Thomas J. Harkins, undated
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the business of the Office of the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. It was created, organized, and maintained by Melvin Maynard Johnson and his long-time secretary, Ralph H. Sleeper. The bulk of the collection is comprised of correspondence to and from Melvin Maynard Johnson during his years as Sovereign Grand Commander, 1933-1953. Correspondence usually includes both the original letter, as well as a carbon-paper copy of Johnson's reply. Other records include tableaus, balustres, allocutions, speeches, publications, pamphlets, reports, newspaper clippings, travel arrangements and itineraries, invoices, budgets, investment and banking documents, meeting agendas and proceedings, event documentation, travel diaries, telegrams, obituaries and photographs that relate to the business of the Scottish Rite and Freemasonry. The collection also includes some of Johnson's personal business papers, as well as correspondence with his children, Dorothy Johnson Adams Gagel and Melvin Maynard Johnson, Jr.; with the Moosehead Lake postmaster and caretakers of Camp Ogontz; and with colleagues at Tufts University and Boston University School of Law. The majority of the correspondents were actively involved in Freemasonry, including members of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction's Supreme Council, Deputies, Active Members and Committee Members. Other correspondents were affiliated with the Order of DeMolay, the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association and the Masonic Service Association. There is correspondence from other Sovereign Grand Commanders, including Leon Abbott (1921-1932) and George Bushnell (1953-1965) of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, John H. Cowles of the Southern Jurisdiction, George Crawford of the Northern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation, and Sovereign Grand Commanders from countries around the world. Johnson also corresponded with prominent citizens of the day, including politicians, judges, business leaders, publishers, retailers, scientists, musicians, and academics. The most notable correspondents found in this collection include Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry Ford, J. Edgar Hoover, Margaret Mead, Margaret Chase Smith, and President Harry S. Truman.
Dates
- Creation: undated
Creator
- Harkins, Thomas J., b. 1879 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research except for material that is less than 50 years old, material containing Personal Identifying Information, and ritual material. See our Ritual Access Policy for more details.
Full Extent
From the Collection: 57.92 Linear Feet (139 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library Repository
33 Marrett Road
Lexington MA 02421 US
(781) 457-4109