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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  • Subjects = African American leadership
List of Georgia's Black elected officials in 1976, along with their mailing addresses, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
List of Georgia Black Elected Officials, 1976
Date Created
1976
Description
List of Georgia's Black elected officials in 1976, along with their mailing addresses, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Table of Black female elected officials in the South during the summer of 1976, organized by state and municipal office type, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Table of Black Female Elected Officials in the South, Summer 1976
Date Created
1976
Description
Table of Black female elected officials in the South during the summer of 1976, organized by state and municipal office type, which was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Filmstrip transcript encouraging Black people to participate in their local municipal governments. The document describes the role of municipal governments in daily life and emphasizes the need for Black people to establish leadership within their communities. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Build Our Own Power" Filmstrip, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Filmstrip transcript encouraging Black people to participate in their local municipal governments. The document describes the role of municipal governments in daily life and emphasizes the need for Black people to establish leadership within their communities. 5 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Audio recording of VEP's trustees and financial advisers discussing the Voter Education Project's administrative and financial matters for the upcoming year. VEP was a non-partisan, non-profit organization which conducted voter registration, voter turnout, and voter education campaigns in eleven southern states. They raised money primarily to support their voter campaign efforts.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Meeting, circa 1975
Date Created
1972/1978
Description
Audio recording of VEP's trustees and financial advisers discussing the Voter Education Project's administrative and financial matters for the upcoming year. VEP was a non-partisan, non-profit organization which conducted voter registration, voter turnout, and voter education campaigns in eleven southern states. They raised money primarily to support their voter campaign efforts.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, Meetings, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man reads from the Gospel in a church, while Maynard Jackson stands in the background.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Reads From the Gospel, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
A man reads from the Gospel in a church, while Maynard Jackson stands in the background.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson addresses people in a church.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson Speaks to People at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
Maynard Jackson addresses people in a church.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Speaks to People at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson sings along with other people at a church.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson Sings at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
Maynard Jackson sings along with other people at a church.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson speaks to people in a church.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Maynard Jackson Speaks to People at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
Maynard Jackson speaks to people in a church.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches, African American mayors
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Man Speaks to People at a Church, circa 1974
Date Created
1972/1976
Description
A man addresses people in a church, while Maynard Jackson sits in the background.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American leadership, Civil rights movements, African American churches
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Warren J. Wicker, then-Assistant Director of the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to John R. Lewis, then Director of the Voter Education Project, regarding the formation of the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Charter Commission. In 1969, the North Carolina General Assembly created the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Charter Commission to develop a charter for consolidated government in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. The Commission was tasked with including provisions in the charter to assure fair representation on all appointive boards and commissions. The director of the Commission's research staff was asked to prepare a memorandum outlining methods by which this goal could be accomplished. The research revealed that very little had been done in this area, and the following memo was sent to VEP with the request for any additional information about approaches that may have been missed and was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Warren J. Wicker to VEP Regarding the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Charter Commision, May 8, 1970
Date Created
1970-05-08
Description
Correspondence from Warren J. Wicker, then-Assistant Director of the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to John R. Lewis, then Director of the Voter Education Project, regarding the formation of the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Charter Commission. In 1969, the North Carolina General Assembly created the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Charter Commission to develop a charter for consolidated government in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. The Commission was tasked with including provisions in the charter to assure fair representation on all appointive boards and commissions. The director of the Commission's research staff was asked to prepare a memorandum outlining methods by which this goal could be accomplished. The research revealed that very little had been done in this area, and the following memo was sent to VEP with the request for any additional information about approaches that may have been missed and was included in the VEP's "Election Notebook." 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article dicussing the Atlanta city government's employment of Black workers at City Hall. The article claimed that while some preliminary positive changes were created in the increased hiring of Black workers, any additional change was unlikely at the department head level. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"City Employs Many Negroes," March 17, 1969
Date Created
1969-03-17
Description
Newspaper article dicussing the Atlanta city government's employment of Black workers at City Hall. The article claimed that while some preliminary positive changes were created in the increased hiring of Black workers, any additional change was unlikely at the department head level. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, Labor
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Brochure from National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York chapter highlighting Black people who died for the right vote. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Ballots, Bullet, and Blood: How Blacks Have Died for the Right to Vote", circa 1970
Date Created
1968/1972
Description
Brochure from National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) New York chapter highlighting Black people who died for the right vote. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers, African American leadership, Political posters, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the Voter Education Project's Southwide Conference of Black Elected Officials, which included workshops on problems affecting black elected officials. The conference was set to focus on the problems and challenges that black officials face, and provide them with an opportunity to share experiences and receive information. More than 200 black officials from 11 states in the old South planned to attend. The keynote speakers included U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Congresswoman-elect Shirley Chisholm, and Mayor Richard Hatcher of Gary, Indiana. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"VEP Announces Southwide Conflab For Black Elected Officials", December 4, 1968
Date Created
1968-12-04
Description
Newspaper article discussing the Voter Education Project's Southwide Conference of Black Elected Officials, which included workshops on problems affecting black elected officials. The conference was set to focus on the problems and challenges that black officials face, and provide them with an opportunity to share experiences and receive information. More than 200 black officials from 11 states in the old South planned to attend. The keynote speakers included U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Congresswoman-elect Shirley Chisholm, and Mayor Richard Hatcher of Gary, Indiana. 1 page.
Subject
Meetings, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing plans for black officeholders to meet at a conference for Black officeholders from throughout the South held in Atlanta. The conference sought to discuss mutual problems facing Black officials, such as antagonism and prejudice. The conference expected attendance from 200 to 300 of the South's 380 Black officeholders. Key speakers included U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Mayor Richard Hatcher of Gary, Indiana, and Rep.-elect Shirley Chisholm of New York. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Officials to Meet", December 4, 1968
Date Created
1968-12-04
Description
Newspaper article discussing plans for black officeholders to meet at a conference for Black officeholders from throughout the South held in Atlanta. The conference sought to discuss mutual problems facing Black officials, such as antagonism and prejudice. The conference expected attendance from 200 to 300 of the South's 380 Black officeholders. Key speakers included U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Mayor Richard Hatcher of Gary, Indiana, and Rep.-elect Shirley Chisholm of New York. 1 page.
Subject
Meetings, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the election of Edward L. Simon to Clark College's Board of Trustees as its chairman. Simon was the general auditor of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and was a Clark College alumnus. Four new members were also appointed to the board: Vernon Jordan, J. C. Daugherty, Major Jones, and Charles Kindelberger. Jordan was the director of Voter Education for the Southern Regional Council, Daugherty was a member of the Georgia legislature, Jones was the president of Gammon Theological Seminary, and Kindelberger was a professor of economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Clark Board Elects Simon As Chairman", November 26, 1968
Date Created
1968-11-26
Description
Newspaper article discussing the election of Edward L. Simon to Clark College's Board of Trustees as its chairman. Simon was the general auditor of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and was a Clark College alumnus. Four new members were also appointed to the board: Vernon Jordan, J. C. Daugherty, Major Jones, and Charles Kindelberger. Jordan was the director of Voter Education for the Southern Regional Council, Daugherty was a member of the Georgia legislature, Jones was the president of Gammon Theological Seminary, and Kindelberger was a professor of economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Education, African Americans--Civil rights, African American universities and colleges, African American leadership
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article regarding the Louisiana Advancement Association's criticism of the "disproportionate" number of African Americans in the Louisiana delegation to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The LAA demanded that the delegation be increased to 30 members, which would give African Americans 12 votes. The proposed delegation only had 10 African American members, which was the equivalent of three and a half votes. The LAA was concerned that the current delegation did not reflect the true demographics of Louisiana, where African Americans make up one-third of the population. The group was also concerned that the lack of African American representation in the delegation could hurt the Democratic Party in the upcoming election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Lack of Negro Delegates Hit", August 4, 1968
Date Created
1968-08-04
Description
Newspaper article regarding the Louisiana Advancement Association's criticism of the "disproportionate" number of African Americans in the Louisiana delegation to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The LAA demanded that the delegation be increased to 30 members, which would give African Americans 12 votes. The proposed delegation only had 10 African American members, which was the equivalent of three and a half votes. The LAA was concerned that the current delegation did not reflect the true demographics of Louisiana, where African Americans make up one-third of the population. The group was also concerned that the lack of African American representation in the delegation could hurt the Democratic Party in the upcoming election. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing a rift between traditional civil rights leaders and younger activists who favor "Black power" demonstrated at a conference on voter registration and political action in South Carolina. Both groups agreed that Black leaders need to do more to reach out to the poor and young, but they disagreed on how to achieve this goal. Traditional leaders argued that Black voters should focus on building political power within the existing system, while younger activists argued that Black voters should be more willing to use direct action and protest. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Leadership Subject of Debate", November 3, 1967
Date Created
1967-11-03
Description
Newspaper article discussing a rift between traditional civil rights leaders and younger activists who favor "Black power" demonstrated at a conference on voter registration and political action in South Carolina. Both groups agreed that Black leaders need to do more to reach out to the poor and young, but they disagreed on how to achieve this goal. Traditional leaders argued that Black voters should focus on building political power within the existing system, while younger activists argued that Black voters should be more willing to use direct action and protest. 1 page.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing A. W. Willis, the first black person to be elected to the Tennessee legislature since Reconstruction, who had been praised by Look Magazine as a potential leader of a statewide black political machine. However, Willis' record did not support this claim. He instead broke down political machines in his own community and at the state level. Willis was a vocal advocate for the general welfare and the overall progress of his community and state. He has also sponsored legislation to make the legislature more independent of the governor. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Rep. Willis Negro Leader--Not Boss", June 15, 1967
Date Created
1967-06-15
Description
Newspaper article discussing A. W. Willis, the first black person to be elected to the Tennessee legislature since Reconstruction, who had been praised by Look Magazine as a potential leader of a statewide black political machine. However, Willis' record did not support this claim. He instead broke down political machines in his own community and at the state level. Willis was a vocal advocate for the general welfare and the overall progress of his community and state. He has also sponsored legislation to make the legislature more independent of the governor. 2 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records