Catholics, 1927

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 Leon Martin Abbott and his long-time secretary, Ralph H. Sleeper.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of correspondence to and from Leon Martin Abbott during his years as Sovereign Grand Commander, 1921-1932. Correspondence usually includes both the original letter, as well as a carbon-paper copy of Abbott's reply. Other records include balustres, allocutions, speeches, publications, pamphlets, reports, newspaper clippings, travel arrangements and itineraries, invoices, budgets, investment and banking documents, meeting agendas and proceedings, event documentation, telegrams, obituaries, and photographs that relate to the business of the Scottish Rite and Freemasonry.

Almost all 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 Order of Builders, the Knights Templar, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, and the Masonic Service Association, and many more. There is correspondence from other Sovereign Grand Commanders, including Melvin M. Johnson (1933-1953) and Barton Smith (1910-1921) of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, John H. Cowles (1921-1952) of the Southern Jurisdiction, George W. Crawford (1949-1965) of the Northern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation, and Sovereign Grand Commanders from countries around the world including Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, and many more. The collection also includes letters from President Warren G. Harding, President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace Coolidge, and Vice President Thomas R. Marshall.