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Research project: Ku Klux Klan 1920s - press coverage

The Ku Klux Klan resurfaced in the 1910s and by the early 1920s claimed millions of members. You will research and write about Klan activities in a single year using both a book and historic newspaper articles from that year. You may also want to write about the perspectives of different newspapers, some sympathetic, others hostile. The assignment has three parts: (1) read newspaper articles and record information in an excel database; (2) read a recommended secondary source (book); (3) write a 8-10 page paper about your subject using information from both the secondary and primary sources

Research questions:  How did newspapers cover the activities of the Klan in the 1920s? How did they explain the goals and actions of the movement? Was the coverage sympathetic or hostile in the newspapers you can access? Did perspectives change over time? Note: The Atlanta Constitution and Washington Post served southern cities. Was their tone different than others? Or you many choose the Black press. What did the four Black-owned newspapers say? 

 Primary source research (newspapers):

 1) Begin by downloading this research database-excel-1.xlsx Download research database-excel-1.xlsx

 2) We are using ProQuest Historical Newspapers for newspaper searches. Below are links to three pre-arranged databases of newspaper articles that you can use, including one that includes only Black-owned newspapers. Choose one or more depending upon your research question.

 

a) you should see a page like this. If not, you may need to click the Library's login button top right and enter your UW-net ID

proquest results1.png

 

b) scroll the titles of articles, clicking on those that seem most relevant. Some will be mistaken entries triggered by the search terms. Others will be too short to be useful. Download copies of all articles that might be useful or interesting. It is more efficient to download them than to read them in ProQuest. 

c) use "back to results" to return to the search results.

proquest results4.png

d) you can filter results using the menus on left side. Sorted by "oldest first" means the entries are in chronological order. "Relevance" is the other option. You can also open the Publication title menu and select articles from particular newspapers.

proquest results2.png

 

3) After downloading many articles, add at least 20 to your research database-excel-1.xlsx Download research database-excel-1.xlsx and write a short description of the event or issue described in each article. Feel free to add additional information in other columns. Your spreadsheet needs to include no less than 20 articles. You will submit the research database along with your paper.

4)  Please DO NOT save or delete the ProQuest search. Others will not be able to use it.

 

Secondary source research (books):

 5) Obtain and read one or more books. Several are listed below. Others can be identified in  UW Library catalog http://www.lib.washington.edu/   

 eBook
The rise of the Ku Klux Klan: right-wing movements and national politics (Links to an external site.)
by Rory McVeigh

eBook
Behind the mask of chivalry : the making of the second Ku Klux Klan (Links to an external site.)
by Nancy MacLean

eBook
One hundred percent American : the rebirth and decline of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s (Links to an external site.)
by Thomas R. Pegram,