A local historian says the Ku Klux Klan had a significant presence in the Black Hills up until the Great Depression. Charles Rambow found out that his grandparents were members, and that discovery led him to track down the history of the KKK and give public presentations about it. As Rambow tells SDPB’s Victoria Wicks, KKK membership in the Hills has died out, but occasionally there’s evidence that the Klan is still watching.
KKK Had Strong Presence In Black Hills In 1920s
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Charles Rambow
Victoria Wicks
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A photo of a KKK funeral at Sturgis is part of Charles Rambow's collection of memorabilia.
Courtesy of Charles Rambow
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Photo of a 1926 funeral at Sturgis, with Klansmen in attendance.
Courtesy of Charles Rambow
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Headline in the Lead Daily Call announces the murder of Father Belknap.
Courtesy of Charles Rambow.
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A framed collection of KKK artifacts. The grouping at center right includes the world's smallest Bible.
Courtesy of Charles Rambow.
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A closer look at the world's smallest Bible, distributed by the KKK.
