Ku Klux Kismet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Sheet music for the song " Ku Klux Kismet" by Mary Gue. The sheet music has four pages and is printed on white paper with black and red ink. The front cover features an image of a Ku Klux Klan member riding a horse and holding an American flag in his right, outstretched hand. His other hand is holding the reigns of the horse. Both the rider and the horse are wearing robes and hoods with KKK symbols on it. Another KKK member is on the right side of the cover holding a flaming cross. Printed at the top of the cover is “Ku Klux Kismet / MARCH.” At the top right corner of the cover is “MUSIC BY / MARY GUE / ARRANGED BY / WALTER ARDRELL RIGGS.” Printed at the bottom left corner is “PRICE 60 CENTS” and “PUBLISHED BY / WALTER ARDRELL RIGGS / ARANSAS PASS, TEXAS.” The printed words and image are printed with red ink. The back cover of the sheet music is blank.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1924
• Composed by: Mary Gue, American
• Published by: Walter Ardrell Riggs, American, 1881 - 1975
• Subject of: Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944
• Type: sheet music
• Medium: ink on paper
• Dimensions: H x W: 12 3/16 × 9 1/4 in. (31 × 23.5 cm)
• Place used: United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Associations and institutions
• Topic: Fraternal organizations
• Topic: Music
• Topic: U.S. History, 1919-1933
• Topic: White supremacy movements
• Object number: 2013.231.4
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Anonymous Gift
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.