The Donald Barton Johnson papers are comprised of the research, correspondence, and works of literary criticism (especially related to Sasha Sokolov and Vladimir Nabokov) compiled by Professor Emeritus Donald Barton Johnson throughout his career as professor of Russian and Slavic Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Materials include correspondence, notes, sketches, drawings, magazine article layouts, biographical materials, early manuscripts, and dissertations in both Russian and English.

Donald Barton Johnson, Professor Emeritus in Russian and Slavic Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara became renowned throughout academia for his seminal research on Russian authors Vladimir Nabokov and Sasha Sokolov. In his studies he was known to continually find new interpretations and welcome the insights of others linking this specific literary community on a global level. Author of several books and numerous articles on the lives and creative works of these figures, Johnson was a leader in the field of Nabokov studies, serving twice as the president of the International Vladimir Nabokov Society. He was also the creator of NABOKOV-L, an electronic Nabokov discussion forum based out of UCSB which he launched in 1993, the same year he founded the annual print journal Nabokov Studies. In addition to his Nabokov studies, Johnson was influential in his research on Sokolov, and compiled many biographical materials and conducted interviews with the author.

16 linear feet (16 cartons, 1 shoe box, 6 audiocassettes)

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

The collection is open for research. A portion of the collection is stored offsite. Advance notice is required for retrieval.