Lot 1087
WILLIAM JOSEPH SIMMONS VERSUS THE KNIGHTS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN
Interesting group of three documents and three printed pamphlets, all related to the schism between WILLIAM JOSEPH SIMMONS (1880-1945), the founder of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and HIRAM W. EVANS (1881-1966), who succeeded Simmons as "Imperial Wizard" of the Klan and forced Simmons out of the Order. This collection includes: typed document, 1p. 4to., Atlanta, Jan. 5, 1924, a decree ordering the banishment of Simmons, in part: "...the Grand Dragons, Realms of the United States of America have charged you... of certain high crimes and misdemeanors as attested by copy of the charges hereto attached, and it appearing to the Imperial Wizard that the charges are of such an unusual and serious character that, for the best interests of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, official action must be taken thereon, and, it further appearing to me that under the Constitution and Laws of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, the nature of the charges are such that I must in line of duty in pursuance thereof, issue against you an official order of banishment..." The facsimile signature of Hiram W. Evans appears at the conclusion, and the document is countersigned by "Imperial Kligrapp" (secretary) H.K. Ramsey, also in facsimile. Appended to the above is a second typed document, 3pp. 4to., [Atlanta, n.d.], a "presentment" made to Evans outlining the charges against Simmons, in part: "... the said William Joseph Simmons, then and there and at all times well knowing that he had been the founder of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and its first Imperial Wizard, and its only Emperor, and at all times then and there well knew and at all times fully understanding the Christian purposes, the love of Country and Flag, and the high ideals for which the Order was created, has on divers and sundry occasions... collected sums of money in the name of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan... and has never made any accounting or report to our Order... The said William Joseph Simmons... has desecrated and prostituted our ideals and purposes by establishing and creating a competitive order known as Ku Klux Klan, and also Knights Kamelia, or Kamelia, thus intending, by the creation of said Order, to wrongfully and improperly pollute, illegally compete and wrongfully injure Knights of the Ku Klux Klan... The said William Joseph Simmons, unmindful of the high duties of his office, and of his oath of allegiance to this Order, has on many occasions throughout the States of the United States, entered into unlawful conspiracies, confederations and combinations with unknown representatives, friends, hirelings and stool-pigeons, to foster and maintain a spirit of dissatisfaction and hatred among certain members of our Order, and did conspire... to foster and maintain against this Order expensive litigation throughout the United States... In being in such a state of intoxication on innumerable occasions, as to render the said William Joseph Simmons incompetent to sanely think or act, and the frequency of such delinquencies being such as to constitute the said William Joseph Simmons a common drunkard, wholly unsuited and unfitted for the high office of Emperor of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan..." This "presentment is signed in type by seventeen state-level "Grand Dragons", and in facsimile by H.K. Ramsey. WITH: typed document, 1p. 4to., Atlanta, Feb. 1, 1924, a copy of Simmons'' resignation as a member of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, signed in type by both Simmons and Evans at the conclusion. WITH: typed document, 3pp. 4to., [Atlanta], Feb 1, 1924, a copy of the settlement between Simmons and the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, in which Simmons agrees to sell all of his copyrights to Klan-related materials to the Order, and to forfeit his salary as "Emperor". The document is signed in type by Simmons and his wife, Bessie. Copies of these decrees and decisions were distributed to each local "Klavern", with these in particular originating from the files of John F. Marshall, "Kligrapp" (secretary) of the Altoona, Pennsylvania chapter. Also present are three booklets, each published by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and giving their perspective on the case, includes: "Full Court Record and Statement of Fact in Regard to Litigation Instituted by Col. W.J. Simmons in April 1923 - Concerning the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" (Atlanta, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc.), [1923], 29pp. 8vo.; "Minutes of the Imperial Kloncilium, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Meeting of May 1 and 2, 1923 Which Ratified W.J. Simmons'' Agreement with the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" (Atlanta: Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc.), 1923, 60pp. large 8vo.; and "The Whole Truth about the Effort to Destroy the Klan" (Atlanta: Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc.), 1923, 28pp. 8vo., a propagandistic retelling of the case from the point of view of Evans and his supporters. This last piece bears the signature of John F. Marshall of the Altoona Klan on the front cover. All pieces show some toning, folds and minor chips to the edges, else very good.
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