James Colescott
Encyclopedia
James A. Colescott was an Imperial Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Under financial pressure from the IRS
, he disbanded the group, the second wave of the original Ku Klux Klan
, in 1944.
to Frank Colescott in January 1897. He worked as a veterinarian
.
Imperial Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans
sold the Ku Klux Klan
organization in 1939 to Colescott and Samuel Green
, an Atlanta
obstetrician, but they were unable to stanch the exodus of members. His association with Nazi
sympathizer organizations, and Klan association with the 1943 Detroit Race Riot
and other efforts to disrupt the American war effort during World War II
were detrimental to the organization's image.
In 1940 Colescott had Arthur Hornbui Bell removed as head of the Klan of New Jersey
.
In 1944 the IRS filed a lien for $685,000 in back taxes against the Klan, and Colescott was forced to dissolve the organization.
He died on January 12, 1950 in Coral Gables, Florida
.
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, he disbanded the group, the second wave of the original Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
, in 1944.
Biography
He was born in Terre Haute, IndianaTerre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
to Frank Colescott in January 1897. He worked as a veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
.
Imperial Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans
Hiram Wesley Evans
Hiram Wesley Evans was Imperial Wizard of the "second" Ku Klux Klan from 1922 until 1939. Evans succeeded William Joseph Simmons in the position of the Imperial Wizard in November 1922...
sold the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
organization in 1939 to Colescott and Samuel Green
Samuel Green (Ku Klux Klan)
Samuel Green was an Imperial Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan leader in the late 1940s, organizing its brief reformation.-Early life:...
, an Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
obstetrician, but they were unable to stanch the exodus of members. His association with Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
sympathizer organizations, and Klan association with the 1943 Detroit Race Riot
Detroit Race Riot (1943)
The Detroit Race Riot broke out in Detroit, Michigan in June 1943 and lasted for three days before Federal troops restored order. The rioting between blacks and whites began on Belle Isle on 20 June 1943 and continued until 22 June, killing 34, wounding 433, and destroying property valued at $2...
and other efforts to disrupt the American war effort during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were detrimental to the organization's image.
In 1940 Colescott had Arthur Hornbui Bell removed as head of the Klan of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
In 1944 the IRS filed a lien for $685,000 in back taxes against the Klan, and Colescott was forced to dissolve the organization.
He died on January 12, 1950 in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
.