Southern Publicity Association financial records, 1923

File — Box: SC1900-1949.014, Folder: 4298.010

Content Description

From the Collection: The collection contains internal Ku Klux Klan expense reports for recruiting and other related documents. Edward Clarke and his company the Southern Publicity Association facilitated the recruitment and propaganda efforts. Recruiters traveled across the US and sent their expense reports to Clarke for reimbursement. These reports show where they were traveling and sometimes provide recruiting numbers. Their expenses usually include food, hotels, trains, cigars, and secretarial services. Some of the documents are on Klan letterhead. The recruiters often identify themselves with Klan titles, such as Grand Goblins and Kleagles. Kleagles were most likely the lower-level recruiters. Grand Goblins held much higher offices, with only one each for the East, West, North, and South.

Some documents in the collection do not mention the Klan specifically, only referring to the Southern Publicity Association.

The collection also includes three unidentified candid photographs, circa 1920. Two of the photos are of a young child. One photograph is of a woman holding an infant. The woman is wearing a robe that is shorter than her dress, and there appears to be a hood hanging down her back. This could be a Klan robe.

Dates

1923

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.