Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Harry S. Truman as a Mason
1994
Dr. Thomas F. Clark (1928- )
USA: North Carolina
Resin, paint, felt, paper, ink
overall: 14-5/8"h x 6-7/8"w x 6-5/8"d
Gift of Lon Heibeck
2017.054

Statuette of Harry S. Truman as a Mason. Full-figure statuette of Harry S. Truman wearing a business suit with pocket kerchief, glasses, a Masonic apron, and a Masonic collar. Body of statuette: Truman's suit is painted black and his collar, gold. Collar has jewel and Masonic square and compasses stamped onto links. His apron, likely a Grand Master's, is square with a pointed flap featuring a stamped all-seeing eye and a fringe of gold-painted bullion; its body has eggplant-colored trim and brown interior with an edge of gold-painted bullion; in the center, between hanging tabs with gold bullion, is a stamp of what resembles the Perfect (Past Master?) Master symbol (compasses and quadrant) with a sun in the center and a half-wreath of acacia beneath. At PL top of apron, an extra piece of bullion hangs from the waistband. Truman's left hand rests on the podium, which bears the Great Seal of the United States on the front, and a medallion on the back reading, "MISSOURI / THE SHOW-ME STATE" and bearing a raised outline of the state with the words, "Jefferson City" next to a star (indicating it as the state capital); next to the state outline is a standing mule. On top of the podium is another small medallion showing an eagle in flight (?). Base of statuette: Between Truman's feet is a raised medallion reading, "HARRY / S. TRUMAN / BORN MAY 8, 1884, / LED THE NATION AT THE / CONCLUSION OF WORLD WAR II, / SIGNED U.N. CHARTER, SENT / TROOPS TO KOREA, MOTTO / 'THE BUCK STOPS HERE.' / DIED DEC. 26, / 1972." To PL of medallion, Truman's signature (initials) is scratched into resin; to PL of initials is artist's signature in black ink. At the back corner of the podium the number "2049" is scratched into resin. Around the edge of the base are several marks: "1994 ©;" "Cairn [maker's mark];" a stamp reading, "Made in North Carolina USA" encircling the number "12;" and artist's signature, "T. Clark". Underside of statuette's base covered to within a quarter-inch of its edge by a circle of brown felt which bears an orange sticker reading, "TOM / CLARK / SIGNING / 7/31/94".