Catching Hell From All Quarters: Anti-Klan Activists in Interwar Missouri
Schedule
Thu, 16 Apr, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
600 W Main St, Jefferson City, MO, United States, Missouri 65101 | Jefferson City, MO
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Join the Missouri State Archives in-person or live on YouTube for our April 2026 Thursday Evening Speaker Series.Livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/drctJTsh2uA?si=cWsBsydKb14TBUp_
In "Catching Hell from All Quarters," author Sean Rost works to invert the traditional history of what has been termed the second Ku Klux Klan (1915-1930) by examining the efforts of anti-Klan activists, in particular in Missouri, who challenged the growth, recruitment, and political ambitions of the Invisible Empire during the 1920s and 1930s through editorial crusades, educational campaigns, public pressure on elected officials, political investigations, and in some cases counter-vigilantism.
Although anti-Klan activism was nation-wide, Missouri provides an excellent case study for the rise and fall of the second Klan as the organization gained a large membership and obtained a notable level of political power in some parts of the Show-Me State. Significantly, despite membership totals comparable to that of neighboring states, the Missouri Klan did not translate its recruiting success into substantial influence and political power due to significant local opposition from anti-Klan activists.
The Thursday Evening Speaker Series is free of charge and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless otherwise noted, programs will be held at the Missouri State Archives, located at 600 W. Main Street in Jefferson City. The series is underwritten by the Friends of the Missouri State Archives.
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Where is it happening?
600 W Main St, Jefferson City, MO, United States, Missouri 65101Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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