Ku Klux Klan artifacts discovered in Mississippi Department of Public Safety closet

Officials at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety uncovered a collection of historical materials linked to the Ku Klux Klan while relocating to a new headquarters.

The items, found stored in a suitcase inside a closet, included a robe, meeting notes, ledgers, propaganda materials and membership records detailing dues payments. Authorities said the materials date back to the 1960s, a period when Klan activity surged in response to the Civil Rights Movement.

Among the documents was a charter linked to the “White Knights” faction of the group, outlining its mission in extreme ideological terms.

Officials also discovered a handbook, referred to as the “Kloran”,  containing instructions and diagrams for organizing meetings, alongside coded notes designed to conceal the identities of members.

To verify the authenticity of the materials, local media consulted the family of Byron De La Beckwith, the man convicted in 1994 for the 1963 killing of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. His son confirmed the handbook appeared genuine.

The items have since been handed over to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for preservation. Authorities said the discovery provides a stark reminder of the state’s past and will now be preserved for historical record and research