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Register of the Johnson (U.S. Rep. J. Leroy) Collection,
1918-1953
Mss141
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Title: Johnson (U.S. Rep. J. Leroy) Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1918-1953
Collection number: Mss141
Creator:
Mrs. J. Leroy Johnson
Extent: 0.25 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of
Special Collections
Stockton, CA 95211
Shelf location: For current information on the location of
these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.
Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], Johnson (U.S. Rep. J. Leroy) Collection,
Mss141, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the
Pacific Library
J. Leroy Johnson, lawyer, member of the U.S. Congress (1941-1956),
received a J.D. from the University of California (1914). He practiced law in
Stockton (Calif.)until the onset of World War I. During the War Johnson served
in France, where he won the Silver Star as a pilot for the 104th Aero Squadron
of the American Expeditionary Forces. He resumed his law practice in 1919 and
was elected Deputy District Attorney of San Joaquin County the following year.
He married NABISCO heiress, Elizabeth Alpers, May 22, 1920. Johnson was
Stockton City Attorney (1923-1933), a member of the Stockton Planning
Commission(1934-1941) and Director of the Delta Investment Company. During his
ten years as city attorney, Stockton's population doubled. It was in this
period that Stockton's deep water port was created. Mr. Johnson's legal burden
was heavy and involved land litigation cases. It was he who drafted the
legislation that began city planning in Stockton.
Johnson was first elected to Congress in 1941. He served seven terms,
five (78th -82nd Congress) representing the 3rd California District and two
(83rd-84th Congress) representing the 11th District. Many of these were wartime
years, and, Mr. Johnson by reason of his past War experience, became a
significant influence on the House Armed Services Committee. Johnson toured
Italy (June 1945) with various Allied commanders reviewing conditions and war
damage. He then served until retired by the voters in 1956.
The collection consists primarily of materials pertaining to World War I
and World War II. World War I is delineated in letters from the young Johnson
to his girl, Elizabeth Alpers (1918). Photographs form the bulk of the
collection. These depict the Congressman touring Italy, Hawaii and Japan as a
member of the House Armed Services Committee.