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Johnson Family Letters Collection
2014.28
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Title: Johnson Family Letters Collection
Dates: mid 1800s to 1980
Collection Number: 2014.28
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 3 boxes
Repository:
Contra Costa County Historical Society
Martinez, California 94553
Abstract: The family history begins with the mention of Captain Edmund Robinson who was the family heir and grandfather of Frank R.
Webb and Phoebe Dickinson and great grandfather of Thaddeus Johnson and Abbie Johnson, whom much of the correspondence from
the collection revolves around. These are family archived materials consisting of letters, maps, and personal archived materials.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
Contact the Contra Costa County Historical Society for publication permission.
Johnson Family Letters Collection. Contra Costa County Historical Society
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection holds family archived materials dating from the mid-1800s to as late as 1980. Notable documents include:
Box 1: Seven folders of letters dated as early as 1866 with the bulk dated 1866—1879 to and from family and friends of the
Webb/Johnson families.
Box 2: Various assorted letters with accompanying stamped envelopes, the bulk from Frank Webb to his family when looking for
employment in Portland & Tacoma during the 1890s, and correspondence between Mrs. Thaddeus Johnson and Mrs. Abbie Johnson
with various family members. Many of Frank’s letters are on hotel letterhead. There are also copies of maps from 1827—1865
of railroads, War of 1812, Oregon Territory, Michigan Territory, and Wisconsin, Iowa & Minnesota territories. A newspaper
folder holds The Thomaston Herald, September 1, 1904 and The Sunday Chronicle, August 5, 1885 that highlights the funeral
of General Ulysses S. Grant.
Box3: This box has a wider variety of materials that include commercial receipts (1920s), taxes (1907, City of Martinez; 1917,
City of Walnut Creek), many letters and cards to and from Della (sister of Abbie Johnson), official documents (Declaration
of Homestead, Division of Highways, CC Title Co., CCC taxes, Las Lomas report card), and newspaper sport articles all from
the 1950s. Also notable are a Gunter’s Scale (used in navigation & precursor to the slide scale), Western Union Telegram,
greeting pin-up cards by Gil Elvgren, and a marketing pamphlet showcasing four models of horseless buggy “Harvest Beauties”
by Sears Roebuck & Co. with paint samples.
Correspondence, personal
Official documents, personal
Advertising
Robinson, Captain Edmund
Webb, Frank R
Dickinson, Phoebe
Johnson, Thaddeus
Johnson, Abbie
Martinez
Walnut Creek
newspaper clippings