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.
3 Objects displayed
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  1. Browse Repository
  2. Archival Collections
  3. Voter Education Project Organizational Records
For:
  • Subjects = African Americans--Politics and government
  • Geographic Location = Tennessee--Nashville
Newspaper article containing Nashville election results in the statewide elections, listing the candidate and the votes they gained in each election. The election results include legislative district elections, gubernatorial elections, and judicial elections. 6 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Metro Returns in Convention Race", August 7, 1970
Date Created
1970-08-07
Description
Newspaper article containing Nashville election results in the statewide elections, listing the candidate and the votes they gained in each election. The election results include legislative district elections, gubernatorial elections, and judicial elections. 6 pages.
Subject
Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing remarks made by Dr. Vivian Henderson to the Austell Rotary Club. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro Could Be Mayor Here, Henderson Says", February 21, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-21
Description
A newspaper clipping describing remarks made by Dr. Vivian Henderson to the Austell Rotary Club. 1 page.
Subject
Voting, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African American civic leaders
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
Newspaper article discussing A. W. Willis, the first black person to be elected to the Tennessee legislature since Reconstruction, who had been praised by Look Magazine as a potential leader of a statewide black political machine. However, Willis' record did not support this claim. He instead broke down political machines in his own community and at the state level. Willis was a vocal advocate for the general welfare and the overall progress of his community and state. He has also sponsored legislation to make the legislature more independent of the governor. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Rep. Willis Negro Leader--Not Boss", June 15, 1967
Date Created
1967-06-15
Description
Newspaper article discussing A. W. Willis, the first black person to be elected to the Tennessee legislature since Reconstruction, who had been praised by Look Magazine as a potential leader of a statewide black political machine. However, Willis' record did not support this claim. He instead broke down political machines in his own community and at the state level. Willis was a vocal advocate for the general welfare and the overall progress of his community and state. He has also sponsored legislation to make the legislature more independent of the governor. 2 pages.
Subject
African American leadership, African Americans--Civil rights, Voter registration, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records