Secret Societies and Clubs in American History

Grounded in extensive historical research, this eye-opening survey reveals the long-undervalued role secret societies have played in American history.

Americans are fascinated by secret societies and have devoured exaggerated claims for their influence. At the same time, scholarly assessments of covert groups that have shaped American social, cultural, and political history have often undervalued their role or even questioned their existence.

This survey challenges both the exaggerators and t...