Processed by
Brent Abercrombie
December 2006
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
1 folder |
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COLLECTION |
October 1925 |
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PROVENANCE: |
Heritage Photo Services, Indianapolis, Indiana |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
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RELATED |
Ku Klux Klan: Crown Point #72 (M 0409), Wayne County (M 0407, BV 1587- BV 1596b, OM 0371, F 0612-0617, R 0676-0679), Odon Klan #90 (SC 2590), La Porte (OM 0352), Logansport (SC 2488), Women of the Ku Klux Klan (SC 2766), Tom Cochrun (M 0853, DVD 0012-006) |
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ACCESSION |
2000.0930 |
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NOTES: |
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The Klan became popular in Indiana during the 1920s. Established by super-salesman D.C. Stephenson, the Klan first began in Evansville in 1920. In two years, the Klan had grown to over 300,000 members, with 40,000 Klansmen in Indianapolis alone. Klan influence in Indiana reached its peak in 1924 with the elections of a sympathetic governor along with a majority of the state legislature, as well as countless mayors and city officials. Stephenson’s and the Klan’s power ended quickly in 1925 with the arrest and conviction of Stephenson for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer. By 1927, fewer than 7,000 dues-paying Klansmen remained in Indiana.
Sources:
Newton, Michael and Judy Ann Newton. The Ku Klux Klan: An Encyclopedia. Garland Publishing, Inc. New York. 1991.
The collection contains two letters issued by the Marion County Ku Klux Klan #3, one invitation and its envelope, and three (all duplicates) “Official Protestant Clothes Pin Tickets.” One of the letters, an invitation sent to Virgil M. Butts to attend a mammoth meeting at Cadle Tabernacle on 31 October 1925, was signed by George S. Elliot. The other letter discusses the Klan’s desire to increase the number of Junior Ku Klux Klan members, and the need for current members to increase their efforts to improve membership. The “Official Protestant Clothes Pin Tickets” list candidates for mayor, city clerk, and councilmen for Marion County, Indiana.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Indianapolis KKK letters and papers |
Folder 1 |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://opac.indianahistory.org/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number SC 2803.
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.