Many alumni will recall the name Mason Johnson, professor of Theatre Arts and Speech at Wesleyan from 1958 to 1985. Depending on the year you graduated, you may know the Mason Johnson who was young and exuberant or the older man who wore a fashionable toupee. Both versions of the man-made incredible contributions to the esteemed Texas Wesleyan theatre program, as well as the Fort Worth cultural scene, at large.

To ensure that Mason Johnson’s impact on our school and city is not forgotten, West Library has digitized much of his work in musical productions at Wesleyan and elsewhere. Contents can be viewed in the Mason Johnson Theatre Collection on the Digital Archive.

If you performed in a TWC production under Mason Johnson’s leadership, you may find photographs, audio recordings, playbills, posters, and other records relating to that production in the collection. Much more material relating to Mason Johnson can be found in Texas Wesleyan University’s Special Collections.

Many photographs in the collection feature individuals who have not been identified. If you know the name of someone in a particular photograph (or if you see someone who has been named incorrectly), please email Caitlin Rookey, digital initiatives librarian, at crookey@txwes.edu.

This project was made possible by a grant to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which runs from Sept. 1, 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017. The library staff is working to finish describing the material found in the collection before our grant ends, however most of the approximately 1,400 items are described and searchable now.

The library would appreciate you taking a few minutes today to view the Mason Johnson Theatre Collection online, and to complete this short survey.

Special Collections is also interested in curating oral histories relating to Mason Johnson. If you have stories you would like to share, please fill out this inquiry form, and someone will be in touch with you soon with more information.