Ku Klux Klan robe and belt worn by Phineas Miller Wilds
date: label: Date
content: 1915-1930
name: label: Created by
content: Unidentified
label: Worn by
content: Phineas Miller Wilds, American, 1850 - 1930
label: Used by
content: Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944
label: Owned by
content: Richard M. Rousseau, American
notes: label: Description
content: A red Ku Klux Klan (KKK) officer’s (a) robe with (b) belt associated with 2011.144.1.2, a hood. The machine-sewn calf-length robe is made from red synthetic satin cloth. The sleeves are full length with a slight flare near the cuff. The robe has a standing collar that is lined with ivory satin and that closes with two sets of snap fasteners. The robe closes at the center front with seven (7) sets of snap fasteners that run almost the full length of the button band. The robe has lengths of red, white, and blue ribbon sewn near the bottom of the robe approximately 4.5 inches from the hem, and at the cuff of each sleeve. There is a single length of blue ribbon running down the proper left and right front sides. There is a single, center back vent measuring 20.50 inches above the hem. There are red satin belt loops on each side of the waist. Sewn over the proper left and right breasts are machine embroidered patches with an ivory satin cross, detailed in black embroidery, against a red satin background with a “blood drop” embroidered in red, positioned vertically in the center of the cross. The black lines on the patch form a cross with a black diamond in the middle of the cross. The robe is not lined. The robe has an attached red synthetic satin, semi-circular half cape with ivory synthetic satin cloth lining. The half cape has a female half of a snap closure sewn to the proper right side of the bottom, front corner. The male half on the proper left side of the bottom, front corner is missing. The detachable belt is made from blue rayon cord.
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: Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, 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: U.S. History, 1865-1921
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1919-1933
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1933-1945
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 the Wilds Family Descendants of Nassau County, Florida
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2011.144.1.1ab
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: synthetic fiber with rayon
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Robe): 50 1/2 × 35 in. (128.3 × 88.9 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: L x W (Belt): 86 1/2 × 1 3/16 in. (219.7 × 3 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Cape): 56 11/16 × 29 15/16 in. (144 × 76 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Waist: 28 1/2 in. (72.4 cm)