Register of the Johnson (U.S. Rep. J. Leroy) Collection, 1918-1953

Processed by Daryl Morrison; revised by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by Don Walker

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University Library, University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA 95211

Phone: (209) 946-2404

URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html

Register of the Johnson (U.S. Rep. J. Leroy) Collection, 1918-1953

Collection number: Mss141

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University Library

University of the Pacific

Contact Information

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html

Processed by:: Daryl Morrison; revised by Don Walker
Date Completed:: 1994; 1998
Encoded by:: Don Walker

Descriptive Summary

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.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Johnson (U.S. Rep. J. Leroy) Collection, Mss141, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Biography

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.

Scope and Content

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.

BOX 1: J. LEROY JOHNSON COLLECTION, 1918-1953

1.1: STAFF RESEARCH FILE

-Who's Who in American, entry, 1958-1959

-"Leroy Johnson :Long Public Service," Stockton Record (3-28-61) [obit.]

1.2: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTES [5 l., 6 pp., typescript and manuscript]

1.3: CORRESPONDENCE FROM "ROY" JOHNSON, 104TH AERO SQUADRON, AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES TO ELIZABETH [ALPERS]

-7-27-18 [French postcard of Marmoutier Abbey]

-9-18-18 [2 pp.; Describes aerial battle]

-9-20-18 [2 pp.]

-9-23-18 [2pp.]

-9-24-18 [2 pp.]

-9-30-18 [4pp.]

-10-2-18 [2 pp.; describes flying over Germany, death of a friend]

-10-8-18 [1 pg.]

-10-9-18 [4 pp.]

-10-12-18 [4 pp.; describes death of an airman, marking his or her initials on his plane]

-10-10-18 [3 pp.; describes air battle]

-10-16-18 [3pp.]

-1-29-19 [Telegram announcing his safe return to Berkeley, Calif.]

1.4: SPEECHES

-"Masonic Speech." [Addressed to Blue Lodge of Stockton on the commemoration of the Constitution, 9 pp.]

- Variant incomplete version, pp. 3-9.

-Address to Masters of the Blue Lodge of Turlock on Constitutional Convention, 3 pp.

- Address to Blue Lodge of Stockton [pencil note changes to "Turlock"] on Constitutional Convention [5 pp.; pg. 3 missing]

-"Excerpt from "These Men Were Masons" by Hubert S. Banner [2 pp.]

-"Excerpts from "Franklin, The Apostle of Modern Times" by Bernard Fay [3 pp.]

-Another excerpt from "Franklin, The Apostle of Modern Times" by Bernard Fay [3 pp.]

1.5: UNIDENTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHS [JLJ in most photos]

-[16 b/w 8 x 10]

-Younger Johnson by typist [1]

-Inspection trip to Hawaii [5]

-Johnson in front of Eisenhower portrait [5]

-With Nixon [2]

1.6: IDENTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHS [typed descriptions on back; stamped "Restricted"; All dated 6-15-45; photographs by Potter of 3131 Signal Photo Platoon]

-Caserta, Italy. Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander, MT Talking to Members of the House Military Affairs Committee in his office, AFHQ [#50]

-Caserta, Italy. Members of the House Military Affairs Committee making a tour of Italy with Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander, MT and Joseph T. McNarney, MTO [#51]

-Caserta Area, Italy. Members of the House Military Affairs Committee at the Conference Room, AFHQ, Caserta; Maj. Gen O L Nelson D/ Theater Commander in charge [#53]

-Caserta Area, Italy. Members oaf the House Military Affairs Committee, making a tour of Italy, at a Conference ... Maj. Gen. O.L. Nelson in charge [#54]

-Caserta, Italy. House Military Affairs Committee, making a tour of Italy with General Joseph T. McNarney, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, MTO and Maj. Gen. O.L. Nelson, Deputy Theater Commander, Grotto Club, Caserta {#56]

-Caserta, Italy. Gen Joseph T. McNarney, Deputy Supreme allied Commander, MTO, with Congressman J. Leroy Johnson (Calif) Member of the House Military Affairs Committee, now making a tour of Italy at the Grotto Club [#58; 3 copies]

-Caserta, Italy. Members of the House Military Affairs Committee making a tour of Italy have lunch with Gen. Joseph McNarney,...[#67]

-Another view of above [#68]

-Pompeii Area, Italy. Members of the House Military Affairs Committee inspect the amphitheater during their tour of the ruins of Pompeii [#69]

-Pompeii Area, Italy. Members of the House Military Affairs Committee walk down one of the streets amidst the ruins of Pompeii, Italy [#70]

-Pompeii Area, Italy. Committee in the Temple of Apollo [#72]

-Sorrento, Italy. Committee dining at the Hotel Vittoria [#73]

-Naples, Italy. Congressman Johnson chats with Maj. Floyd F. Helmick, San Francisco, Cal. at the Parc Hotel [#74; 2 copies]

-Caserta Area, Italy. Committee and members of the official party on the Army Air Force Crash Boat on their way to Capri [#75]

-Oahu HI. Harold I. Nakata receiving distinguished service Cross from Congressman Johnson [9-19-53]

1.7: ISLAND OF OAHU, HAWAII. HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SEAL CINCPAC, USARPAC, USAFPAC, USPACFLT [spiral bound notebook containing 26 Photographs, identified and indexed on front cover; incl. military sites and other views of Oahu]

1.8: ALBUM PRESENTED BY THE EIGHTH U.S. ARMY TO EACH OF THE SIX MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO, AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, MADE AN INSPECTION TOUR OF JAPAN AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS FIRST YEAR OF ALLIED OCCUPATION, 1946. [60 photographs; souvenirs of scenic, historic Japan as well as mementos of occupational units and projects visited in the company of Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger, Eighth Army Commander]