Ku Klux Klan parade banner from Derry, New Hampshire: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An ivory and blue silk satin Ku Klux Klan parade banner. The banner has an ivory silk background with a red silk cross appliqued in the center and [DERRY KLAN / NO. / 147] embroidered across the bottom in red silk thread. At the top of the banner is a blue silk flap with the letters [KKKK] appliqued in white silk across the top edge. The bottom edge of the flap and the bottom edge of the banner have coiled metal fringe held in place with a woven, flat metal tape across the front side of the banner. The left and right sides of the banner have been edged in galloons with an oscillating decorative motif on the front and back sides. The back of the banner is made from dark blue silk satin. An American flag with 48 stars is embroidered on the blue silk. A metal tassel hangs from a chain on the embroidered pole of the flag, with the tassel and chain tacked in place.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1915-1944
• Created by: Unidentified
• Used by: Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944
• Type: banners
• Medium: silk satin and metal passementerie
• Dimensions: H x W: 57 1/2 × 38 1/2 in. (146.1 × 97.8 cm)
• Place used: Derry, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Associations and institutions
• Topic: Fraternal organizations
• Topic: Men
• Topic: United States History
• Topic: White supremacy movements
• Object number: 2012.134.4
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Danny Drain, Walterboro, SC
• 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: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.