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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  • Subjects = African American women
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
Samsons and Delila: Slavery in Georgia, by Benjamin F. Chavis, 1988
Date Created
1988
Description
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.
Subject
Labor, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Reflections on the Selma March and Plans for the Future", March 8, 1985
Date Created
1985--03-08
Description
The 20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March was successful in generating community support and bringing attention to ongoing issues in voter registration and civil rights, with a delegation of Black leaders meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace to discuss abolishing at-large election schemes, expanding job opportunities for Blacks, and the upcoming trial of the Perry County 3, while a survey conducted by the Black Women's Voter Project of VEP found that over 90% of Black women interviewed said they have seen the need to continue voter registration efforts because of the march. 3 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A nonprofit voter registration organization newsletter focusing on decreasing voting gaps between Black and White voters, as well as an increase in women's participation in voting, largely due to organized voter registration efforts by human service agencies and other groups, although some pessimistic views were expressed regarding the overall turnout increase and its implications for declining voter participation trends, and the upcoming 1986 Senate elections were expected to feature hotly contested races with sharp ideological differences. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Human Serve Fund Newsletter, February 20, 1985
Date Created
1985-02-20
Description
A nonprofit voter registration organization newsletter focusing on decreasing voting gaps between Black and White voters, as well as an increase in women's participation in voting, largely due to organized voter registration efforts by human service agencies and other groups, although some pessimistic views were expressed regarding the overall turnout increase and its implications for declining voter participation trends, and the upcoming 1986 Senate elections were expected to feature hotly contested races with sharp ideological differences. 5 pages.
Subject
Voter registration, African American women, Political participation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
An introduction of Coretta Scott King by Harold R. Sims for New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean's Black History Week Luncheon.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Introduction of Coretta Scott King by Harold R. Sims, February 1985
Date Created
1985-02
Description
An introduction of Coretta Scott King by Harold R. Sims for New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean's Black History Week Luncheon.
Subject
Speeches, African American civic leaders, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses the success of women candidates in the Sept. 29 elections in New Orleans, where women won several political positions, breaking the tradition of bias against women in politics in the city and statewide. 14 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Women Doing Well, Election Wise", and "Election Results, Racially Speaking", October 3, 1984
Date Created
1984-10-03
Description
The article discusses the success of women candidates in the Sept. 29 elections in New Orleans, where women won several political positions, breaking the tradition of bias against women in politics in the city and statewide. 14 pages.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, African American women, Political campaigns
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on how Birmingham city officials are taking steps to address women's issues by appointing a new staff member with special responsibilities for women's issues and forming a new women's commission to review concerns relating to women, including family violence problems. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Arrington Fills Staff Post on Women's Issues", December 20, 1983
Date Created
1983-12-20
Description
Article on how Birmingham city officials are taking steps to address women's issues by appointing a new staff member with special responsibilities for women's issues and forming a new women's commission to review concerns relating to women, including family violence problems. 1 page.
Subject
African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, African American families
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Birmingham city officials are taking steps to address women's issues in local government, with the appointment of a new staff member, Mary Alice Jones, and the creation of a women's commission, in response to campaign promises and discussions with women's groups, aimed at institutionalizing fair treatment and sensitivity towards the special problems faced by women and their families. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Atlanta NAACP Lobbying Network Newsletter, February 19, 1983
Date Created
1983-02-19
Description
Birmingham city officials are taking steps to address women's issues in local government, with the appointment of a new staff member, Mary Alice Jones, and the creation of a women's commission, in response to campaign promises and discussions with women's groups, aimed at institutionalizing fair treatment and sensitivity towards the special problems faced by women and their families. 4 pages.
Subject
African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, African American families
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Mary Miles, the newly elected representative of South Carolina House District 93, aims to work with all people, regardless of race or wealth, to heal the district's wounds and serve the needs of her constituents in the General Assembly. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Victorious Mary Miles Pledges to Work for All People", November 4, 1982
Date Created
1982-11-04
Description
Mary Miles, the newly elected representative of South Carolina House District 93, aims to work with all people, regardless of race or wealth, to heal the district's wounds and serve the needs of her constituents in the General Assembly. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, Political campaigns, Political participation, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Article on the Klan rally in Millen, Georgia to support a White judge that denied custody to the mother of a White and mixed-race baby the White woman had out of wedlock. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Klan Expected to Stage Rally in Millen", February 27, 1982
Date Created
1982-02-27
Description
Article on the Klan rally in Millen, Georgia to support a White judge that denied custody to the mother of a White and mixed-race baby the White woman had out of wedlock. 1 page.
Subject
Race discrimination, African American women, Race relations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on a coalition of civil rights organizations was joined by Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson in announcing support for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which would extend the Act through 1992 and provide a new way for jurisdictions covered by the Act to "bail-out" if they can prove they have not had discriminatory voting practices for the ten years before the bail-out suit. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Mayor Maynard Jackson Joins Civil Rights Orgs in Campaign To Extend Voting Rights Act", September 17, 1981
Date Created
1981-09-17
Description
Press release on a coalition of civil rights organizations was joined by Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson in announcing support for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which would extend the Act through 1992 and provide a new way for jurisdictions covered by the Act to "bail-out" if they can prove they have not had discriminatory voting practices for the ten years before the bail-out suit. 2 pages.
Subject
African American mayors, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on a rally planned by a coalition consisting of the VEP, NAACP, SCLC, and GABEO in support of the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which will feature prominent civil rights activists and political figures, including Congressman Walter Fauntroy, and highlights the importance of minority political participation in the political process. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Voting Rights Act Rally at Piedmont Park", August 28, 1981
Date Created
1981-08-28
Description
Press release on a rally planned by a coalition consisting of the VEP, NAACP, SCLC, and GABEO in support of the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, which will feature prominent civil rights activists and political figures, including Congressman Walter Fauntroy, and highlights the importance of minority political participation in the political process. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Testimony of Geraldine G. Thompson before the subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Judiciary Committee.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Testimony of Geraldine G. Thompson," June 23, 1981
Date Created
1981-06-23
Description
Testimony of Geraldine G. Thompson before the subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Judiciary Committee.
Subject
African American civic leaders, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on Mrs. Geraldine G. Thompson, executive director of the VEP, testified before the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Judiciary Committee, calling the Voting Rights Act "the most effective civil rights legislation ever passed" and stating that the key provisions of the Act should be extended if minorities are to achieve full equality in the political system. 5 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Thompson Speaks on Voting Rights Act", June 23, 1981
Date Created
1981-06-23
Description
Press release on Mrs. Geraldine G. Thompson, executive director of the VEP, testified before the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Judiciary Committee, calling the Voting Rights Act "the most effective civil rights legislation ever passed" and stating that the key provisions of the Act should be extended if minorities are to achieve full equality in the political system. 5 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Press release on Geraldine G. Thompson being appointed as the Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Inc. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Appointment of Geraldine Thompson As the Executive Director of VEP", June 19, 1981
Date Created
1981-06-19
Description
Press release on Geraldine G. Thompson being appointed as the Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Inc. 6 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights, African American women, African American civic leaders, African American civil rights workers
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Poster encouraging women to vote. Sponsored by the Women's Vote Project of the VEP.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Women's Vote Project" Poster, circa 1984
Date Created
1979/1989
Description
Poster encouraging women to vote. Sponsored by the Women's Vote Project of the VEP.
Subject
Voting, Voter Registration, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Written on verso: Vivian Malone Jones, VEP Executive Director, J. Stanley Alexander, VEP Research, September 1977.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones and J. Stanley Alexander, September 1977
Date Created
1977-09
Description
Written on verso: Vivian Malone Jones, VEP Executive Director, J. Stanley Alexander, VEP Research, September 1977.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Portrait of an unidentified VEP Worker.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Unidentified VEP Worker, circa 1979
Date Created
1976/1983
Description
Portrait of an unidentified VEP Worker.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African American women, Portraits and people
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The Federal Election Commission authorized the League of Women Voters to sponsor the proposed presidential campaign debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, which are expected to cost $150,000 each and start about the third week in September, but there remains a question regarding the role of independent candidates like conservative Lister Maddox and liberal Eugene McCarthy, who have indicated they will go to court if necessary to force the networks to give them equal time with the two major candidates. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Women Voters to Sponsor Debates", August 31, 1976
Date Created
1976-08-31
Description
The Federal Election Commission authorized the League of Women Voters to sponsor the proposed presidential campaign debates between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, which are expected to cost $150,000 each and start about the third week in September, but there remains a question regarding the role of independent candidates like conservative Lister Maddox and liberal Eugene McCarthy, who have indicated they will go to court if necessary to force the networks to give them equal time with the two major candidates. 1 page.
Subject
Voter registration, Political science, African Americans--Civil rights, African American civil rights workers, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones heads a VEP group meeting.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones with VEP Group, circa 1977
Date Created
1974/1981
Description
Vivian Malone Jones heads a VEP group meeting.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones talks with a man and woman in her office.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Vivian Malone Jones in Her Office, circa 1977
Date Created
1974/1981
Description
Vivian Malone Jones talks with a man and woman in her office.
Subject
African Americans--Civil rights, African American women's suffrage, Women's rights, African American women
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records