[78-L] KKK records

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Malcolm Rockwell" <malcolm at 78data.com>
>   Of late I have been focusing on the Klan recordings that were
> recorded and pressed by Gennett from c. 1923 to c. 1928. So far the
> label names I've documented are 100%, Elephant, Hitch, KKK, Our Song,
> Wake Up and various items from the Gennett 20000 Personal series plus
> one item in the Sound Effects / Electrical Transcription series. And
> there may be more.
>   There are gaps in the two main series and some of the matrix numbers
> without are not of Gennett origin. I have heard that possibly Homer
> Rodeheaver also recorded Klan material but have not been able to
> document any.
>   I show just one issue in the KKK 20000 series (20004). There are
> possibly 4 or more issues in this series still unaccounted for (20000,
> 20001, 20002 & 20003 and maybe 20005 and over). The first 5 numbers in
> the KKK 75000 series, beginning with 75001 are all accounted for, as is
> 75008.
>   75006 & 75007, as well as any higher than 70008, are still
> unaccounted for.
>   The 100% label is even sketchier in that although the issue numbers
> go higher there are fewer that are consecutive. The first two I show
> (K-5/K-6 and K-29/K-30) are possibly not from Gennett. K-31 is still
> unaccounted for but K-32/K-33 is known to be a Gennett product. All
> other numbers up to K-41 are also Gennett products. As you can see there
> are gaping holes in the series (K-1 to K-4, and K-7 to K-28 and any
> above K-41 are all still unaccounted for).
>   Anyone having info on any of the missing issues please contact me.
> I'm also seeking a possible collector that specializes in this sort of
> material (I know, I know... distasteful as the racist content of these
> recordings may be to many collectors there surely must be someone who
> has knowledge in this area).
>   All info and referrals gratefully accepted!
>
Since the contents of the "Elephant" (picture) label was apparently a "paid
political announcement" for Calvin Coolidge, my guess is that the recording
was a Republican-party (wasn't he a Republican?!) promotional release...
thus the elephant...?! Interesting that it appears to be part of a KKK-label
series (given current US politics, I am NOT very surprised...?!).

Steven C. Barr