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:
  • Decade = 1960-1969
Title Date Created Description Subject Collection
"2 Negroes Sticking to Congress Plans", December 12, 1969 1969-12-12 A newspaper clipping referencing Vernon Jordan and Ben Brown's possible run for Congress. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Allen Needs Help, Some Critics Feel", December 9, 1969 1969-12-09 A newspaper clipping describing criticism of Atlanta Mayor, Ivan Allen Jr.. 2 pages. Race relations, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"A Need for Consolidation", November 19, 1969 1969-11-19 Two newspaper clippings describing a report and criticisms surrounding the consolidation of the Atlanta and Fulton County governments. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Politics and government, City planning Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Race for Congress", November 18, 1969 1969-11-18 A newspaper clipping discussing potential candidates for the Fifth District congressional seat. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Blacks Bring Bond Here", November 13, 1969 1969-11-13 A newspaper clipping announcing Florida A&M University's hosting of the first annual Black Elected Officials Conference with honored guests including Julian Bond and Howard Lee. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"'Some Black Man Should Oppose Thompson,' Say Rep. Ben Brown", November 1, 1969 1969-11-01 A newspaper clipping regarding candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders 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
"Cities Outlook", October 4, 1969 1969--10-04 A memo and accompanying article describing a meeting of Black officials and reference to Kenneth B. Clark's non-profit research corporation, the Metropolitan Applied Research Center. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"SRC's Jordan Considers Bid for Congress", October 1969 1969-10 A newspaper article describing a possible congressional run of Vernon Jordan. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Voting Power: How Strong?" September 29, 1969 1969-09-29 A newspaper article describing the rise in Black elected officials and debating the voting power of newly registered Black voters. 4 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Rep. Ben Brown Ponders Race Against Thompson", September 14, 1969 1969-09-14 A newspaper clipping describing Georgia State Representative Ben Brown's possible campaign for the 5th District congressional seat in the 1970 election. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Southwest Negroes Launch Voter Drive", August 25, 1969 1969-08-25 Article entitled "Southwest Negroes Launch Voter Drive" describing the initial plans to reorganize a voter registration drive in Albany, Georgia. 2 pages. African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, Political participation Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Correspondence from Emory F. Via to John Morris, August 18, 1969 1969-08-18 A memo and accompanying document regarding Black political leadership and a meeting with V.E.P. staff. 3 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"SCLC Hails Abernathy", August 15, 1969 1969--08-15 A newspaper clipping describing Ralph D. Abernathy's selection to be President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. 2 pages. Voting, Associations, institutions, etc., Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Battle-Howell Duel Changes State Politics", August 14, 1969 1969-08-14 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. Political participation, Political campaigns, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"More Negroes Elected in South", August 13, 1969 1969--08-13 A copy of a newspaper clipping with an article discussing the growing number of Black elected officials in the South. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Black Political Power at Stake?" August 8, 1969 1969--08-08 A newspaper article in which the Voter Education project expresses concerns over potential expiration of key provisions in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 2 pages. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Voting Rights", August 8, 1969 1969--08-08 A newspaper clipping of a letter written by Roy Wilkins discussing the Voting Rights Act and the growth in Black voting power. 1 page. Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Black Vote in Danger", August 1969 1969-08 Article entitled "The Black Vote in Danger" by Vernon Jordan published in the Inner City Citizenship Education Project Newsletter. The article describes the expiration of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, its impact on Black Southern voters, and VEP's efforts to extend the Voting Rights Act. 8 pages. African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Voter registration Voter Education Project Organizational Records