Did you know that President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) corresponded with Melvin Maynard Johnson (1871-1957), the head of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction's Supreme Council during the 1940s and 1950s? A number of recently digitized letters, written from Truman to Johnson on White House stationery are available through the Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives Digital Collections website. They reveal a friendly relationship, with President Truman beginning his letters to Johnson by addressing him "Dear Mel."
Truman became a Freemason in 1909. By 1940, the Grand Lodge of Missouri elected him Grand Master. In 1945, the Scottish Rite's Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, elevated Truman to the 33rd degree. That same year, the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ), awarded Truman its first Gourgas Medal, the Supreme Council's highest honor. In the letter shown here, Truman gives Johnson permission to schedule the Gourgas Medal presentation at the White House.
The letters in this collection include both those from Harry Truman as well as one written by his wife, Bess Truman (1885-1982). The majority of the correspondence in this collection consists of letters penned by President Truman to his friend and fellow Freemason, Melvin Maynard Johnson, 33°. Johnson served as the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction's Sovereign Grand Commander from 1933 to 1953. Truman discussed many topics in his letters to Johnson, on subjects ranging from aiding Italian Freemasons after World War II to thanking the Supreme Council, NMJ, for sending him a birthday card.
There are now nearly 900 items in the Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives Digital Collections website. Be sure to visit and check them all out!
The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library’s Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives Digital Collections website can be accessed at: digitalvgw.omeka.net.
The Harry S. Truman letters can be found at: digitalvgw.omeka.net/collections/show/14.
The Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives is located in Lexington, Massachusetts, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library. Have questions? Drop us a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give us a call at 781-457-4109.
Letter from President Harry S. Truman to Melvin M. Johnson, 1945 September 25. Collection of Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, Lexington, Massachusetts. SC069.
