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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Newspaper article the ways in which the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial runoff produced a political metamorphosis with potentially far-reaching implications. The old Byrd Organization declined, and new forces came to the fore. Henry E. Howell and William C. Battle represented a new thrust in state politics and a gradual closing of the gap between the Virginia Democratic Party and the National Democratic Party. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Battle-Howell Duel Changes State Politics", August 14, 1969
Date Created
1969-08-14
Description
Newspaper article the ways in which the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial runoff produced a political metamorphosis with potentially far-reaching implications. The old Byrd Organization declined, and new forces came to the fore. Henry E. Howell and William C. Battle represented a new thrust in state politics and a gradual closing of the gap between the Virginia Democratic Party and the National Democratic Party. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Political campaigns, Voter registration
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing a speech given by Vernon Jordan at a Hungry Club Forum meeting, urging Black political participation. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"'Be Both Negro and an American' Vernon Jordan Tells Hungry Club", circa 1967
Date Created
1962/1972
Description
A newspaper clipping describing a speech given by Vernon Jordan at a Hungry Club Forum meeting, urging Black political participation. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper book review of Abigail Themstrom's "Whose Votes Count: Affirmative Action and Minority Voting Rights", which examined the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its impact on minority representation in government. Themstrom argued that the act had been distorted from its original intent and that the current focus on proportional representation was misguided. She believed that the act should be amended to focus on equality of opportunity, rather than equality of outcomes. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Beginning with Voting", February 20, 1989
Date Created
1989-02-20
Description
Newspaper book review of Abigail Themstrom's "Whose Votes Count: Affirmative Action and Minority Voting Rights", which examined the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its impact on minority representation in government. Themstrom argued that the act had been distorted from its original intent and that the current focus on proportional representation was misguided. She believed that the act should be amended to focus on equality of opportunity, rather than equality of outcomes. 4 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
Written on verso: Bessie M. Stanley, 502 11th Street, Palmetto, Florida.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Bessie M. Stanley, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
Written on verso: Bessie M. Stanley, 502 11th Street, Palmetto, Florida.
Subject
African American women, African American artists, Portraits and people
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Written on verso: Bessie Stanley.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Bessie Stanley, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
Written on verso: Bessie Stanley.
Subject
African American women, African American artists, Portraits and people
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Written on verso: Betty Ann Bryant.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Betty Ann Bryant, circa 1945
Date Created
1940/1950
Description
Written on verso: Betty Ann Bryant.
Subject
African American women, African American artists, Portraits and people
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how Bibb County Black voters outnumbered White voters for the fist time in two elections. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Bibb Voter Patterns Revealed in Two Prior Elections", September 19, 1982
Date Created
1982-09-19
Description
Article on how Bibb County Black voters outnumbered White voters for the fist time in two elections. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on Bill Gray addressing the 21st dinner of the VEP at the Onmi in Atlanta. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Bill Gray Will Headline the Twenty First Dinner of the Voter Education Project", 1983
Date Created
1905--06-05
Description
Press release on Bill Gray addressing the 21st dinner of the VEP at the Onmi in Atlanta. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing a three-year voter registration campaign aimed at registering Black voters in seven Southern states. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Biracial Group Plans Big Voter Drive in Seven Southern States", January 10, 1966
Date Created
1966-01-10
Description
A newspaper clipping describing a three-year voter registration campaign aimed at registering Black voters in seven Southern states. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
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
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
The Community Relations Commission in Atlanta recognizes successful Black business executives with its first "Business Achievement Award," including Ira L. Jackson, Robert West, Mrs. Mary Jordan, Herman J. Russell, and James and Robert Paschal, highlighting the city's reputation as a community of opportunity and concerned citizens. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Business Works", February 17, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-17
Description
The Community Relations Commission in Atlanta recognizes successful Black business executives with its first "Business Achievement Award," including Ira L. Jackson, Robert West, Mrs. Mary Jordan, Herman J. Russell, and James and Robert Paschal, highlighting the city's reputation as a community of opportunity and concerned citizens. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, African American businesspeople, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
This booklet contains firsthand accounts of Black candidates who ran for various offices in the South, sharing their experiences, strategies, mistakes, and advice on running successful campaigns, with the aim of inspiring and educating readers about the possibility of achieving electoral success as a minority candidate in their own communities. 59 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Candidates, Southern Campaign Experiences" by Julian Bond, 1968
Date Created
1968
Description
This booklet contains firsthand accounts of Black candidates who ran for various offices in the South, sharing their experiences, strategies, mistakes, and advice on running successful campaigns, with the aim of inspiring and educating readers about the possibility of achieving electoral success as a minority candidate in their own communities. 59 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Voting, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing the incorporation of Roosevelt City, Alabama. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Cities", November 11, 1968
Date Created
1968--11-11
Description
A newspaper clipping describing the incorporation of Roosevelt City, Alabama. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Chart of Black elected officials as of December, 1980 in selected offices of eleven southern states. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Black Elected Officials as of December, 1980
Date Created
1980
Description
Chart of Black elected officials as of December, 1980 in selected offices of eleven southern states. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A report published by the Metropolitan Applied Research Center detailing the increase in Black elected officials. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Elected Officials Increase Markedly Since 1968", April 3, 1970
Date Created
1970--04-03
Description
A report published by the Metropolitan Applied Research Center detailing the increase in Black elected officials. 2 pages.
Subject
Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Philip B. Schaeffer to Vernon Jordan referencing an attached magazine article which discusses the state of education, employment, and housing for African Americans. 19 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black in White America: The Negro Today", November 19, 1967
Date Created
1967-11-19
Description
Correspondence from Philip B. Schaeffer to Vernon Jordan referencing an attached magazine article which discusses the state of education, employment, and housing for African Americans. 19 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Employment, African Americans--Education, African Americans--Housing, Race discrimination
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
Article with list of participants and book review of "the Jews of Tin Pan Alley". 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black, Jewish Leaders Create New Coalition", April 16, 1982
Date Created
1982-04-16
Description
Article with list of participants and book review of "the Jews of Tin Pan Alley". 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the Black community grappling with the potential benefits and risks of Jesse L. Jackson's candidacy for President of the United States. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Leaders Agonize as Jesse Jackson Ponders Bid", September 11, 1983
Date Created
1983-09-11
Description
Article on the Black community grappling with the potential benefits and risks of Jesse L. Jackson's candidacy for President of the United States. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political campaigns, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records