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Museum object · Slavery and Freedom Objects

The Ku-Klux Spirit in Congress / Geneva Award

1871 and 1873

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Two printed speeches by Benjamin F. Butler printed in black ink on off-white wove paper in a center bound booklet. The cover page reads [THE KU-KLUX SPIRIT IN CONGRESS. / PERSONAL VINDICATION OF HIMSELF / IN REPLY TO / ATTACKS UPON HIM IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND PRINTED SPEECH OF FARNSWORTH, OF ILLINOIS: / BY / BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, / MADE IN THE / HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 20, 1871]. In smaller text at bottom center is [WASHINGTON, D.C.: / MCGILL & WITHEROW, PRINTERS AND STEREOTYPERS. / 1871.]. The interior of the booklet begins with a single page section marked [PREFATORY.], followed by the section [PERSONAL VINDICATION.]. This first speech is eight pages long, and is followed by the second speech, the title page of which reads [Geneva Award. / SPEECH OF HON. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER / OF MASSACHUSETTS / DELIVERED / IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / FEBRUARY 14 and 15, 1873].

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2020.26.42.8

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