Ku Klux Klan Night Hawk robe used by Stetson Kennedy
date: label: Date
content: 1970-2011
name: label: Created by
content: Unidentified
label: Used by
content: Stetson Kennedy, American, 1916 - 2011
label: Subject of
content: Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944
notes: label: Description
content: A Ku Klux Klan (KKK) robe (a) with belt (b), associated with 2011.144.2.2ab, a hood and mask with a liner, worn by the Night Hawk rank officers whose main role is to act as security at "klonvocations." The Night Hawk's robe is usually shorter so as to allow easier movement. This particular Night Hawk robe was owned by writer and human rights activist Stetson Kennedy, who infiltrated the KKK in the 1940s, exposing its secrets to authorities and the outside world. The navy blue cotton calf-length robe has has full length straight sleeves.The robe is collarless and has an attached cape that fully drapes over the front of the shoulders. There are five (5) black plastic snap fasteners sewn on to the center front button band from the collar to the waist. Over the proper right breast is a machine embroidered rayon patch of a white skull outlined in black with the letters [KKK] embroidered in red on the forehead of the skull. Over the proper left breast is a machine embroidered rayon patch of a white cross outlined in black against a red background with a “blood drop” positioned vertically in the center of the cross. The black lines on the patch are four K’s arranged to look like a cross. The design is typically referred to as the "Mystic Insignia of a Klansman" (MIOAK). The interior of the hem is reinforced with white, cotton tape. The robe is not lined.
label: Description
content: The belt is made of the same plain, navy blue cotton fabric as the robe, and has been hemmed down the length of the belt and at both ends.
label: Statement
content: Objects depicting symbols of hate or related to organized hate groups may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate history and culture.
place: label: Place used
content: Florida, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: American South
label: Topic
content: Associations and institutions
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Fraternal organizations
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Social reform
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1933-1945
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1945-1953
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1953-1961
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1961-1969
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1969-2001
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 2001-
label: Topic
content: White supremacy movements
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Fashion and Historical
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Sandra A. Parks, wife of Stetson Kennedy
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2011.144.2.1ab
objectType: label: Type
content: robes
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: cotton, rayon, and plastic
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Robe): 48 1/4 × 26 1/4 in. (122.6 × 66.7 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Belt): 2 7/16 × 76 3/4 in. (6.2 × 194.9 cm)