The Second Ku Klux Klan in Florence

Subject

Community

Description

This is a collection of articles related to the Second Ku Klux Klan that was popular in the 1920s. According to Florence historian Lee Freeman: "Despite Ed. Camper's editorials Florence had a Klan chapter by 1923 which seems not to have done very much other than, for example, holding a couple of rallies at McFarland and on one occasion attempting to intimidate a local house of prostitution into closing; so far we haven't discovered any evidence that it ever harassed local African-Americans, Jews or Catholics (if it did it apparently went unreported in the local papers). Perhaps this lack of more serious activity is at least partly because of the Times' editorials against the Klan? Earlier Klan activity in Florence was reported in national newspapers in the late 1860s which seem to indicate that Klansmen (in one instance some 500 who when asked to unmask did so but were not recognized by locals) on these occasions came from out of town. So just exactly where these Klansmen came from isn't known. Perhaps there was an early chapter in the county, or maybe these men came from a nearby town? We need to do more research."
(2) Article about a group of Klansmen that entered the North Wood Methodist Church and made a contribution to Evangelist Collier.
(3) Article about the first the Klan rally in Sheffield since Reconstruction.
(4) Public invitation to Klan Rally in McFarland bottoms (McFarland Park today)
(5) Klan speak at church service in Gravelly Springs
(6) Article about 60 Klansmen who posted a notice that a black man in the area may be passing as white
(7 and 8) Article and advertisement about Klan rally in McFarland bottom
(9) Article about the organization of the Ku Klux Klan in Florence in July, 1922

Source

Florence Times (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Florence Herald (5)

Publisher

Florence Times (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Florence Herald (5)

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

JPG

Language

English

Type

Still Image

Identifier

The_Ku_Klux.jpg (1)
Localkkk.jpg (2)
sheffieldkkk.jpg (3)
Public_Invited_to_Ku_Klux.jpg (4)
Gravelly_Springs.jpg (5)
Sixty_Klansmen_Posted_Notices.jpg (6)
Klan_Planning_Big_Parade_Next_Friday.jpg (7)
knightsofkuklux.jpg (8)
KuKluxorganized1.png (9)
KuKluxorganized2.png (9)

Original Format

Newspaper

Files

The Ku Klux.jpg
localkkk.jpg
sheffieldkkk.jpg
Public Invited to Ku Klux.jpg
Gravelly Springs.jpg
Sixty Klansmen Posted Notices.jpg
Klan Planning Big Parade Next Friday.jpg
knightsofkuklux.jpg
Rotarians Hear Prof Appleby Mon FH Fri May 20 1921 p 5.jpg
Ku Klux Klan Made the Goat FH Fri Sep 23 1921 p 2.jpg

Collection

Community

Citation

“The Second Ku Klux Klan in Florence,” Shoals Black History, accessed April 19, 2024, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/674.