Southern Publicity Association financial records, 1923

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.