This collection contains materials related to the Veiled Prophet Organization, a secret society based in St. Louis, Missouri. These items include prints, invitations, décor items, and other objects.

The Veiled Prophet organization was founded in 1878 by a group of St. Louis elites. Brothers Charles and Alonzo Slayback created the mythology of the organization, in which a veiled prophet visited St. Louis once a year, at which time the organization holds a parade and a ball in his honor. The identity of the prophet is kept a secret, while a Queen is chosen at the yearly ball. The organization has faced criticism and protests since its inception due to actions against labor unions, elitism, and racism; the Veiled Prophet Organization did not allow Black members until 1979 and had shared imagery with the Ku Klux Klan. Around 2018, the name of the Veiled Prophet Parade was changed to America’s Birthday Parade, held on the Fourth of July every year; as of 2024, the Veiled Prophet figure is no longer part of the parade.

This collection consists of two series: Prints and Objects. Prints include lithographic prints and newspaper prints, while the objects series includes commemorative objects produced by the Veiled Prophet Organization, as well as invitations to their ball.

This collection was purchased by the Library in 2024.