Special Collections

Special Collections

Scope and Contents

The Clifton Johnson Papers consists of manuscripts, notes, printed articles, diaries, correspondence, legal documents, photographs, artwork, scrapbooks, and ephemera. All is of both personal and professional material by Clifton Johnson. The bulk of the writings date from the 1890s through about 1920. Johnson's large collection of photographs (made by him) are mostly also from about 1890 to 1930. Artwork completed by Johnson is nearly all pen and ink illustrations and sketches for reproduction in his books and articles. Photographs and artwork were generally intended to provide illustration for his writings and volumes. Extensive personal and professional correspondence includes letters to and from friends like John Burroughs and Ray Stannard Baker, New York editors, family members, and fans of his work.

The material represents Johnson's wide interests in local history, farming, children's literature and education, literary figures, and personalities of New England. Johnson was especially interested in the local history of Hockanum and Hadley, and includes many tidbits of interest on local characters and practices. He was also very interested in the "old time" ways of living and farming from the late 1700s through the mid-1800s. Also included is Johnson writings, photographs, and artwork completed during trips to rural England, Scotland, Ireland, and France from about 1900.

This collection is organized into eleven series:

1. Manuscripts
2. Notebooks and Miscellaneous Writings
3. Articles and Booklets
4. Diaries and Journals
5. Correspondence
6. Financial and Legal Documents
7. Photographs
8. Artwork
9. Scrapbooks
10. Subjects
11. Johnson Family Papers