Arvid T. Johnson Papers: Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth A. Logan, April 22, 2010.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical
Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2010
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Arvid T. Johnson Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1895-1957
Collection Number: mssJohnson, Arvid papers
Creator:
Johnson, Arvid T.
Extent: 167 items.
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, ephemera, and a photograph album of World War I American soldier
Arvid T. Johnson (later a San Diego State College history professor), as
well as some later family letters and documents.
Language: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Arvid T. Johnson Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of Dr. Martin Ridge, October 22, 1998.
Biographical Note
Arvid T. Johnson was an American soldier during World War I. He joined the Medical
Detachment of 354th Infantry American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) where he served
as a dental assistant. He spent 1917 training in the United States and was sent to
Europe in June 1918 where he served in France and Trier and Waxweiler, Germany.
After the war, he married Louise Harris. He was the principal of the Bennington,
Oklahoma, high school before he joined the University of Toledo in the 1930s as a
history professor. In 1955, he also became the Associate Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences at the University of Toledo. In 1957, he and Louise moved to Southern
California and he served as the assistant to the President of San Diego State
College.
Scope and Content
The collection contains correspondence and ephemera.
The Correspondence series is arranged alphabetically by author and predominantly
contains letters from Arvid T. Johnson to his then-girlfriend Louise Harris Johnson
during World War I. The letters include discussions of how much he misses her, his
experiences doing laundry and dental work, troop entertainment, and his observations
about Germany. Additionally, there are letters regarding Johnson’s academic career
and letters from Cassius W. Harris (Louise’s brother) to his family members during
World War II. Most of the original envelopes are included with the letters.
The Ephemera series is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically
within each folder. It contains Johnson’s address book, Cassius W. Harris’ Bible,
empty envelopes, event programs, funeral announcements, government identifications,
a marriage certificate, Cassius W. Harris’ report book, newspaper clippings, a photo
album and photographs. The photo album includes photographs from the home front as
well as Johnson’s pictures of Europe and his friends during the war.
Arrangement
Arranged in two boxes: Box 1: Correspondence (arranged alphabetically by author); Box 2: Ephemera and Photographs (arranged
alphabetically by material type).
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Johnson, Arvid
T.
United States. Army.
American Expeditionary Forces.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Medical
care.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal
narratives, American.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th
century.
Photograph albums -- 20th century.
Photographs -- 20th century.
Folder 1
Barker, H. Kenneth. 2 letters (1956-1957) to Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 2
Cain, S. Eleanor. 1 letter (1956, Sep. 27) to Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 3
Donner, F.P. 1 letter (1933, July 1) to Arvid T. Johnson. Includes teacher’s certificates, receipts and envelope.
Folder 4
Harris, Cassius W. 9 letters (1945) to Alice Harris.
Folder 5
Harris, Cassius W. 1 letter [undated] to Alice and Dean W. Harris.
Folder 6
Harris, Cassius W. 1 letter (1945, Mar. 21) to Alice Harris, Louise Harris Johnson and Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 7
Harris, Cassius W. 5 letters (1945) to Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 8
Johnson, Arvid T. 1 letter (1919, Feb. 11) to John A. Johnson.
Folder 9
Johnson, Arvid T. 19 letters (1917-1918, Jan.) to Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 10
Johnson, Arvid T. 15 letters (1918, Feb. - May) to Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 11
Johnson, Arvid T. 25 letters (1918, June - Dec.) to Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 12
Johnson, Arvid T. 28 letters (1919) to Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 13
Johnson, Arvid T. 2 letters (1957) to Malcolm A. Love.
Folder 14
Johnson, Louise Harris. 1 letter [undated] to Raymond Harris.
Folder 15
Knowles, Asa S. (Asa Smallidge), 1909-. 2 letters (1955-1957) to Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 16
Love, Malcolm A. 5 letters (1956) to Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 17
“Ma Dad.” 2 letters (1941) to “Folks.”
Folder 18
MacDowell, Marian, 1857-1956. 1 letter (1937, July 11) to Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 19
O’Byrne, Ernest B. 1 letter (1956, Nov. 29) to Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 20
Shea, D.G. 1 letter (1943, Feb. 13) to Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 21
Sims, F.S. 1 letter (1943, Jan. 16) to Arvid T. Johnson.
Folder 22
Smith, Duane D. and Florence, A.J. and Florence Townsend, W.A. and Martha Smith, Rondolph C. and Marie Downes, Cecil and Corinne
Cody and Lloyd and Betty Lapp. 1 letter (1957, June 3) to Arvid T. and Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 23
Vaughn, Arkell M. 2 letters (1919) to Louise Harris Johnson.
Folder 1
Address Book [undated]. 1 item.
Folder 2
Bible (1917). 1 item. Includes newspaper clippings, pamphlets and miscellanea.
Folder 3
Bookmark (1917, Jan. 2). 1 item. Includes autographs and menu.
Folder 4
Empty Envelopes (1918-1919). 3 items.
Folder 5
Event Programs (1923-1953). 3 items.
Folder 6
Funeral Announcements (1915-1936). 2 items.
Folder 7
Government Identifications (1917-1945). 2 items.
Folder 8
Marriage Certificate (1895, Feb. 2). 1 item.
Folder 9
Monthly Report Book for Cassius W. Harris of Greenville Public Schools (1913-1914). 1 item.
Folder 10
Newspaper Clippings (1915-[1935]). 6 items.
Folder 11
Photo album [undated]. 1 item. Includes photos from American Expeditionary Forces time in Germany during/post World War I.
Folder 12
Photographs (1919). 18 items.