M. Johnson Travel Diaries, 1935-1953

The records in this series are filed chronologically. Folders are arranged in original order.

The records in this series document the international trips that Melvin Maynard Johnson made in his capacity as Sovereign Grand Commander. Records include travel arrangements and itineraries, as well as journals that contain daily diary entries, invitations, programs, menus, news clippings, photographs and other memorabilia from the trips. Each trip has multiple volumes, usually at least one copy that is text only and one scrapbook-style copy that includes the ephemera. Johnson made several trips to Europe during his tenure, but perhaps his most notable trip was to South America, February 25 - May 3, 1949. Accompanied by his long-time secretary Ralph Sleeper, Johnson visited Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. This journal is the most extensive in relation to content (text, photographs and ephemera). A text-only edition was published by the Committee on Foreign Relations to share with all Scottish Rite members.