Ku Klux Klan (1915-)
Biography
Ku Klux Klan had two distinct secret societies. The first society organization was founded at at Pulaski, Tenn., in May 1866 and disbanded in 1869. The second Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1915 by William J. Simmons, who revived the Klan after its disbandment in the later years of reconstruction.
The 1920’s witnessed a massive expansion of Klan membership across the country, including Michigan. The Klan began to gain significant membership in Kalamazoo County around 1923 when membership from the Van Burn sand South Bend Indiana regions began to encourage further expansion.
The Second Klan favored extreme patriotism, and targeted foreigners, Roman catholic and Jewish practitioners, as well as the African American populations. The Klu Klux Klan in Kalamazoo peaked in 1924, before fading from public eye around 1926.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Klu Klux Klan, Kalamazoo County Chapter papers
This collection is composed of two documents from Kalamazoo County Michigan, dated around 1923. One is an anonymous paper by a Kalamazoo County Klansman and another is a blank potential membership card. The majority of text lists the fifteen principles of the Klu Klux Klan including the Christian religion and White supremacy.