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
Title Date Created Description Subject Collection
Samsons and Delila: Slavery in Georgia, by Benjamin F. Chavis, 1988 1988 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. Labor, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African Americans--Civil rights Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"McIntosh Blacks End Boycott Over Students' Expulsion", February 1982 1982-02 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. African American civic leaders, African Americans--Civil rights, African American student movements, Protest movements, African Americans--Education Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Number of Registered Voters by Years, 1980 1980 Number of registered voters by years, spreadsheet with county names and years, 1960-1980. 2 pages. Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Handwritten Notes, 1974 1974 Handwritten Notes on problems, selection, training, recommendations, and summary with state lists. 5 pages. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence Between Mary Louise Shadle and Mr. Lewis, September 11, 1974 1972-09-11 Correspondence between Mary Louise Shadle and Mr. Lewis thanking Mr. Lewis for help in the "Turn on to Voting" rally. 1 page. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African Americans--Politics and government, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newsweek Newsmakers Article, August 23, 1971 1971-08-23 Excerpt from Newsweek magazine section entitled Newsmakers that briefly detailed Ms. Chisholm's bid for Presidency. 1 page. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American women, Political campaigns Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Carter: Shirley, She's the Woman for President" Article, August 22, 1971 1971-08-22 "Carter: Shirley, She's the Woman for President" article detailing Ms. Chisholm's bid for the White House in The Sunday News. 1 page. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African Americans--Politics and government, African American women, Political campaigns Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Legislative Internship Program Report, January 1971 1971-01 A report describing the work of interns in the Georgia Legislature. 4 pages. Voting, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders, African American students Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Workshop on the State Administrative Role" Agenda, circa 1970 1970/1976 "Workshop on the State Administrative Role" agenda detailing the schedule, discussion leaders, summary of administrative obstacles, and workshop assignments. 2 page. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Women--Societies and clubs Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Report of Task Group A - Citizens Problems in Registering and Voting Registration, circa 1970 1970/1976 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. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Election Information From the Four Conference States", circa 1970 1970/1976 "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. African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Sanders Forces Shaping Campaign to Court Voters in Urban Areas", October 31, 1969 1969-10-31 A newspaper clipping regarding Carl Sanders' campaign for Governor of Georgia. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Corporate Influence Law is Weakened", October 27, 1969 1969-10-27 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. Voting, Political science, Political participation, Political campaigns Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Right to Vote", March 21, 1969 1969--03-21 A newspaper clipping describing the changes in voting and voter registration in the South. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"NAACP Legal Fund to Help New Negro Legislators in South", May 18, 1967 1967-05-18 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. African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, Associations, institutions, etc. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"New Negro Voting Watched in South", November 7, 1966 1966--11-07 A newspaper clipping describing the growing number of Black voters in the South. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"For Governor" November 3, 1966 1966-11-03 A newspaper clipping describing candidates Lester Maddox and Howard Callaway in the Georgia's Governor's election. 1 page. Voting, Political campaigns, Political participation Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Registration Drive Asked of Negroes", March 12, 1966 1966-03-12 Two newspaper clipping regarding the prioritization of voter registration. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Lownes County Candidates, 1966 1966 Booklet promoting individuals for various Lounds County positions using storyboards. African American student movements, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Voter Registration Gains 34,000 in a Year in Georgia", August 5, 1966 1966 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. African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records