What You Don't Know About the Knights of Columbus Could Fill a Book—and It Has!

This book tells a uniquely American story of faith in action. From its 1882 founding by a handful of men from a small, predominantly Irish Catholic parish in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus has grown to an international brotherhood of nearly 2 million members across North America and throughout the world. Formed by Father Michael J. McGivney with the men of his parish, the new fraternal organization was committed to the principles of charity and unity, while supporting the faith and financial viability of its members and their families. From its earliest days, the organization made the case that one could be both a good Catholic and a true American citizen, pushing back against the religious discrimination that was all too common. It would soon grow into an organization whose members supported one another while also contributing to their parishes, their communities, their countries, and the world.

Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of beautiful photos, The Knights of Columbus: An Illustrated History presents the story of this remarkable organization—and the many ways in which it has helped individuals, while also helping shape American and world history at key moments. You will discover the Knights’ decisive contributions during times of disaster as far back as the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 and as recently as Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey. The book presents K of C's very public resistance to the Ku Klux Klan and its message of hate in the 1920s—just one example of the Knights’ stand against bigotry. Also featured is the Knights’ respect for the importance of education, as the group worked to rectify the historical inaccuracies of the nation’s textbooks and narratives during the 1920s. That work would help to tell the previously overlooked stories of America’s Catholics, African Americans, and Jews, among others. Also highlighted is the organization’s active role in the fight for religious freedom throughout the world, from its involvement in ending the Mexican government’s persecution of Catholics during the 1920s to its current work to end persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East and provide assistance for ISIS genocide survivors. K of C support for America’s troops and veterans saw soldiers through two world wars and continues today.

In nearly a century and a half since its humble beginnings, the Knights of Columbus has touched the lives of countless individuals—Catholic and non-Catholic—in communities around the world. Through war and peace, it has remained a consistent example of faith in action, assisting its neighbors next door and around the world with help and hope, faith and freedom.

Andrew T. Walther received his BA and MA in Classics from the University of Southern California, where he also taught writing for several years, earning the University’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Since 2005, he has worked at the Knights of Columbus and now serves as Vice President for Communications and Strategic Planning.

Maureen H. Walther received her BA in Comparative Literature at Princeton University, with a minor in Medieval Studies. She served for ten years as Special Assistant to the CEO of the Knights of Columbus working on research, writing, and publishing projects.

The Knights of Columbus
An Illustrated History

Contents

Foreword

Prologue

1. The Early Years (1881–1896)

2. Taking Root, Expansion, and the War Effort (1897–1919)

3. In Search of Liberty (1920–1929)

4. Helping Our Neighbors—The Great Depression (1930–1940)

5. War and Peace (1941–1950)

6. “One Nation Under God” (1951–1964)

7. Balancing Modernization with Preservation (1965–1979)

8. One Christian Family (1980–1999)

9. Into the New Millennium (2000–Present)

Afterword

"A richly illustrated and entertaining history of the Knights of Columbus . . . focus[es] not only on the inner workings of the Knights and their mission, but also on their interaction with the wider church and society, including popes and presidents. The authors enrich the flow of text with countless photos, a number of inset sidebars, and a series of ‘Notable Knight’ minibiographies, including such diverse individuals as Babe Ruth and Sargent Shriver . . . this history does its primary job well: introducing lay readers to the Knights and providing devotees with an informative resource for casual browsing or more serious study. An approachable, worthwhile history of a venerable Catholic brotherhood. (Full-color throughout.)"

"Full of engaging vignettes and images, the book details many Catholic Americans who built an organization that provided material and spiritual aid to people around the world . . . this well-designed history will be informative to any reader."

"Rivaling other fraternal aid organizations, the Knights [of Columbus have] focused on charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. This book chronicles the group's activities, from helping in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and beyond. Throughout the organization's mission-minded history, the Knights have opposed Communism and the Ku Klux Klan and made inroads to promote racial harmony . . . Catholic and non-Catholic readers alike will find much to enjoy."

"A large, beautiful retrospective on the 'K of C,' its contributions, and many of the leaders who influenced the Knights through the decades."

"In this prodigiously illustrated, researched, and written book, the many unknown aspects of the order of the Knights of Columbus surface in a manner that reads more like a novel than a history book . . . this may be one of the more important reference books about this major, important 138-year-old community outreach organization. Recommended."