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Heather K. Calloway
Coordinator of Library and Museum Services
Library of the Supreme Council, 33°
1733 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009-3103
The House of the Temple's newly renovated Americanism
Gallery presents an impressive display of important artifacts
relevant to Freemasonry's impact on our nation's history.
Photo: Left: Library of the Supreme Council,
33°; Right: ©2002 Maxwell MacKenzie, Washington, D.C.
"Being persuaded that a just application of the principles,
on which the Masonic fraternity is founded, must be promotive
of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy
to advance the interests of the Society, and to be considered
by them as a deserving brother." George Washington, Letter
written to King David's Lodge in Newport, Rhode Island, on August
22, 1790
Brother Washington realized the value of the Masonic teachings
and principles as seen in letters that he wrote to his Masonic
Brethren. The new Americanism Gallery in the House of the Temple
features two of these letters, which discuss his affiliation in
the Fraternity. The exhibit was recently renovated to better emphasize
and highlight artifacts such as these. The new display was enlarged
with recently acquired artifacts to create a richer narrative
of Masonic history in American life.
Initially known as the Dynamic Freedoms Room (see photo previous
page), the original Museum was created in 1973 as a complement
to the Dynamic Freedom's Program. The room was converted from
a former office into a small gallery with red, white, and blue
carpeting, walls, and draperies. The artifacts were displayed
in 1970s cases that have since been surpassed by modern museum
technology.
The Dynamic Freedoms program began as a powerful movement to
promote American history in the 1970s. The booklets contain items
such as The Mayflower Compact, The Declaration of Independence,
The Constitution of the United States, excerpts from The Federalist,
No. 10, and excerpts from Washington's Farewell Address. They
were distributed throughout the country to Masonic youth groups,
Boy Scouts, collegiate fraternal groups, as well as the women's
Masonic groups. Not only were the books popular to distribute
in organizations, they were also heavily distributed to children
in public schools. Teachers requested the books from Scottish
Rite Valleys, and entire school systems ordered large quantities
that were paid for and donated to the schools by the local Scottish
Rite Foundations and almoners of the various Valleys. The program
continues to distribute booklets around the country as a public
service.
The popularity of the Dynamic Freedoms Program in the 1970s and
1980s led to the development of a companion museum gallery at
the House of the Temple. Artifacts relating to all types of freedom
activities were displayed in the gallery on a rotating basis.
Over the years, the collection grew as further acquisitions and
donations were added. The design of the room remained consistent
to its original conception until 2001, when a team of museum professionals
and Supreme Council staff members remodeled and redesigned the
exhibit into the current Americanism Museum.
Chris White, of Chris White Design Incorporated, created the
design for the new gallery, which showcases the artifacts. His
concept for the room, while maintaining the original character
of the space, relies mainly on an innovative organization of the
artifacts in a massive center display. Mr. White views the House
of the Temple as "artifact into itself" and felt that
the new display should not destroy the room's original beauty.
The wood, walls, windows, molding, and floor were restored to
their original finish. Once the restoration was complete, he was
faced with the problem of how to create a display that did not
compete with or destroy the natural beauty of the room. His solution
was to create a large glass showcase in the center of the room.
In it, all of the Americanism artifacts used are displayed in
one giant visual mosaic. The resulting display is a dynamic vision
that highlights the ideas of Americanism in an interesting format
(see front cover) while preserving the integrity of the Temple.
It is a design in which the whole is greater than the parts.
| Tom Stewart of Exhibits Unlimited
and Chris White of Chris White Design Incorporated measure
a World War II POW flag while discussing the proper way to
conserve and display the unique artifact. Photo:
Heather K. Calloway |
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The woodwork experts at Exhibits Unlimited were able to bring
Mr. White's concept to life as they constructed the display case,
the hanging picture frames, and the artifact pedestals. Sanders
Museum Service created the display mounts which hold the rare
and unique artifacts in place inside the display case.
Before any of the museum professionals were able to construct
the exhibit, however, painters, carpenters, electricians, and
air-conditioning contractors were engaged to restore and repair
the room. The large window shutters were removed and repaired.
The walls were stripped of old paint and new wallpaper was installed.
The wood throughout the room was refinished, and track lighting
was installed to highlight the artifacts. A special air-conditioning
unit was installed to maintain the temperature of the room below
70º in order to preserve the artifacts. After a great deal
of work, the room was ready for the artifacts to be installed.
As visitors enter the room, the first thing they see is a large
display of our nation's flags, an American eagle, and statues
of historic figures and other icons that represent Americanism.
Walking around the display, visitors view sculptures, artwork,
flags, photographs, rifles, powder horns, medals, Masonic jewels,
and other unique artifacts such as a book titled, A Brief Explication
of the First Fifty Psalms by David Dickson, which was published
in 1655. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, brought this
book to America, and his name is written in the upper right-hand
corner of the first page.
Several of the artifacts featured are related to M.W. Harry S.
Truman, Past Grand Master of Missouri and President of the United
States, who was initiated on February 9, 1909, in Belton Lodge
No. 450, Belton, Missouri. These include a Masonic collar worn
by President Truman during the conferral of the 33° on October
19, 1945; a pen he used when signing "The Book of Gold";
and a stone, which bears Masonic engravings, that was removed
from the walls of the White House during its restoration and rebuilding.
Truman donated this stone to the Supreme Council on November 22,
1952. Illustrious Truman is unique to the Fraternity in that he
was the only American President to obtain a 50-year Masonic membership
award, which he was given on May 18, 1959.
The designer wanted to place portraits of the individuals associated
with the artifacts, as well as a variety of other famous Masons,
along the walls of the room. Having the photos displayed in this
manner gives the visitor the feeling that the famous individuals
in the photographs are "looking" at artifacts from their
past. The photographs highlight a variety of individuals including
actors, military leaders, politicians, athletes, ministers, artists,
astronauts, and businessmen. Photos include, among other Brethren,
the American painter Thomas Cole (1801-1848); Chippewa Chief George
Copway "Kah-ge-ga-gah-bow" (1818- 1863?); famous pony
express rider, scout, plainsman and showman William Frederick
"Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917); bandmaster and composer
John Philip Sousa (1854-1932); and baseball player Mordecai Peter
Centennial "Three-fingered" Brown (1876-1948).
The Americanism exhibit is now open to the public for tours from
8:00 am. to 3:30 pm., Monday through Friday. Stop by the House
of the Temple to view some of these unique American artifacts
and memorabilia.
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Heather K. Calloway
is currently studying Library Science as a graduate student
at the University of Maryland. She has a Master's Degree in
Theology, specializing in religious and fraternal organizations.
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Heather is the daughter
of Bro. Danny R. Calloway, 32°, K.C.C.H., P.G.M. of New
Mexico, and sister of Bro. Nathan "Nate" R. Calloway,
32º, Valley of Santa Fe, New Mexico. |
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