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.
4 Objects displayed
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  • Geographic Location = Louisiana--New Orleans
  • Subjects = Political participation
Newspaper article describing allegations from Black civil rights leaders in New Orleans that the Orleans Parish registrar of voters deliberately purged Blacks from the city's voting rolls. They claimed that the office was unfairly discriminating against Blacks in its annual purge of voters who had not cast ballots in the last two years, or who had moved without notifying the registrar's office of their change of address. They also charged that the office discriminated against Blacks in its choice of locations for branch registration offices, and that Blacks were discriminated against in employment by voter registrars' offices statewide. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voter Purge Is Charged by Blacks", August 21, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-21
Description
Newspaper article describing allegations from Black civil rights leaders in New Orleans that the Orleans Parish registrar of voters deliberately purged Blacks from the city's voting rolls. They claimed that the office was unfairly discriminating against Blacks in its annual purge of voters who had not cast ballots in the last two years, or who had moved without notifying the registrar's office of their change of address. They also charged that the office discriminated against Blacks in its choice of locations for branch registration offices, and that Blacks were discriminated against in employment by voter registrars' offices statewide. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Race discrimination
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A note a accompanying newspaper clippings describing candidates for a school board election in New Orleans, Louisiana. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
School Board Election Clippings, October 29, 1968
Date Created
1968-10-29
Description
A note a accompanying newspaper clippings describing candidates for a school board election in New Orleans, Louisiana. 5 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A copy of a newspaper clipping describing voter registration drives in Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Non-Voters Fireworks", June 30, 1966
Date Created
1966-06-30
Description
A copy of a newspaper clipping describing voter registration drives in Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Voter registration, African Americans--Civil rights, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing "Operation Registration" in Lousiana, in which a workshop on the importance of voting in New Orleans kicked off a voter registration drive. The registrar of voters, A. P. Gallinghouse, spoke at the workshop and announced that there were approximately 150,000 people in Orleans Parish who were eligible to vote but were not registered. He also said that his office would open extended hours to help people register to vote. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"'Operation Registration' In 'Big Push' For More Voters", May 28, 1966
Date Created
1966-05-28
Description
Newspaper article discussing "Operation Registration" in Lousiana, in which a workshop on the importance of voting in New Orleans kicked off a voter registration drive. The registrar of voters, A. P. Gallinghouse, spoke at the workshop and announced that there were approximately 150,000 people in Orleans Parish who were eligible to vote but were not registered. He also said that his office would open extended hours to help people register to vote. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government, Civil rights movements
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records