By Jessica L., Local History and Genealogy Librarian
March 2025 will mark one hundred years since Madge Oberholtzer, a woman from Irvington in Indianapolis, was attacked and killed by D. C. Stephenson. Stephenson was the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana during the early 1920s, meaning he was a major leader in the group. The Klan, which promoted white, Protestant supremacy and their idea of “100% Americanism,” was hugely popular in the Midwest and Indiana during this time.
Madge Oberholtzer, International Newsreel photo
After Madge’s death, Stephenson was arrested and his trial took place in Noblesville as part of an effort to get a fair trial away from his influence in Indianapolis. Oberholtzer created a “deathbed statement” that gave a true accounting of her experiences and was used in the trial as evidence. Stephenson was convicted of his crimes by a jury made up of white men from Noblesville and the surrounding Hamilton County area.
Stephenson’s conviction was one of the catalysts in the decline of the Klan’s membership and popularity in the second half of the 1920s. This anniversary creates a lot of opportunities to discuss the context and nuance of the history of the Klan, its beliefs, its actions, its leaders, and Madge Oberholtzer’s bravery in the face of it.
D.C. Stephenson in the IndyStar newspaper, December 12, 1922 issue
History like that of the Klan and Oberholtzer’s death can be hard to talk about for many reasons. Acknowledging this history and understanding the communities and people of the past can lead to a more informed present and a more just and empathetic future.
To that end, several local organizations in Hamilton and Marion counties are hosting programs and events throughout 2025 to mark this anniversary. The Indianapolis Public Library is hosting a landing page where visitors can find events, resources, and information related to this history. Mental health resources are also available to help process the impact of this history and stories like it.
The Hamilton East Public Library and in particular the Crossroads Discovery Center present the following resources as first steps in getting familiar with the story of the Klan in Indiana, the story of resistance to the Klan’s power, and the impacts of this history beyond the 1920s.
The Ku Klux Klan in Indiana Booklist
The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland
Dr. James Madison, 2020
An accounting of the causes and effects of the Klan in Indiana in the 1920s. Particularly adept at discussing who was in the Klan and why they might have joined. Dr. Madison is an Indiana author and has written other books on Hoosier history.
Madge: The Life and Times of Madge Oberholtzer
Charlotte Halsema Ottinger, 2021
A thorough biography of Madge Oberholtzer and her life before the crime that caused her death. Ottinger is an Indiana author from Irvington where Madge lived.
Citizen Klansman: The Ku Klux Klan in Indiana 1921-1928
Leonard Moore, 1992
An accounting and profile of who joined the Klan and what was going on in America at the time that created motivation to join.
Timothy Egan, 2023
A nationally popular book that posits that Madge’s deathbed confession was one of the main factors in the downfall of the Klan. A narrative analysis of Stephenson, his life, and how he helped the Indiana Klan in particular rise to power.
Grand Dragon: D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana
M. William Lutholtz, 1993
Essentially a biography and analysis of Stephenson, the author attempts to peel back the layers of the charisma and lies he perpetuated throughout his career.
The Invisible Empire: Madge Oberholtzer and The Unmasking of the Ku Klux Klan
Micky Neilson, 2019
A graphic novel that tells the story of the Klan in Indiana and Madge’s death.
Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defied the KKK
Todd Tucker, 2004
An in-depth analysis of how a planned Klan rally in South Bend, Indiana led Catholic students from Notre Dame to create massive protests and in effect drive the Klan out of town. These events are the basis for the Indiana Historical Society’s exhibit “Resist!” which is open through January 2026.
The Dragon and The Cross: The Rise and Fall of the Ku Klux Klan in Middle America
Richard Tucker, 1991
Another exploration of the Klan in Indiana and the Midwest and its power during the 1920s.