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.

For:
  • Geographic Location = Georgia
The article highlights the inhumane working conditions and racist policies at the Samsons and Delilah manufacturing plants located in Georgia, where most of the 650 workers are African American women, and the call to action for support and solidarity with the workers who have recently voted to unionize and are facing violation of state and federal civil, rights, and labor laws by the owner, S. Lichtenburg and Company, Inc. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing the return of about 500 Black students in McIntosh County, Georgia to public schools following a four-week boycott. The boycott was in response to the expulsion of two Black high school students who allegedly attacked a white teacher. The boycott ended pending a decision from a federal judge on whether the two students should be reinstated. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Number of registered voters by years, spreadsheet with county names and years, 1960-1980. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Handwritten Notes on problems, selection, training, recommendations, and summary with state lists. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence between Mary Louise Shadle and Mr. Lewis thanking Mr. Lewis for help in the "Turn on to Voting" rally. 1 page.
Excerpt from Newsweek magazine section entitled Newsmakers that briefly detailed Ms. Chisholm's bid for Presidency. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter: Shirley, She's the Woman for President" article detailing Ms. Chisholm's bid for the White House in The Sunday News. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A report describing the work of interns in the Georgia Legislature. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Workshop on the State Administrative Role" agenda detailing the schedule, discussion leaders, summary of administrative obstacles, and workshop assignments. 2 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report of Task Group A - Citizens Problems in Registering and Voting Registration report detailing selection and training, floor plans for voting, and reports from different tasks groups. 7 pages.
"Election Information From the Four Conference States" report of states and their roles in administering elections, training, titles of polling places and elections this fall. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping regarding Carl Sanders' campaign for Governor of Georgia. 1 page.
A newspaper clipping of an article describing a move by the Georgia General Assembly to weaken a law which limited corporate influence on state government. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing the changes in voting and voter registration in the South. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing an announcement by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund to provide legal and research services to legislators. Two other articles describe food and welfare programs. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing the growing number of Black voters in the South. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing candidates Lester Maddox and Howard Callaway in the Georgia's Governor's election. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Two newspaper clipping regarding the prioritization of voter registration. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Booklet promoting individuals for various Lounds County positions using storyboards.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Thaddeus Olive to Vernon Jordan sending two newspaper articles, "Negro Voter Registration Gains 34,000 in a year in Georgia," and "Secession at Savannah." 3 pages.