The Ku Klux Klan in Minnesota

by Elizabeth Dorsey Hatle

Minnesota might not seem like an obvious place to look for traces of Ku Klux Klan parade grounds, but this northern state was once home to fifty-one chapters of the KKK. Elizabeth Hatle tracks down the history of the Klan in Minnesota, beginning with the racially charged atmosphere that produced the tragic 1920 Duluth lynchings. She measures the influence the organization wielded at the peak of its prominence within state politics and tenaciously follows the careers of the Klansmen who continued life in the public sphere after the Hooded Order lost its foothold in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Race, Politics

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2013

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a short read but packed with details about members of the Klan.

I would never have thought there membership roster had such prominent members of society. The Klan is a dreadful organization, I don't think that is in dispute. The horrible things they engaged in seemed to be different in Minnesota than in the South. There seems to have been a lot of 'suicides' among Klan members and informants, especially those viewed as traitors.

[Karen Kohoutek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I do agree with reviewers who thought this could use some editing. There's a lot of people mentioned, and it's hard to keep track of them. Some of them get lengthier context a chapter after being introduced. That being said, this is a book covering a little-mentioned topic, and I can't express enough appreciation to the author for sifting all the newspaper accounts, and doing the legwork to find all the KKK memorabilia that's in small-town Minnesota historical societies. Way more of them have Klan robes than I ever imagined! So this is pretty valuable, despite my editorial quibbles.

[H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a shame because this is such an important topic, and there are parts of the book that shine. But, wow, does it need some editing. A chapter on Stanford King would help create a narrative, or even working off a time line contrasting what was happening in the United States with what was happening in Minnesota. There are a lot of really great opportunities to be explored but are quickly skipped over to bring up another fact.

[Mindy Greiling · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Timothy's Eagan's excellent book about the Klan, I searched for one about the Klan In Minnesota. This book appears to be the only game in town, so I thank the author for her extensive research. I wanted to read exactly this: names of people and towns, numbers, etc. I only wish it had benefitted from good editing.

[Sara Jordahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not exactly what I was thinking it would be, but it was still very informative and I'm glad I read it. I learned a lot.

[Rachel Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Talk about cultural amnesia!!! All Minnesotans trying to grapple with the past should read this!

[Harley Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is not a lot of narrative to keep this history compelling. It is not nearly as interesting as Fredo's Lynchings in Duluth. Still some interesting names and connections to our state's hwy patrol.

[Ashley]

After reading this, I'm pretty sure the Tea Party and Bush #43 took tips on how to brainwash people into believing their bull shit.

[Paul T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book is a rather random accumulation of examples of Klan or possible Klan-like activity in the 1920's. Not very satisfying.