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.
866 Objects displayed
AllCollectionsObjects
  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Subjects = African Americans--Civil rights
"Voter drive by NAACP set here", "Political coalition gearing up for Black voter registration drive", "Take the British system of political races, please", June 15, 1983 news clippings, and "Despite differences, Jews and Blacks still allies". 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Drive by NAACP Set Here", June 15, 1983
Date Created
1983-06-15
Description
"Voter drive by NAACP set here", "Political coalition gearing up for Black voter registration drive", "Take the British system of political races, please", June 15, 1983 news clippings, and "Despite differences, Jews and Blacks still allies". 4 pages.
Subject
Groups and organizations, African Americans--Civil rights, Political campaigns, Political participation, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding results from a study conducted by VEP's Research Department, which found that one third of the counties in eleven southern states had a 1980 Black population of 27% or higher, according to Voter Education Project, Inc. (VEP). Further, one out of every thirteen counties had Black majority populations. This data showed that there were numerous opportunities for voter registration and voter turnout activities in the South, which could greatly influence southern politics 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, May 14, 1982
Date Created
1983-05-14
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project regarding results from a study conducted by VEP's Research Department, which found that one third of the counties in eleven southern states had a 1980 Black population of 27% or higher, according to Voter Education Project, Inc. (VEP). Further, one out of every thirteen counties had Black majority populations. This data showed that there were numerous opportunities for voter registration and voter turnout activities in the South, which could greatly influence southern politics 2 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Audio recording a panel discussion on the development of Black involvement and participation in U.S. politics in the 20th century. The speakers discuss the circumstances that have helped secure Black elected officials' victories, focusing particularly on the election of Harold Washington as mayor of Chicago.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black Involvement in Politics, April 29, 1983
Date Created
1983-04-29
Description
Audio recording a panel discussion on the development of Black involvement and participation in U.S. politics in the 20th century. The speakers discuss the circumstances that have helped secure Black elected officials' victories, focusing particularly on the election of Harold Washington as mayor of Chicago.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Audio recording of a panel discussion regarding the voting patterns of white and Black voters in the United States. The speaker discusses how the Republican and Democratic parties have appealed to both white and Black voters through campaigns to increase membership. The speaker also discusses how bringing Black voters into the fold has helped the Democratic Party increase its political power.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Side 1: D. Goins Panel Discussion 3.45 April 28th, 1983. Side 2: D. Goins
Date Created
1983-04-28
Description
Audio recording of a panel discussion regarding the voting patterns of white and Black voters in the United States. The speaker discusses how the Republican and Democratic parties have appealed to both white and Black voters through campaigns to increase membership. The speaker also discusses how bringing Black voters into the fold has helped the Democratic Party increase its political power.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Audio recording of a panel discussion on the development of Black involvement and participation in U.S. politics in the 20th century. Two Black academics discuss how the specific processes and mechanisms of Congress can both limit and expand Black political power within the government, and how the formation of coalitions within the government provided success for voting rights legislation.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Side One: 4-2 The US Congress and Black Americans 4/28/83, 1:45-3:15
Date Created
1983-04-28
Description
Audio recording of a panel discussion on the development of Black involvement and participation in U.S. politics in the 20th century. Two Black academics discuss how the specific processes and mechanisms of Congress can both limit and expand Black political power within the government, and how the formation of coalitions within the government provided success for voting rights legislation.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project featuring the Voter Education Project's calls on South Carolinians to contact their Senators and encourage them to support the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. VEP also announced a Contemporary Voting Rights Conference on February 20 at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. The conference was to provide information and resources on the Voting Rights Act, redistricting, and reapportionment. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, February 5, 1982
Date Created
1983-02-05
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project featuring the Voter Education Project's calls on South Carolinians to contact their Senators and encourage them to support the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. VEP also announced a Contemporary Voting Rights Conference on February 20 at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. The conference was to provide information and resources on the Voting Rights Act, redistricting, and reapportionment. 1 page.
Subject
Meetings, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Politics and government, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Six Tift County voters are filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Valdosta, challenging the county's at-large methods of electing members to the county commission and county board of education, alleging that the present at-large system of voting discriminates against Black voters in Tift County, and asking the court to establish election districts to choose members of the two bodies. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Suit Challenges Tift's Method of Elections", January 20, 1983
Date Created
1983-01-20
Description
Six Tift County voters are filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Valdosta, challenging the county's at-large methods of electing members to the county commission and county board of education, alleging that the present at-large system of voting discriminates against Black voters in Tift County, and asking the court to establish election districts to choose members of the two bodies. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Race discrimination, African Americans--Civil rights, Dispute Resolution
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence From Samuel F. Daly to Geraldine Thompson regarding a booklet, "How to Register and Vote in North Carolina" from 1944. Daly used to teach African Americans to register and vote while working as a high school teacher in Warren County, N.C., but was fired for his efforts. The sender reported the incident to the State Board of Education, which resulted in the superintendent being found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to ten years in prison, after a white citizen made complaints. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence From Samuel F. Daly to Geraldine Thompson, 1983
Date Created
1983
Description
Correspondence From Samuel F. Daly to Geraldine Thompson regarding a booklet, "How to Register and Vote in North Carolina" from 1944. Daly used to teach African Americans to register and vote while working as a high school teacher in Warren County, N.C., but was fired for his efforts. The sender reported the incident to the State Board of Education, which resulted in the superintendent being found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to ten years in prison, after a white citizen made complaints. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter education rally flyer starring Geraldine Thompson, VEP director. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Voter Rally With Geraldine Thompson as Keynote Speaker, 1983
Date Created
1983
Description
Voter education rally flyer starring Geraldine Thompson, VEP director. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Flyer encouraging people to register with the voter registration drive. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"You Can't Vote Unless You're Registered", 1983
Date Created
1983
Description
Flyer encouraging people to register with the voter registration drive. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political posters, Voter registration, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Fourteen organizations in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights have urged the Senate to reject President Reagan's nominees for the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and protect the commission's independence from political influence, due to concerns that the nominees share Reagan's opposition to hiring goals, quotas, and busing as remedies for discrimination. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Rights Groups Oppose Reagan", 1983
Date Created
1983
Description
Fourteen organizations in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights have urged the Senate to reject President Reagan's nominees for the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and protect the commission's independence from political influence, due to concerns that the nominees share Reagan's opposition to hiring goals, quotas, and busing as remedies for discrimination. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Outline and notes on voter targeting, on how to maximize the effectiveness of campaigning with few resources. 9 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Targeting the Voters Notes and Outline, circa 1985
Date Created
1982/1988
Description
Outline and notes on voter targeting, on how to maximize the effectiveness of campaigning with few resources. 9 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights
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 on 35 Black officials to meet with the state's only Black pollster to discuss informing the community to keep them involved in active political participation to get results. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Officials, Pollster to Discuss Political Issues", December 9, 1982
Date Created
1982-12-09
Description
Article on 35 Black officials to meet with the state's only Black pollster to discuss informing the community to keep them involved in active political participation to get results. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
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 about how whites voted majority for the Republican nominee Bob Bell over Democrat Harris. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Whites Two to One Bell, Blacks 95 Percent for Harris", November 13, 1982
Date Created
1982-11-13
Description
Article about how whites voted majority for the Republican nominee Bob Bell over Democrat Harris. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing how white Georgians went to the polls at more than twice the rate of Blacks for the runoff for the Republican nominee for the U.S. Fifth District Congressional seat. Whites voted 58% for the black nominee in the Republican primary runoff, while Blacks cast 95% of their votes for Jones. Voter turnout was light, with less than one percent of the registered voters going to the polls. From these results, VEP urged citizens to actively participate in the upcoming general election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
VEP Press Release, November 10, 1982
Date Created
1982-11-10
Description
Press release from the Voter Education Project discussing how white Georgians went to the polls at more than twice the rate of Blacks for the runoff for the Republican nominee for the U.S. Fifth District Congressional seat. Whites voted 58% for the black nominee in the Republican primary runoff, while Blacks cast 95% of their votes for Jones. Voter turnout was light, with less than one percent of the registered voters going to the polls. From these results, VEP urged citizens to actively participate in the upcoming general election. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Demographic surveys
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
"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