Ku Klux Klan: Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment

Originally published in 1884, this work was written by John C. Lester and D.L. Wilson, two former members of the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan. The volume represents one of the earliest attempts by participants to codify the organization's history, written from the perspective of those who viewed the group as a reactive force against the political realities of the post-Civil War South. Its creation served as a primary source for the Lost Cause historiography that gained significant traction in the late 19th century.

The text is notable for its candid, albeit partisan, documentation of the Klan's structure and operations during its initial iteration. While modern scholars view the work as highly biased and reflective of the racial ideologies of its authors, it remains a frequently cited artifact in historical research regarding the era. The 9781297500893 edition is a modern digital reprint, intended to make the original, long-out-of-print text accessible to researchers and archives studying the development of domestic extremist groups in American history.