Ku Klux Klan papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Ku Klux Klan papers
- Date
- 1881-1961 (inclusive)
- 1901-1948 (bulk)
- Extent
- 2.26 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Anti-Jewish propaganda
- Antisemitism -- United States
- Catholic Church -- United States -- History.
- Prohibition -- United States.
- Propaganda
- Prostitution
- Racism -- United States -- Public opinion
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format.
- Preferred Citation
- 61m250: [identification of item], Ku Klux Klan papers, 1881-1961, bulk 1901-1948, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The Ku Klux Klan is an organization that promotes views such as white supremacy, white nativism, and anti-immigration and expresses them through terrorism and violence. The Klan's history consists of three distinct periods. The Klan was originally founded in the late 1860s by ex-Confederates and Democrats opposed to Reconstruction policies. Though initially a social group, the Klan became involved with violent acts against those who supported Reconstruction. The influence of the Klan declined in the 1880s once the Democrats regained political power. In the 1920s and 1930s, Klan activity reemerged in response to popular sentiment against the flow of new immigrants from Eastern Europe, in particular Catholics and Jews. They viewed these immigrants as a threat to economic and religious stability and used this sentiment to promote its own white supremacy stance. A third period of renewed Klan activity occurred in the 1950s and 1960s in response to the civil rights movement. The Klan directed acts of intimidation, violence, and murder toward civil rights activists and supporters.
- "Inventory of the Ku Klux Klan Collection." University of Mississippi Libraries, Archives and Special Collections. University of Mississippi. n.d. Web. 21 March 2012.
- Scope and Content
- The Ku Klux Klan papers (dated 1881-1961, bulk 1901-1948; 2.26 cubic feet; 5 boxes) consist of broadsides, brochures, correspondence, leaflets, pamphlets, periodicals, and newspapers, most of which relate to the 20th century Ku Klux Klan movement. However, the collection also contains publications covering prohibition and prostitution as well as anti-Catholic and antisemitic pieces. The sources for these materials vary, documenting the national coverage of the Ku Klux Klan's popularity during the 1920s and 1930s.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collection Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Correspondence, 1901-1928, undated
The American Protestant, 1936, 1938
The American Protestant, letters, 1938-1940
Anti-Catholic pieces, 1914, 1920s, undated
Anti-Semitic pieces, 1924, undated
Broadsides, brochures, leaflets, etc.: Klan-related, 1920s
Broadsides, brochures, leaflets, etc.: Non Klan-related, 1924-1939
The Catholic Sun, Syracuse, NY, 1926 March 25, April 1
The Fellowship Forum, Washington, D.C., 1926-1936
The Independent Klansman Magazine, Munice, IN. (Continued by Knights of American Protestanism, K.A.P. Magazine), 1925-1926
K.A.P. Magazine, 1926 June-September
K.A.P. Magazine, 1927 March-December
K.A.P. Magazine, 1928-1929
The Kourier Magazine, Atlanta, GA, 1925, 1927, 1929
The Megiddo Message, Rochester, NY, 1926, 1927
The Menace, Aurora, MO, 1914, 1915, 1922, 1930
The Monitor, Aurora, MO, 1931, 1932, 1938
National Enquirer, Indianapolis, IN, 1926, 1928
The Nation's Forum, Washington, D.C., 1938
The New York Klanswoman, Buffalo, NY, 1929, 1930
Pentecostal Herald, Louisville, KY, 1938
The Present Truth, Washington, D.C., 1922, 1937-1939
Prohibition, 1904-1936
Prohibition: Newspapers and periodicals, 1881, 1935-1948
Prostitution: Leaflets, pamphlets, etc., 1909, 1914
Publications: miscellaneous, 1889-1961
The Rail Splitter, Milan, IL.; Broadsides, brochures, leaflets, etc., 1920s
Religious literature: Leaflets and pamphlets, 1926-1927, undated
Religious literature: Newspapers and periodicals, 1895-1941
Signs of the Times, Mountain View, CA, 1935, 1936, 1942
Twentieth Century Progress, Washington D.C. (Continued by Progress), 1927, 1937-1938, 1940, 1949
Walton Enterprise, Cass County, IN, 1925 September-October
Newspaper: The Rail Splitter, Milan, IL, 1924 December
Newspaper: The Rail Splitter, Milan, IL, 1926 June, September, October
Newspaper: The Rail Splitter, Milan, IL, 1927 January-February, April, June-July, September-December
Newspaper: The Rail Splitter, Milan, IL, 1932 January
Publication: The Rail Splitter Book Bulletin, undated
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
