Loading...
Creator
Johnson, John Albert, 1857-1928
Call number
Sc Micro R-5859
Physical description
2 archival boxes (10 linear inches).
Language
English
Preferred Citation
John Albert Johnson papers, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library
Repository
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Principally sermons, together with speeches, biographies of distinguished Afro-Americans, and personal papers including two journals, one kept while he was ministering in Bermuda, 1889-1892, and the other while on a trip to England in 1891 to raise funds for a school in Bermuda.

Biographical/historical information

John Albert Johnson was born on October 29, 1857 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. He attended the Hamilton Institute and Upper Canada College. In 1874, Johnson was converted and joined the British Methodist Episcopal Church. He was licensed to preach in Toronto by Reverend S.D. Smith and joined the annual conference in 1875 under Bishop Nazray. In 1876, Johnson was ordained deacon at Halifax, Nova Scotia by Bishop Disney and became an elder in 1880, also under Bishop Disney. He was a delegate to every general conference from 1880 and was a fraternal delegate to the Methodist Episcopal General Conference in Cleveland in 1896. He was also a delegate to the ecumenical conferences of 1891 and 1901.

Johnson was voted for the bishopric in 1908 in Norfolk, Virginia and was elected bishop for South Africa. He also was appointed and served as the presiding bishop of the Second Episcopal District.

Bishop J. Albert Johnson married Minnie S. Goosley of Liverpool, Nova Scotia in the Dominion of Canada in 1880. Their union produced two sons, Roland and Percival Courtland.

Bibliography: Richard Wright. Encylopedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Scope and arrangement

The John Albert Johnson Papers, 1876-1884, n.d., are composed primarily of sermons written by Bishop Johnson covering a variety of moral and religious issues. Other writings by Johnson in the collection include speeches and biographies of distinguished Afro-Americans. There is also a small sampling of personal papers.

The John Albert Johnson papers are arranged in two series:

  • Personal Papers

    The series consists of certificates documenting Bishop Johnson's appointments to various missions (Annapolis, St. Thomas, Liverpool, etc.) by the British Methodist Episcopal Church. Additionally, there are two journals kept by Reverend Johnson. One of the journals, dated November 6, 1889 through April 14, 1892, is structured more or less like a diary and was written while Johnson was ministering in Bermuda. It appears to be one of several volumes he kept during the period he served in Bermuda. The second journal was titled by Johnson, “Notes of a Trip to England” (taken to raise funds for a school he wanted to establish in Bermuda), April 1891 to September 1891.

  • Writings

    The series which form the bulk of the collection has been arranged according to type; sermons, speeches, biographies and essays. The Sermons have been further divided by those based on Old Testament and New Testament themes. Within these classifications, the writings are arranged alphabetically.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Bequest of Roland R. Johnson, May 1949.

SCM78-38

Processing information

Processed by Deborah Willis; machine-readable finding aid created by Apex Data Services; revised by Terry Catapano.

Separated material

The following items were removed from the:

John Albert Johnson Papers SCM78-3

Date received:1949

Date transferred:1949

The item(s) listed below have been sent to the division indicated, either to be retained or disposed of there. Any items that should receive special disposition are clearly marked.

    • 177 books (List in Archives Accession File)

Using the collection

Location

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor

Access restrictions

Researchers are restricted to microfilm copy.

Alternative form available

Collection available on microfilm; Micrographic Preservation Service; call number Sc Micro R-5859