Lot 690

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ALTOONA KU KLUX KLAN DOCUMENTS AND EPHEMERA
Extensive archive of documents, correspondence, and articles of ephemera, all from the files of John F. Marshall, "Kligrapp" (secretary) of the Altoona, Pennsylvania chapter of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. The group includes, in small part: ledger book, approx. 120pp. folio, mostly empty but including a log entitled "List of Charter Members of KKK", giving the names of the 118 members of the Altoona Klan, including "Exalted Cyclops" (local leader) William C. Tipton, "Kludd" (chaplain) N.U. Stern, "Klarogo" (sergeant-at-arms) Clement L. Evey, and Marshall himself, who held the position of "Kligrapp" (secretary). The list further gives each member's address and a roster of dues paid; typed document, 1p. 8vo., a list of executive officers of the Klan in Altoona, listing each officer by title and giving their address, with their membership numbers entered by hand and additional hand emendations and notes, presumably executed by Marshall; five copies of a printed document, the "Quarterly Bulletin of Altoona Klan Number One, Realm Two of Pennsylvania", each 1p. 4to., Altoona, March 31, 1923, with the interesting report: "...The Grand Jury returning a verdict of no true bill against any of the accused for crime committed in the state of Louisiana, assures a clean, clear conscience of knowing that we are not associating with a band of outlaws and hooded murderers, but an organization of Protestant, fearless, law-abiding, red-blooded American citizens, who are banding together for the betterment of all mankind..." This refers to a case in Mer Rouge, Louisiana, after two white men were kidnapped and murdered by a mob of Klansmen under the leadership of the former mayor. The case was not pursued after additional witnesses vanished; an additional printed document, also entitled " Quarterly Bulletin of Altoona Klan Number One, Realm Two of Pennsylvania", 1p. 8vo., Altoona, [Jan. 1923], giving updates of recruitment drives, Klan-published newspapers to combat negative publicity, and the issuance of a new national password; two additional printed newsletters, each 4pp. 8vo., dated June 30 and Sep. 30, 1923, each with the Klan chapter stated on the front cover above the image of an American flag; a hand-carved wood stamp with a crock handle, approx. 1" x 1 1/4" dia., bearing the letter "K"; political pamphlets, one, 1p. 4to., encouraging Altoona residents to vote to outlaw the sale of liquor and the showing of movies on Sunday ("...Sunday movies are not needed. Six days a week are enough for any one kind of amusement..."), showing Marshall's stamped signature, and a set of five flyers, each 1p. 12mo., encouraging citizens to vote for a slate of Republican candidates; two copies of a 12mo. card given "Compliments of the Ku Klux Klan, Altoona, Pa.", entitled "A Knocker", in part: "... After God had finished making the Rattlesnake, the toads and the Vampires, He had some awful substance left, of which He made THE KNOCKER. The Knocker is a two-legged animal with a cork screw soul, a water-soaked brain and a combination backbone of Jelly and Glue. Where other men have hearts he carries a tumor of DECAYED PRINCIPLES... What are you? A KNOCKER or a 100% American..."; pair of typed documents, each 1p. 4to., drafts of an advertisement for a Klan "Picnic and Naturalization Ceremony" to be held Saturday, Aug. 23, 1924, and featuring: "...Plenty of fine speakers. Lots of good music by Klan band. A big 100% ball-game and other sports. Something doing every minute. Evening parade through the town of Martinsburg. Have your robe spic and span. Look your best and help swell the line. Bring your parade flags along. We can't get too many in line... Come one and all. Bring all your friends who are interested in Klancraft, especially those who should be Klansmen and Klanswomen. Above all bring candidates properly vouched for by your organization for the big naturalization ceremony in the evening. Have all candidates report to HEADQUARTERS for full instructions immediately upon arriving at the grounds..."; carbon copy of a typed document, 1p. 4to., [n.p., n.d.], a press release or similar announcement on a Klan Easter celebration, in part: "... By the burning of the Fiery Cross, the symbol of that Calvary Cross, on the hilltops overlooking the city of Altoona, at 10 o'clock, Saturday evening, the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan paid tribute to the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth... The Crosses being forty-eight feet in height and wrapped with a imflammable material, when aflame were visible to all sections of the City thus attracted the attention of thousands of the Citizens who rushed to the different sections of the city where the Klansmen had erected their symbols of Sacred Flame to their Criterion of Character, but the Ceremonies having been completed and the hundreds of Klansmen having retired to their respestive homes, the investigating citizens found nothing but the smoldering embers of that Sacred emblem. [all sic]"; typed document, 1p. 4to., [n.p., n.d.], on Knights of the Ku Klux Klan letterhead, a partial set of lyrics for "The Mystic City", a popular Klan anthem of the early 1920's, in part: "...Klansman, Klansman, of the Ku Klux Klan, Protestant, gentile, native born man, Hooded, Knighted, Robed and true, Royal sons of the Red, White and Blue, Owing no allegiance we are born free, To God and Glory we bend our knee, Sublime lineage written in history stands, Weird, mysterious Ku Klux Klan..."; large archive of documents related to the "Daily Dispatch", a Pittsburgh-based, Klan-owned independent newspaper, including a stock certificate giving partial ownership to the Altoona Klan, subscription forms, and much correspondence; and a large quantity of unsorted documents and correspondence, including financial documents, membership petitions, receipts for dues paid, notifications of visits by Klansmen from other cities, and much more. Most documents show toning and chips to the edges commensurate with age, else very good. Should be seen.

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May 14, 2018 1:00 PM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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