League, describing the the ways in which the the Black vote was a decisive factor in the 1976 presidential election. Black voters turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Jimmy Carter. This helped Carter win several key states in the South, which ultimately gave him the victory. The high Black turnout was due in part to the efforts of non-partisan black organizations, such as the Joint Center for Political Studies, the Voter Education Project, and the NAACP. These organizations educated Black voters and encouraged them to register and vote. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Black Vote Elected Carter", November 20, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-20
Description
Newspaper op-ed by Vernon E. Jordan, Executive Director of the National Urban League, describing the the ways in which the the Black vote was a decisive factor in the 1976 presidential election. Black voters turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Jimmy Carter. This helped Carter win several key states in the South, which ultimately gave him the victory. The high Black turnout was due in part to the efforts of non-partisan black organizations, such as the Joint Center for Political Studies, the Voter Education Project, and the NAACP. These organizations educated Black voters and encouraged them to register and vote. 1 page.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper op-ed describing they ways in which Black voters in Wisconsin played a decisive role in Jimmy Carter's victory in the state. They turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Carter, helping him to win by a narrow margin. Becaused of this, Black leaders called on Carter to respond to their proposals, including more representation in government and a reversal of the Nixon-Ford neglect of Black communities. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Now It's Carter's Time to Help Blacks", November 16, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-16
Description
Newspaper op-ed describing they ways in which Black voters in Wisconsin played a decisive role in Jimmy Carter's victory in the state. They turned out in record numbers and voted overwhelmingly for Carter, helping him to win by a narrow margin. Becaused of this, Black leaders called on Carter to respond to their proposals, including more representation in government and a reversal of the Nixon-Ford neglect of Black communities. 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence with an article discussing how John Lewis, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, has been instrumental in the progress of Black political participation in the South, citing evidence such as increased voter registration and elected officials, and how Black voters played a significant role in electing Jimmy Carter as President, highlighting Lewis's role as a symbol of progress from protest to political activism. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Passage, From Civil Rights to the Ballot Box", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Correspondence with an article discussing how John Lewis, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, has been instrumental in the progress of Black political participation in the South, citing evidence such as increased voter registration and elected officials, and how Black voters played a significant role in electing Jimmy Carter as President, highlighting Lewis's role as a symbol of progress from protest to political activism. 3 pages.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Protest movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how the overwhelming turnout of Black voters helped Jimmy Carter win in the 1976 presidential election, posing a critical problem for the emerging GOP as it threatened the steady gains Republicans had made in the South, and some Republicans believed that the vote in their states was close enough to mean the GOP had not ceded the Solid South back to the Democrats. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Politicians Find Black Voters Put Carter Over in Dixie", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Article on how the overwhelming turnout of Black voters helped Jimmy Carter win in the 1976 presidential election, posing a critical problem for the emerging GOP as it threatened the steady gains Republicans had made in the South, and some Republicans believed that the vote in their states was close enough to mean the GOP had not ceded the Solid South back to the Democrats. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article sent to John R. Lewis from Ross Range discussing the prevailing feelings of Southerners who have moved to the North and how they viewed the election of Jimmy Carter as President as an opportunity for how the South was viewed by the rest of the country. The article features the interviews of several Southerners who experienced prejudice and alienation in the North, but who were ultimately proud of Carter's election as a symbol of the South's progress. The article concluded that the election of Carter was a sign that the South was finally being accepted. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"'North had its foot on neck of South for long time'," November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Newspaper article sent to John R. Lewis from Ross Range discussing the prevailing feelings of Southerners who have moved to the North and how they viewed the election of Jimmy Carter as President as an opportunity for how the South was viewed by the rest of the country. The article features the interviews of several Southerners who experienced prejudice and alienation in the North, but who were ultimately proud of Carter's election as a symbol of the South's progress. The article concluded that the election of Carter was a sign that the South was finally being accepted. 5 pages.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article describing the role played by the overwhelming turnout of Black voters in the 1976 presidential election in securing Jimmy Carter's victory in the South. Black voter turnout posed a critical problem for the Republican Party, which had previously made steady gains in the South since the 1950s. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Political Analysts Ponder Heavy Black Vote for Carter", November 14, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-14
Description
Newspaper article describing the role played by the overwhelming turnout of Black voters in the 1976 presidential election in securing Jimmy Carter's victory in the South. Black voter turnout posed a critical problem for the Republican Party, which had previously made steady gains in the South since the 1950s. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses the possibility of President Jimmy Carter appointing two Black Cabinet members, with speculation on which positions they would fill and who the potential candidates are, while also touching on the expectations of the Black community for Carter's actions and leadership. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Cabinet Guesses", November 13, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-13
Description
The article discusses the possibility of President Jimmy Carter appointing two Black Cabinet members, with speculation on which positions they would fill and who the potential candidates are, while also touching on the expectations of the Black community for Carter's actions and leadership. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the 1976 election, and how the VEP made spot-checks of predominantly Black precincts in each of the 11 southern states and determined that, on average, between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Blacks turned out to vote, with over 95 percent estimated to have voted for Jimmy Carter for President. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Expert Says Voting Rights Denied Eleven Years Marked Victory", November 13, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-13
Description
Article on the 1976 election, and how the VEP made spot-checks of predominantly Black precincts in each of the 11 southern states and determined that, on average, between 60 and 70 percent of all registered Blacks turned out to vote, with over 95 percent estimated to have voted for Jimmy Carter for President. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on a group of combat veterans, who were formerly foot-soldiers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, gathered to relive the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and talked about the early days of the organization and their struggles, and reflected on their current involvement in good causes, such as elected politics, labor organizing, community projects, and health care. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Combat Veterans Relive Civil Rights Campaigns", November 10, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-10
Description
Article on a group of combat veterans, who were formerly foot-soldiers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, gathered to relive the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and talked about the early days of the organization and their struggles, and reflected on their current involvement in good causes, such as elected politics, labor organizing, community projects, and health care. 1 page.
Subject
African American civil rights workers, Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article arguing that Jimmy Carter did not bring back the old Democratic South, but instead won the support of Black and moderate White voters who were previously disenfranchised, and that this demographic shift may lead to a shedding of conservatism in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter Lost the Confederacy but Captured the New South", November 10, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-10
Description
Article arguing that Jimmy Carter did not bring back the old Democratic South, but instead won the support of Black and moderate White voters who were previously disenfranchised, and that this demographic shift may lead to a shedding of conservatism in the South. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political science
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black voters in the Southern states played a significant role in securing the victory of President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, according to a post-election survey conducted by the Voter Education Project, with an estimated 60-70% Black turnout and 95% of the Black vote going to Carter, marking the largest Black vote in the century. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Give Carter Margin of Victory", November 8, 1976
Date Created
1976-11-08
Description
Black voters in the Southern states played a significant role in securing the victory of President-elect Jimmy Carter and several congressional candidates, according to a post-election survey conducted by the Voter Education Project, with an estimated 60-70% Black turnout and 95% of the Black vote going to Carter, marking the largest Black vote in the century. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records