Ku Klux Klan robe from the Wilds Family Plantation
date: label: Date
content: 1915-1944
name: label: Created by
content: Unidentified
label: Owned by
content: Unidentified
label: Used by
content: Ku Klux Klan, 2nd, American, 1915 - 1944
notes: label: Description
content: A Ku Klux Klan (KKK) robe worn by a member of an undetermined rank. The calf-length robe is made from ivory synthetic satin and has full-length sleeves that are slightly flared near the cuff. The robe has a neckband that is lined with red satin and that closes with two sets of snap fasteners. Seven (7) snap fasteners run almost the full length of the button band at the center front. The robe has bands of red, white and blue ribbon sewn near the bottom of the robe approximately five (5) inches from the hem. There are single red ribbon bands at the cuff of each sleeve and running down the proper left and right sides of the button bands. The robe is not lined and there is a single, center back vent measuring 20.75 inches from the hem. There are ivory satin belt loops on each side of the waist. Sewn over the proper left breast is a machine embroidered patch with an ivory satin cross outlined in black against a red satin background with a “blood drop,” embroidered in red, oriented 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 design is typically referred to as the "Mystic Insignia of a Klansman" (MIOAK). The robe has an attached ivory synthetic satin semi-circular half cape with red synthetic satin lining. The half cape has a snap closure sewn to either side of the bottom, front corners.
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: 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: 2012.27
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 and metal snaps
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (flat): 51 1/4 × 34 in. (130.2 × 86.4 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (flat): 29 1/4 × 43 3/4 in. (74.3 × 111.1 cm)