Finding aid to the Elmer and Vivienne Johnson collection of farming home
movies, MP 002
Frances Kaplan and Al Bersch, 2023
California Historical Society
September 2023
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
reference@calhist.org
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
Title: Elmer and Vivienne Johnson collection of farming home movies
Identifier/Call Number: MP 002
Physical Description:
.5 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1945-1964
Condition Description: Original
reels are in good condition. The reels have been digitized for access and
preservation.
Abstract: The collection comprises 12 reels of
original 16mm home movies of rice and almond farming in Colusa and Yolo counties,
California, from the mid 1940s though to 1964. The silent films show Elmer Johnson and farm
workers on the Johnson's rice farm and almond orchards in the Central Valley and document
farming activities including planting, harvesting, fertilizing and cropdusting, as well as
the almond orchards in full bloom. The films also include footage of Elmer Johnson and his
wife, Vivienne, and their son Edward at the family home and enjoying various recreational
activities. The majority of the films were taken by Vivienne Johnson. Along with the films
is a typewritten family history by Elmer and Vivienne's son, Edward Johnson.
Language of Material:
English .
Content Description
The collection comprises 12 reels of original 16mm home movies of rice and almond farming
in Colusa and Yolo counties, California, from the mid 1940s though to 1964. The silent films
show Elmer Johnson and farm workers on the Johnson's rice farm and almond orchards in the
Central Valley and document farming activities including planting, harvesting, fertilizing
and cropdusting, as well as the almond orchards in full bloom. The films also include
footage of Elmer Johnson and his wife, Vivienne, and their son Edward at the family home and
enjoying various recreational activities. The majority of the films were taken by Vivienne
Johnson. Along with the films is a typewritten family history by Elmer and Vivienne's son,
Edward Johnson.
Reels 1, 2, 3 and 5 and 7 and 9 mostly comprise footage of the Johnson family at home or on
vacation enjoying various recreational activities, including road trips to Utah and
Wyoming.
Reel 4 shows the rice fields flooded with water for planting, and a crop duster flying over
the rice fields to drop the germinated rice seed. Reel 4 also shows rice being harvested
with a reaper, and bags of sown rice stacked and ready for transport. The reel depicts rice
transported via a pipe above a platform on the left side of the harvester, and the bottom of
the pipe is shaped like an inverted "Y" with a lever that can direct the rice down one side
or another. A burlap bag is attached on the side for filling. Once the bag is full, it
slides down to the ground where it is picked up.
Reel 6 shows an almond orchard, farm machinery, aerial footage, and Vivienne Johnson
getting into the family's new 1947 Buick Roadmaster.
Reel 8 shows rice farming, including Elmer Johnson wading through the rice fields as water
is pumped in from the canal to flood the rice fields. Later footage shows rice as it is
harvested and loaded onto a truck by conveyor belt. Also depicted is the seeding of rice by
plane. Reel 8 also includes footage of the almond trees in bloom, as well as farm workers
harvesting almonds by hand. When the almonds are ready to be harvested, a low wagon is
driven up to each tree and a large tarp placed around the base of the tree. Workers use axe
handles with tire tread wrapped around the end to knock tree trunks and shake nuts loose and
onto the tarp. Almonds are then gathered and loaded with shovels into sacks. This reel shows
filled sacks stacked on top of each other ready for transport.
Reel 10 includes footage of the rice harvest in 1964 showing workers using combines to reap
and thresh the rice, as well as the transportation and storage of the rice in large, metal,
grain bins.
Reel 11 is from the fall of 1964 and shows the rice harvest.
Reel 12 shows aerial footage of farmland and crops.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edward Johnson, 2021.
Biographical / Historical
Elmer Johnson was the son of Swen John Johnson and Elise Pearson, Swedish immigrants who
came to the US with their parents as young children. After WWI, the Johnsons, along with
Elmer and his three young siblings, moved from Minnesota to California's Central Valley,
where they purchased about 55 acres of farmland on Mumma Road near Arbuckle in Colusa
County.
The Johnsons first planted grapes to be used for raisins and also apricots, neither of
which proved profitable. They then planted almond trees, turning the land into an orchard
and raising Texas, Nonpareils, and IXL almonds. Elmer grew up on the farm and as an adult
became a farmer. He bought 80 acres of land near Dunnigan in Yolo County, just a few miles
from the family's original almond orchard. He also rented about 1000 acres of rice land from
a local family east of Dunnigan on Road Seven.
In 1938 Elmer married Vivienne Peterson from Eagle Bend, Minnesota. From the latter part of
the 1940's to 1964, Vivienne used a Keystone camera to take 16mm Kodachrome home movies of
their farm. The films document farming practices, and the use of labor and machinery in
California's main agricultural region over a twenty-year period for both rice and almond
farming, including planting, harvesting, fertilizing, and aerial seeding.
Conditions Governing Use
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the
Johnson family were transferred to the California Historical Society (CHS) in October 2021
by Ed Johnson. Reproduction or publication of materials in this collection beyond that
allowed by fair use requires the written permission of CHS. Please contact
rights@calhist.org.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The film reels were digitized in 2023 by California Revealed and digitized copies are
available to stream on California Revealed's website.
Conditions Governing Access
Due to the fragile nature of the format, access to the original film reels is restricted.
Researchers must use digital copies that are available on California Revealed's website.
https://californiarevealed.org/partner/california-historical-society
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item, date]; Elmer and Vivienne Johnson collection of farming home
movies, 1945-1964, MP 002; [reel number]; California Historical Society.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Farmers -- California
Agriculture -- California
Rice -- California
Agricultural laborers -- California
Rice farming -- California
Agriculture--California--Yolo County.
Agriculture -- California -- Colusa County
Family vacations
Amateur films.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 1
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 1
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing the Johnson family at home or on vacation, including
road trips to Utah and Wyoming between 1945 to 1964.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 2
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 2
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing the Johnson family at home or on vacation, including
road trips to Utah and Wyoming between 1945 to 1964.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 3
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 3
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing the Johnson family at home or on vacation, including
road trips to Utah and Wyoming between 1945 to 1964.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 4
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 4
Scope and Contents
Reel 4 shows the rice fields flooded with water for planting, and a crop duster flying
over the rice fields to drop the germinated rice seed. Reel 4 also shows rice being
harvested with a reaper, and bags of sown rice stacked and ready for transport. The reel
depicts rice transported via a pipe above a platform on the left side of the harvester,
and the bottom of the pipe is shaped like an inverted "Y" with a lever that can direct
the rice down one side or another. A burlap bag is attached on the side for filling.
Once the bag is full, it slides down to the ground where it is picked up.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 5
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 5
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing the Johnson family at home or on vacation, including
road trips to Utah and Wyoming between 1945 to 1964.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 6
1947
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 6
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing an almond orchard, farm machinery, aerial footage, and
Vivienne Johnson getting into the family's new 1947 Buick Roadmaster.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 7
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 7
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing the Johnson family at home or on vacation, including
road trips to Utah and Wyoming between 1945 to 1964.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 8
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 8
Scope and Contents
Reel 8 shows rice farming, including Elmer Johnson wading through the rice fields as
water is pumped in from the canal to flood the rice fields. Later footage shows rice as
it is harvested and loaded onto a truck by conveyor belt. Also depicted is the seeding
of rice by plane. Reel 8 also includes footage of the almond trees in bloom, as well as
farm workers harvesting almonds by hand. When the almonds are ready to be harvested, a
low wagon is driven up to each tree and a large tarp placed around the base of the tree.
Workers use axe handles with tire tread wrapped around the end to knock tree trunks and
shake nuts loose and onto the tarp. Almonds are then gathered and loaded with shovels
into sacks. This reel shows filled sacks stacked on top of each other ready for
transport.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 9
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 9
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing rice and almond farming in California's Central Valley
between 1945 to 1964.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 10
1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 10
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie filmed near Dunnigan, California, showing the process of
reaping and threshing rice through the use of a combine.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 11
1955-1959
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 11
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie filmed near Dunnigan, California, showing a bulldozer cutting
open rice checks to allow harvest equipment to enter.
Box 1
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 12
1945-1964
Elmer and Vivienne Johnson farming home movies, reel 12
Scope and Contents
Silent color home movie showing aerial footage of farmland and crops.