The Indianapolis Public Library Partners with Local Civic Organizations to Reflect on the 100th Anniversary of the Trial of Ku Klux Klan Leader D.C. Stephenson

The Indianapolis Public Library is partnering with local civic organizations to reflect on the 1925 trial of D.C. Stephenson, a Ku Klux Klan leader convicted of rape and murder. This pivotal trial, conducted in Noblesville, marked the decline of the Indiana KKK, which wielded significant political and social power in the 1920s.

A series of events in Marion and Hamilton counties will provide opportunities for education and reflection on this historical turning point.

“We are thrilled to partner with these organizations to shed light on a critical chapter of Indiana’s past,” said Katelyn Coyne, area resource manager of adult services at The Indianapolis Public Library. “By reflecting on our history, we can foster meaningful conversations about resilience, justice, and progress, and we can pave the way for a more equitable future. This partnership ties into the Library’s commitment to free, open access because it ensures that everyone in our community has the opportunity to engage with important stories and resources reflecting our local history.”

Most histories of the KKK acknowledge the organization's demise by 1926, but few explain the events leading to its dismantling. Those events began on March 15, 1925, when Irvington resident Madge Oberholtzer reluctantly attended a late-night business meeting at the home of D.C. Stephenson, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. The tragic events following that gathering altered the course of history for Indiana, and arguably the nation.

Throughout the year, the Library and its partners will host a variety of presentations, discussions, and exhibits exploring the lives, legacies, and impact of those involved in this historic event. Upcoming programs that will occur throughout the year include:

• Resist! Traveling Exhibit

• Dr. John Kaylor Kingsbury Exhibit

• Lunch and Learn: “America First” - The 1920 Indiana Ku Klux Klan and the Anti-Immigration Movement

• Women’s History Walking Tour of Irvington

• Gal’s Guide Podcast: Madge Saved Lives

• Authors and Archivists: A Book's Journey

• 46th Annual Marian McFadden Memorial Lecture with Timothy Egan

• Hamilton Co. Historic Jail and Courthouse Guided Tour - Stephenson Trial

• Rooted in Resilience: Black Life in Indiana During the Klan Era

• Tribute to Madge: Empathy and Wisdom, 100 Years Later

• Madge: The Life and Times of Madge Oberholtzer

• A Noble Act of Forgiveness Wellness Workshop

• Jurors in the Trial of D. C. Stephenson

• Indiana State Library Summer Lecture Series: The Life and Times of Madge Oberholtzer

• Processing 100 Years: Artists React to the Anniversary of the DC Stephenson Trial and the Death of Madge Oberholtzer

• Persistent Destroyer: A One Act Play

• Community Conversation: Exploring Our History

This collaborative effort includes contributions from partners such as Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (indyencyclopedia.org),

Conner Prairie (connerprairie.org), Gal’s Guide Library (galsguide.org), Hamilton East Public Library (hamiltoneastpl.org), Hamilton County Historical Society (hamiltoncoinhs.com), Indiana Historical Society (indianahistory.org), Indiana State Library (in.gov/library), Irvington Historical Society (irvingtonhistory.org), Marion County Historical Society (mchsindy.org), Noblesville Creates (noblesvillecreates.org), Noblesville Diversity Coalition (noblesvillediversitycoalition.org), and Roberts Settlement (robertssettlement.org).

To learn more and reflect on the impact this history left on our society 100 years later, as well as view the events schedule, visit indypl.org/stephenson-trial-anniversary.

Media Contact: Keshia McEntire, Kmcentire@indypl.org