Written by
Tourgée, Albion W., American, 1838 - 1905
Subject of
Ku Klux Klan, 1st, American, 1865 - 1872
Date
1879; published 1880
Medium
ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions
H x W x D (closed): 7 13/16 × 5 7/8 × 1 5/8 in. (19.8 × 15 × 4.1 cm)
H x W x D (open): 7 13/16 × 9 7/8 × 1 5/8 in. (19.8 × 25.1 × 4.1 cm)
Caption
Albion W. Tourgée, a white attorney and U.S. Army veteran from Ohio, moved to North Carolina in 1865. He entered politics as a supporter of African American civil rights and was threatened by the Ku Klux Klan. After he returned North in 1879, he published this account of the Klan’s terrorist activities.
Description
A hardcover 1880 illustrated edition of The Invisible Empire, by Albion W. Tourge´e, including both Part I: A Fool's Errand and Part II: A Concise Review of Recent Events. The book has a brown cover with black text and designs. The spine reads [THE INVISIBLE EMPIRE] in gold and [TOURGEE] in black. At the top is an illustration of a palm tree and at center is another botanical design, both in black. The publisher's logo is at the bottom [HFH] over an ampersand at the center. The front cover has [THE INVISBLE EMPIRE / TOURGEE] in black, with the "T" of "the" appearing as a palm tree. The cover design also features palm fronds at top left and top right, extending from a half circle with geometric motifs. The volume begins with a message from the publishers, Fords, Howard, and Hulbert, and four pages of extracts from press notices for "A Fool's Errand. By One of the Fools."
Opposite the title page is an illustration titled [THE RIDE FOR LIFE.] depicting a female figure on horseback firing a pistol at a hooded figure on hooded horse. The title page reds [THE INVISBLE EMPIRE: Part I. / A NEW ILLUSTRATED, AND ENLARGED / EDITION OF / A FOOL'S ERRAND, / BY ONE OF THE FOOLS; / THE FAMOUS HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF / LIFE IN THE SOUTH SINCE THE WAR. / PART II. / A CONCISE REVIEW OF RECENT EVENTS, / SHOWING / The Element on which Tale is based, with many Thrilling / Personal Narratives and other Startling Facts and Con- / siderations, including an Account of the Rise, Extent, / Purpose, Methods, and Deeds of the Mysterious Ku-Klux Klan; / ALL FULLY AUTHENTICATED. / BY / ALBION W. TOURGEE, / LATE JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA, AUTHOR OF "THE / CODE WITH NOTES," "DIGEST OF CITED CASES," "TOINTETTE," / "FIGS AND THISTLES," ETC. / TWO PARTS COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME. / Illustrated Edition. / SOLD ONLY BY SUBSCRIPTION. / NEW YORK: FORDS, HOWARD, & HULBERT. / W.H. THOMPSON & CO., BOSTON; WESTON HULBERT, CHICAGO; / SCAMMELL & CO., ST. LOUIS; A.L. BANCROFT & CO., San Francisco.].
The volume continues with a Table of Contents and a list of the sixteen (16) illustrations that appear throughout the book, before beginning with the text of Part I. There is no printing on the back cover.
Statement
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 depicted
United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Stanley Turkel's Collection of Reconstruction Era Materials
Classification
Library Collections
Books and Published Materials
Type
hardcover books
Topic
American South
Politics
Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
Slavery
Violence
White supremacy movements
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Stanley Turkel's Collection of Reconstruction Era Materials
Object number
2012.160.177
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e5c38afe-9309-4e79-8f8d-93bd2e36b240

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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