1922 Ku Klux Klan Framed Historical Collection - Donation Certificates & "Member in Good Standing" Token
1922 Ku Klux Klan Framed Historical Collection - Donation Certificates & "Member in Good Standing" Token
This is a framed collection of authentic Ku Klux Klan memorabilia from 1922, offering a direct look into the administrative and fraternal structure of the organization during the height of the "Second Klan." The collection includes two official donation certificates and a metal member token, professionally mounted in a modern frame for preservation and display.
This collection is offered strictly as a historical and sociological artifact. The views and ideologies of the organization from which these items originate are not endorsed.
Historical Context: The Second Klan of the 1920s
The items in this collection date to 1922, a peak period of the Ku Klux Klan's revival and influence in the United States. Following World War I, the "Second Klan" emerged as a powerful, nationwide fraternal organization that enrolled millions of members. Unlike the first Klan of the Reconstruction era, the 1920s Klan was a highly organized, dues-paying society structured with local chapters ("Klaverns"), state-level realms, and a national body. It promoted a platform of "100% Americanism," which was rooted in white supremacy, anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, and anti-Black sentiment. The organization's initiation fee, known as the "Klectokon," was typically $10—a significant sum at the time, equivalent to over $180 today. This fee, along with the sale of robes and annual dues, funded its extensive operations.
Detailed Item Description
This framed collection includes three distinct and authentic pieces from this era:
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Two (2) Official Certificates of Donation (1922):
- These certificates confirm a member's donation of "TEN DOLLARS to the propagating fund of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Inc.)".
- Crucially, the text identifies this payment as the "full sum of 'KLECTOKON'," which was the official term for the Klan's initiation fee.
- The certificates bear the form number "F-205---2M BOOKS---9-18-22" printed in the upper left corner, dating their printing precisely to September 18, 1922.
- They feature the official seal of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and are marked "K.O.I.E." at the bottom, an abbreviation for "Knights of the Invisible Empire."
- The certificates are in excellent, unissued condition, with blank spaces for the member's name and the date and location of their institution into a Klavern.
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"Member in Good Standing" Token:
- This is a dark metal (likely brass or bronze) medallion or token with raised, gilded lettering that reads "MEMBER KKK IN GOOD STANDING".
- These tokens served as a pocket piece for members to prove their current, dues-paid status within the organization, similar to a modern membership card.
- The token is mounted on a circular paper backing with a hand-drawn red border, consistent with how such items are often preserved by collectors.
Condition and Presentation:
The artifacts are professionally matted against a dark background and housed in a simple, modern black frame for excellent display and preservation. The certificates are crisp with some age-appropriate toning. The token has a deep patina, with the lettering remaining clear and distinct.