Trove of 1960s KKK Documents Discovered in Mississippi State Office

Artifacts and records from a local Klan chapter have been turned over to state archivists for preservation and research.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:19am

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A suitcase filled with 1960s-era Ku Klux Klan records, including meeting notes, propaganda, and internal documents, was discovered by Mississippi Department of Public Safety employees during an office move. The materials have been transferred to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, where officials say they will help researchers better understand Klan activity in the state during that turbulent decade.

Why it matters

The discovery of these long-hidden KKK materials provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings and propaganda efforts of a local chapter of the notorious hate group. Preserving and studying these artifacts is crucial to ensuring that the dark history of organizations like the KKK is not forgotten, and that future generations understand the dangers of such extremist ideologies.

The details

The suitcase contained a spiral notebook with Klan meeting minutes, a ledger book, a 1964 Imperial Executive Order, and numerous pamphlets, including one titled "The Ugly Truth about Martin Luther King." Along with the Klan materials, there were also news clippings related to the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Department of Public Safety.

  • The materials were discovered in March 2026 as Mississippi Department of Public Safety employees were moving into a new headquarters.

The players

Mississippi Department of Public Safety

The state agency that discovered the KKK materials during an office move.

Mississippi Department of Archives and History

The state agency that has received the KKK materials for preservation and research.

Sean Tindell

Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, who stated that preserving the items is part of a broader effort to expose extremist organizations and ensure that America's sordid past is not forgotten.

Barry White

Incoming director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, who called the transfer of the KKK materials "particularly significant" as it includes both administrative records and propaganda from a local chapter of the national organization.

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What they’re saying

“Mississippi Highway Patrol Troopers and Agents with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety have worked for decades with our federal law enforcement partners to shed light on the darkness in which groups like the Ku Klux Klan chose to operate. By preserving these artifacts and shedding light on such organizations, we help ensure that future generations are never led astray by such hate.”

— Sean Tindell, Commissioner, Mississippi Department of Public Safety

“These records will give researchers broader access to documentation that deepens our understanding of Ku Klux Klan activities in Mississippi during the 1960s. Receiving a set of materials that includes both administrative records and propaganda from a local chapter of a national organization known for its secrecy is particularly significant.”

— Barry White, Incoming Director, Mississippi Department of Archives and History

What’s next

MDAH officials noted that processing and preserving the items could take several months as the process entails properly housing materials, preparing a collection-level overview for the archives catalog, and creating metadata for scans to be posted online.

The takeaway

The discovery of this trove of KKK materials from the 1960s serves as a sobering reminder of the hateful and extremist ideologies that once held sway in parts of the country. By preserving and studying these artifacts, researchers and the public can gain a deeper understanding of this dark chapter in American history, and work to ensure that such bigotry and intolerance never take root again.