A Century Later: Reflections on the Trial of Klansman D.C. Stephenson

Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m.

Madam Walker Legacy Center
617 Indiana Avenue | Indianapolis

Join The Indianapolis Public Library for the 46th Annual Marian McFadden Memorial Lecture featuring a special discussion with acclaimed writer and historian Timothy Egan, veteran chronicler of the American experience and author of A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them.

• Tickets are free but extremely limited and will be available to the public beginning Friday, March 7 at 5 p.m., while supplies last. Sign up for a reminder to secure your free ticket.

• This event will be recorded! If you are unable to secure a ticket, please visit The Indianapolis Public Library on YouTube to watch the lecture for up to a week following the event.

• A book signing will follow Egan's presentation.

• Attendees of the McFadden lecture will receive a code for one free ticket to visit the Indiana Historical Society's "RESIST!" exhibit through April 30, 2025. Learn more about the lecture and get free ticketing information

Thursday, February 6 - Tuesday, March 25

Central Library
40 E St. Clair St. | Indianapolis

The RESIST! exhibit seeks to help visitors understand key questions and realities around the Ku Klux Klan’s (KKK) rise to power in Indiana. It will also feature how people resisted and raised questions about how to combat hate. The Library is excited to host the traveling version of this exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society leading up to the 2025 McFadden Lecture featuring Timothy Egan, author of Fever in the Heartland.

Saturdays and Sundays
March 1, 2025 - February 1, 2026

Bona Thompson Center
5350 University Ave. | Indianapolis

There is no charge for visiting.

This Irvington Historical Society exhibit will explore the life of Dr John Kaylor Kingsbury, a major player in Madge Oberholtzer’s life and D.C. Stephenson’s murder conviction. It will be in conjunction with the unveiling of the Irvington mural celebrating Madge Oberholtzer. This exhibit will focus on the life of Dr Kingsbury, his professional life, his entrepreneurial interests, and the part he played in Stephenson's conviction. It takes place in the only building remaining of Butler’s Irvington campus.

Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m.

Central Library
40 E St. Clair St. | Indianapolis

Register for Authors and Archivist's: A Book's Journey. Registration opens February 8.

Join experts from the Indiana Historical Society in a roundtable discussion about how to research and write a narrative nonfiction book. The program will touch on the kinds of material researchers might encounter, how closely authors work with librarians and archivists in special collections, how to organize the material collected, and the challenges/opportunities researchers may encounter in securing illustrations for their work, including obtaining copyright permissions.

March 11 at 12 p.m.

Indiana State Library
315 W. Ohio Street | Indianapolis

Register for Lunch and Learn: "America First" the 1920's Indiana Ku Klux Klan and the Anti-Immigration Movement.

As large numbers of Hoosiers put on robes and lit up the night with fiery crosses, Indiana politicians on both sides of the aisle listened to their anti-immigrant fears and rhetoric, translating them into law. Learn how this secret organization grew, spread their message, and influenced U.S. immigration policy. And learn about those Hoosiers who adamantly, energetically, and sometimes violently opposed them. Presented by Jill Weiss Simins, Historian, Indiana Archives and Records Administration.

Saturday, March 15 Streaming on Demand

Available wherever you like to listen to podcasts. Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and more. Also available at galsguide.org

Gal's Guide Podcast will release a powerful and poignant special episode, Madge Saved Lives, available on the 100th anniversary of Madge Oberholtzer's kidnapping. Learn about Madge Oberholtzer’s courageous stand and the legacy her tragic story left behind. Her bravery and the events surrounding her kidnapping became a catalyst for justice and societal change—a story that deserves to be remembered and honored. This episode promises to shine a light on a harrowing event in history that sparked significant change.

Gal's Guide is celebrated for our distinctive approach to sharing women’s history stories—stories that are as unique as the women themselves. Our women's history library explores the past with depth, compassion, and an unflinching commitment to truth, and Madge Saved Lives is no exception. Don’t miss this moving episode that exemplifies Gal’s Guide’s mission to highlight the powerful, untold stories of women in history. Gal’s Guide Podcast is also available on their website. If you have any questions, email Gal's Guide Library.

Saturday, March 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m.

Irvington Branch
5625 E Washington St. | Indianapolis

Register for a Women's History Walking Tour of Irvington.
Registration opens February 15.

Join Sampson Levingston (Through2Eyes Indiana) on a walking tour of Irvington to learn about some of the influential women who lived in the neighborhood. The tour will feature a special emphasis on the life and legacy of Madge Oberholtzer.

March 28 at 12 p.m.
April 25 at 12 p.m.
May 23 at 12 p.m.
June 20 at 12 p.m.
July 18 at 12 p.m.
September 12 at 12 p.m.
October 10 at 12 p.m.
November 7 at 12 p.m.

Hamilton County Historical Society
810 Conner Street | Noblesville

Registration for Hamilton County Historic Jail and Courthouse Guided Tour.

This hour-long free tour will discuss the 1925 trial of Ku Klux Klan leader D. C. Stephenson. Local historians will highlight two historic buildings on Noblesville's downtown square, the Sheriff's Residence and Jail and the Historic Courthouse. Meet at the Sheriff's Residence and Jail. Tour the jail cells where Stephenson stayed, the courtroom where he was tried, and learn about the rise and fall of the Klan in Hamilton County and Indiana.

PLEASE NOTE:

• The tour will discuss the facts and events of the violent crime Stephenson committed and was convicted for against Madge Oberholtzer. It will also discuss the beliefs and tactics of the Klan during the height of its power in the 1920s. Content is suggested for kids older than 13.
• The full tour includes stairs - there will be visual aids for inaccessible areas.
  
• Free two hour street parking is available on the square, or the Levinson Parking garage at 868 Maple Ave., Noblesville allows 4 hours free parking.

April 5 at 3 p.m.

Irvington Branch
5625 E Washington St. | Indianapolis

No registration is required.

Kisha Tandy, Curator of Social History at the Indiana State Museum, will shed light on the many ways in which black families flourished in Indiana despite the influence of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1900s.

April 14 at 6 p.m.

Noblesville Creates
107 S. 8th Street| Noblesville

No registration is required.

Join Gal’s Guide Library for a powerful evening celebrating the courage of Madge Oberholtzer, whose deathbed statement was pivotal in dismantling the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. The event will include a heartfelt presentation of Madge’s life looking at the time she lived, the choices she faced, and the importance of her voice to speak truth to power. Gal’s Guide founder, Riwo, will honor Madge’s enduring spirit and explore how her story continues to evoke the strength and dignity of women.

The evening will feature an interview with Madge: the Life and Times of Madge Oberholtzer author Charlotte Halsema Ottinger. The evening will conclude with a Noble Act of Resillance Wellness Workshop led by Lindsay Zehren of Copper Z Creative Wellness. Through creative expression, reflection, and collective healing, this workshop invites participants to engage with this pivotal moment in American history by utilizing art, writing, music, movement, and group dialogue to explore the theme of resilience and how resilience weaves through our modern lives. Whether you're an artist, activist, or someone seeking to deepen your connection to history, this workshop offers a chance to reflect, create, and heal—strengthening the bonds of resilience within our community.

Guests will also have access to Gal’s Guide’s curated book collection on the trial, the era, and ways to foster change today.

Gal’s Guide Library, located in Noblesville, Indiana, is the first independent women’s history lending library in the United States. With a collection of over 6,000 books, Gal’s Guide is a multi-award-winning organization dedicated to preserving and sharing women’s stories that inspire action and reflection. Don’t miss this chance to honor Madge’s legacy! For more information visit Gal's Guide to the Galaxy or email Gal's Guide.

April 22 at 6 p.m.

Irvington Branch
5625 E Washington St. | Indianapolis

No registration is required.

Meet Charlotte Ottinger, author of Madge: The Life and Times of Madge Oberholtzer, the Young Irvington Woman Who Brought Down D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan. Learn about the life and murder of this historic Indianapolis figure from her foremost biographer.

May 3 at 1 p.m.

Noblesville Creates
107 S. 8th Street| Noblesville

Register for A Noble Act of Forgiveness Wellness Workshop.

Join Noblesville Creates and Copper Z Creative Wellness for a transformative community workshop focused on processing the history and legacy of the infamous DC Stephenson trial, and exploring the profound resilience of Madge Oberholtzer. Through creative expression, reflection, and collective healing, this workshop invites participants to engage with this pivotal moment in American history utilizing art, writing, music, movement, and group dialogue to explore the theme of forgiveness and how the arts can help us to unite and heal. Whether you're an artist, activist, or someone seeking to deepen your connection to history, this workshop offers a chance to reflect, create, and heal—strengthening the bonds of resilience within our community.

May 10 at 11 a.m.

Hamilton County Historic Courthouse
33 N 9th Street | Noblesville
Entrance on the West Side
Hamilton County Historical Society

Register for Jurors in the Trial of C.C. Stephenson: The Process and the People

Join Hamilton County Historian David Heighway in a discussion of the Hamilton County locals involved in the trial and conviction of D.C. Stephenson. Take the opportunity to learn about the jurors and decision makers and what their lives were like before, during, and after the trial. What can we learn from these men and women?

July 12 at 11 a.m.

Indiana State Library
315 W. Ohio Street | Indianapolis

Register for The Life and Times of Madge Oberholter with Author Charlotte Ottinger.

[Registration information is not yet known.]

Join us for a compelling lecture with Charlotte Ottinger, author of Madge: The Life and Times of Madge Oberholtzer, the Young Irvington Woman Who Brought Down D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan. Discover the gripping true story of Madge Oberholtzer, whose courageous actions led to significant political and social changes in Indiana. Learn about her life, tragic murder, and the impact she had on dismantling the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana.

Books will be available for purchase at the event.

July 12 at 1 p.m.

Noblesville Creates
107 S. 8th Street| Noblesville

Register for A Noble Act of Service Wellness Workshop.

Join Noblesville Creates and Copper Z Creative Wellness for a transformative community workshop focused on processing the history and legacy of the infamous DC Stephenson trial, and exploring the profound resilience of Madge Oberholtzer. Through creative expression, reflection, and collective healing, this workshop invites participants to engage with this pivotal moment in American history utilizing art, writing, music, movement, and group dialogue to explore the theme of service and how giving back to our community can help us to unite and heal. Whether you're an artist, activist, or someone seeking to deepen your connection to history, this workshop offers a chance to reflect, create, and heal—strengthening the bonds of resilience within our community.

Throughout August

Hamilton County Artists' Association
195 S. 5th Street | Noblesville

Noblesville Creates will convene an exhibit of local artists work related to this challenging and thought-provoking anniversary. The artwork will be on display to the public throughout the month of August. We will hold a public reception for the event on Friday, August 1 from 6-8 p.m. We invite local artists in all media to submit artwork on this theme by July 11.

In conjunction with this exhibit, Noblesville Creates will also hold a community workshop. Register for A Noble Act of Community Workshop to be held on August 9 at 1 p.m.

August 9 at 1 p.m.

Noblesville Creates
107 S. 8th Street| Noblesville

Register for A Noble Act of Community Workshop.

Join Noblesville Creates and Copper Z Creative Wellness for a transformative community workshop focused on processing the history and legacy of the infamous DC Stephenson trial, and exploring the profound resilience of Madge Oberholtzer. Through creative expression, reflection, and collective healing, this workshop invites participants to engage with this pivotal moment in American history utilizing art, writing, music, movement, and group dialogue to explore the theme of community and how we can bridge divides to unite and heal. Whether you're an artist, activist, or someone seeking to deepen your connection to history, this workshop offers a chance to reflect, create, and heal—strengthening the bonds of resilience within our community.

November 14 at 7 p.m.
November 15 at 7 p.m.
November 16 at 2 p.m.

Hamilton County Historic Courthouse
33 N. 9th Street | Noblesville

Tickets are $10 each.

Noblesville Creates is producing an original one-act play by local writer Ian Hauer that looks at the D.C. Stephenson trial through the eyes of the jurors and court workers, exploring the pressures and challenges they faced as they considered this historic verdict. This play is supported by the research of many contributors, including Hamilton County Historian David Heighway, and will be reviewed and workshopped by the partners listed in this project. The performance will take place in the very courtroom in which the original trial took place.

This performance will be augmented with interactive temporary exhibit elements arranged in the hallways and lobbies that audience members will pass on their way to the courtroom. These elements will include displays with supplemental historical material made by our county historian and local residents, artwork by local artists, and materials and prompts designed to allow audience members to react to and process the story.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up for a tour of the Sheriff's Residence and Jail before the performance and participate in a discussion after the performance.

The exact date, time, and location are still in development.

[Registration information is not yet known.]

The Noblesville Diversity Coalition will focus its August gathering on Noblesville’s history. The conversation will begin with a presentation of the facts of the D.C. Stephenson Trial, as well as stories about how the trial affected community members. The Coalition will then guide community members in processing the implications of these stories through conversation.

How did the communities of Indiana get drawn into the Klan?
How did the community defend the Klan’s ideals (or not?)
How did community play a role in moving on from the Klan after the trial was over?
Did community provide a safe place to voice fears? How did communities keep “others” out?
What did minority communities do to resist the Klan?
How did Madge Oberholtzer interact with her community and how did that affect her story?
Did the jurors in the trial, pulled from the community of Hamilton County, uphold shared community values?

“I heard that people got pressured into joining the Klan.”

• The Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s was marketed as a fraternal or social organization. However, it was clearly anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic, and anti-immigrant, in addition to being anti-Black. There were people who didn’t agree with this, and therefore didn’t want to join despite being eligible. There are instances where Klan chapters coerced business owners or farmers to join the Klan in order to keep their businesses afloat. There was a lot of social pressure and even threats of violence. It’s hard to know who joined for what reason, but the propaganda and membership information the Klan put out was very clear about its intentions.

“It makes sense the Klan was here - Indiana sucks!” or “Lots of people in Indiana probably still agree with the Klan.”

• Lots of towns in Indiana had Klan chapters during the 1920s. While the Klan didn’t go away after the Stephenson trial, it was greatly reduced in membership by the end of the decade. Racism and discrimination in Indiana did not end once the Klan did, but before the Klan rose to power, during the heights of its influence, and after their popularity waned, there was resistance to the Klan and its ideals. This resistance took many forms.

Ways to move forward:
How can community be a force for good? What does community mean in today’s fast-paced world? How does a community create belonging? What can individuals do to foster community and help make changes?

Resource Groups:

• Noblesville Diversity Coalition
• Fishers Interfaith Group
• SERVE Noblesville
• Volunteer Fishers

Books:

I Am We: A Book of Community by Susan Verde
A Kids Book About Belonging by Kevin Carroll
A Kids Book About Community by Shane Feldman
The Big Book of Belonging by Yumal Zommer
The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging by Charles Vogl
Belonging: The Science of Creating Connections and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen

What did it take for Madge Oberholtzer to tell the truth?
How did Madge’s honesty change the trajectory of the Klan in Indiana?
Why is it important to be honest about the Klan and its effects on communities in the Midwest?
What truths are often left out of the stories on these topics?
What was the jury’s responsibility to the truth, and did they meet it?

“I heard the Klan wasn’t that bad - it was mostly a social group.”

• The Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s was marketed as a fraternal or social organization. However, its principles were clearly stated in its propaganda and on the membership card. It stated that members must be “100% American” and be a member of a Protestant Church. Members were also urged to boycott businesses that were not “100% American” and to only marry and associate with other Klan members.

“I think it’s wrong to talk about the Klan.” or “The Klan happened so long ago, why do we have to talk about it?”

• While it’s tough to think about hatred and its effects, it is important because hate doesn’t go away overnight, especially if it’s hidden from view.
• While the Klan is not a “fun” subject, it is an important one. Learning about our community’s past helps us understand what life was like during different time periods, and also helps inform our future to improve things for all community members.

Ways to move forward:

What are techniques for being more truthful in tough situations? How can communities be held accountable to be truthful? How does honesty play a role in calling out hurtful behavior?

Did Madge get justice?
Did D.C. Stephenson get justice?
Were those involved in the trial committed to justice for Madge, and how does that tie into redemption?
How can justice be served for a group with such far reach across multiple Indiana communities?
How were perpetrators held accountable for their actions (or not)?

“So the trial in Noblesville was the cause of the end of the Klan?” or “Madge’s death caused the end of the Klan?”

• The trial and conviction of D.C. Stephenson was one of the results of the deathbed statement Madge gave after she was attacked. This trial had a big influence on the leadership of the Klan - D.C. Stephenson was well-connected and very powerful. There were already power struggles happening in the official Klan organizations before Stephenson was arrested, so this accelerated the problem. Also, the Klan was supposed to be an anti-alcohol organization, and they held white women in high regard as the people who help continue the white race. So Stephenson’s actions against Madge were hypocritical in addition to illegal and harmful, and people abandoned the Klan because they lost confidence in the organization. However, the feelings behind the Klan - the racism and hatred of other religions and peoples - did not go away just because of the trial. It just was not as socially acceptable to be a part of the Klan organization.

“Did life for minorities and targeted groups improve after the Klan fell apart?”

• While there wasn’t a huge amount of recorded violence in Indiana during this time, it did happen, and the Klan’s intimidation and propaganda had huge effects on feelings of safety and belonging for some communities. After Stephenson’s trial, there were still millions of people who may have agreed with Klan values - just without official membership in the organization. Segregation practices were not always on the books in communities, but were very real. Sundown towns were places where either by written law or unwritten rule, a town’s population generally agreed that African Americans (and sometimes anyone who wasn’t white) could not live in the town. This was enforced through signage, intimidation, or other methods stating that people should not “let the sun go down on them” while in the town in question. Despite this, as stated previously, there was always resistance to these norms by the targeted groups, and things did improve over time as the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s took hold across the country.

Ways to move forward:

What does justice mean to me? How can justice be served in my everyday life? What are ways that communities can seek justice for unjust circumstances or acts?

Resources:

Madge: The Life and Times of Madge Oberholtzer, the young Irvington woman who brought down D.C. Stephenson and the Klu Klux Klan by Charlotte Halsema Ottinger

The Life and Times of a Hoosier Judge by John Lewis Niblack