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.
10 Objects displayed
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  • Subjects = Race relations
  • Subjects = Political participation
The article argues that the relationship between Black voters and the Democratic Party needs to be renegotiated, with power and responsibility shared fully, and suggests that running a Black presidential candidate in 1984 could force Democrats to appreciate the potential positive contribution of the Black vote to party politics and the nation, as well as to build a new progressive coalition that includes Hispanics, women, young people, poor Whites, and Native Americans. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Hey, You Democrats, We'll All Benefit if a Black Runs for President", by Jesse L. Jackson, circa 1980
Date Created
1977/1983
Description
The article argues that the relationship between Black voters and the Democratic Party needs to be renegotiated, with power and responsibility shared fully, and suggests that running a Black presidential candidate in 1984 could force Democrats to appreciate the potential positive contribution of the Black vote to party politics and the nation, as well as to build a new progressive coalition that includes Hispanics, women, young people, poor Whites, and Native Americans. 1 page.
Subject
Political participation, Voting, Suffrage, Race relations, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A magazine article exploring the ongoing racial tensions in the American South. 17 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The American South: Rise of a New Confederacy", November 17, 1970
Date Created
1970--11-17
Description
A magazine article exploring the ongoing racial tensions in the American South. 17 pages.
Subject
Race relations, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A magazine article discussing the challenges faced by liberalism amid social change movements. 3 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"A New Chance for Liberals", May 1970
Date Created
1970-05
Description
A magazine article discussing the challenges faced by liberalism amid social change movements. 3 pages.
Subject
Race relations, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newsletter published by Race Relations Information Center regarding race relations and school desegregation. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Race Relations Reporter, No. 5, April 1, 1970
Date Created
1970--04-01
Description
A newsletter published by Race Relations Information Center regarding race relations and school desegregation. 4 pages.
Subject
Race relations, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights, African Americans--Segregation
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping highlighting the progress and challenges of race relations in the South. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Decade of Black Struggle Has Mixed Result in South", February 8, 1970
Date Created
1970--02-08
Description
A newspaper clipping highlighting the progress and challenges of race relations in the South. 2 pages.
Subject
Race relations, Race discrimination, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A newspaper clipping describing criticism of Atlanta Mayor, Ivan Allen Jr.. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Allen Needs Help, Some Critics Feel", December 9, 1969
Date Created
1969-12-09
Description
A newspaper clipping describing criticism of Atlanta Mayor, Ivan Allen Jr.. 2 pages.
Subject
Race relations, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
The article discusses political figure Julian Bond, who is well-known and influential in the Atlanta Black community, but may not fare well among White voters in Georgia, and questions whether it is equally "racial" politics to suggest that in the future Black voters will only vote for a Black candidate. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"The Mayors Race", February 19, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-19
Author
Gulliver, Hal
Description
The article discusses political figure Julian Bond, who is well-known and influential in the Atlanta Black community, but may not fare well among White voters in Georgia, and questions whether it is equally "racial" politics to suggest that in the future Black voters will only vote for a Black candidate. 1 page.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Race relations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
In 1969, State Rep. Julian Bond predicted that a Black mayor would be elected in Atlanta, and that Black Atlanta would become the majority, resulting in either an orderly transition of government or a state of political cold war between the races, depending on the willingness of the Black community to unify and the White community to accept the inevitable future, and argued for the need for a strong political organization and ward elections in the city. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan concerning Julian Bond's interest in Congress over mayorship. 2 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Last White Mayor in '69, Bond Says", February 13, 1969
Date Created
1969--02-13
Description
In 1969, State Rep. Julian Bond predicted that a Black mayor would be elected in Atlanta, and that Black Atlanta would become the majority, resulting in either an orderly transition of government or a state of political cold war between the races, depending on the willingness of the Black community to unify and the White community to accept the inevitable future, and argued for the need for a strong political organization and ward elections in the city. With correspondence from Billie Pfiffner to Vernon Jordan concerning Julian Bond's interest in Congress over mayorship. 2 pages.
Subject
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta, African American civic leaders, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government, Voting, Race relations
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A copy of a newspaper clipping with an article written by Bayard Rustin describing racism in American institution. 1 page.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Soul Searching Vs. Social Change", May 18, 1968
Date Created
1968-05-18
Description
A copy of a newspaper clipping with an article written by Bayard Rustin describing racism in American institution. 1 page.
Subject
Race discrimination, Race relations, Political participation, African Americans--Civil rights
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
A survey published by the U.S. Department of Commerce comparing demographic statistics of Black Americans. 4 pages.
Voter Education Project Organizational Records
"Negro population: March 1965", Population Characteristics, December 27, 1965
Date Created
1965-12-27
Description
A survey published by the U.S. Department of Commerce comparing demographic statistics of Black Americans. 4 pages.
Subject
Race relations, Voter registration, Political participation, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Voter Education Project Organizational Records