Scrapbooks—
Sub-Series
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Martin N. Johnson Family Papers consists mainly of family mementos and family history information on both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson's families, as well as his brother Lewis C. Johnson. The collection has been organized into six series, Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, their children and families, family history material, Nelson Johnson, Martin Johnson’s siblings and families, and subject files.
The Martin Johnson Series includes the book of Memorial Addresses and program in the United States Senate (1910) and a photocopy of the North Dakota House Journal for February 1, 1911 with memorial addresses given in a joint session of the legislature. There is also their wedding invitation (1879), invitation to the White House (1909), letterhead, and several political cartoons, including one that appeared in the Norwegian paper, Basunen at Hillsboro, North Dakota. The photocopy of the scrapbook contains many newspaper articles from 1908 during his election to the United States Senate. Mrs. Johnson's material includes birthday guests (1918), and obituaries on her death.
The Martin Johnson Children Series was collected mainly by Florence Johnson Karpe for a family history and deals almost entirely with her brothers and sisters and their families. Of note is Edith Johnson Skulason's typed manuscript, "Memoirs of Early Days in Nelson County, N.D." which recounts the events of their family homesteading near Petersburg in the 1880s. The remaining files contain correspondence and newspaper clippings.
The Family History Series includes files for Mrs. Johnson's various family lines, including the White, Jepson and Houghton families. None of these files are very extensive. Of note is an 1847 copy of Constitution and Officers of the Houghton Association with the Proceedings of the Houghton Meeting held at Worcester, Massachusetts, March 3, 1847. The White family file contains correspondence (1929-1934) related to family history.
The Nelson Johnson Family Series is more extensive, covering Mr. Martin Johnson's father and brother and sister's families. The Nelson Johnson material includes a typed biography (ca. 1935) by son John W. Johnson and which includes much genealogical information. There are photocopies of Mr. Johnson's Norwegian passport (1839) with translation, a baptismal certificate for Mrs. Johnson in Norwegian (1841) and Mr. Johnson's ordination certificate into the Methodist Episcopal Church (1856). Also of note are copies of letters written by some of the children commemorating the 100th anniversary of Mrs. Nelson Johnson's birth and which contain reminiscences and historical material on her life (1912); and a chronology of major events in the Johnson family.
The Martin Johnson's Siblings Series includes files for sisters Bessie and Martha that contain various newspaper clippings. The Lewis C. Johnson family material is more extensive. The main file contains biographical material, a short reminiscence of Mrs. Johnson related to pioneer life at Petersburg until the family moved to Fargo in 1884, admittance to the Dakota bar (1883), business cards, and a 1915 banquet program of the North Dakota Bar Association. Their daughter, Ina Johnson's material related to her fight (1941-1954) to be reinstated as a Fargo teacher after being dismissed in 1941 for asking for an investigation by the Fargo Board of Education of practices and policies which had lowered standards of scholarship and discipline
The Subject Files Series includes Virna Johnson’s three scrapbooks documenting the period 1923-1927 when she was involved in the Child Health Demonstration Project at Fargo while she was principal at Washington School The scrapbooks include newspaper clippings, forms, newsletters, several photographs, and various artifacts. Of final note is the periodical Old Muskego Saga for June 1940 that relates among other articles the history of the North Cape Lutheran Church at North Cape, Wisconsin.
Dates
- 1839-1954.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Extent
From the Collection: .4 Linear Feet (.4 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Johnson, Martin N. (Martin Nelson), 1850-1909. (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu