JOHNSON, ELOISE MCKINNEY
Eloise McKinney Johnson papers, 1940-2011

Emory University

Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library

Atlanta, GA 30322

404-727-6887

rose.library@emory.edu

Permanent link: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/vdwp4

Collection Stored Off-Site

All or portions of this collection are housed off-site. Materials can still be requested but researchers should expect a delay of up to two business days for retrieval.


Descriptive Summary

Creator: Johnson, Eloise McKinney
Title: Eloise McKinney Johnson papers, 1940-2011
Call Number:Manuscript Collection No. 1494
Extent: 202.375 linear feet (202 boxes)
Abstract:Papers of African American educator Eloise McKinney Johnson, including subject files, photographs, books and periodicals, correspondence, teaching files, and family papers.
Language:Materials entirely in English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

Special restrictions apply: Collection stored off-site. Researchers must contact the Rose Library in advance to access this collection.

Use copies have not been made for audiovisual material in this collection. Researchers must contact the Rose Library at least two weeks in advance for access to these items. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the Rose Library's ability to provide access to audiovisual material.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Source

Gift of Myron Johnson, Jr., 2020

Custodial History

Myron Johnson, Jr., is the son of Eloise McKinney Johnson. Curator of African American Collections, Pellom McDaniels, III, Head of Collection Processing, Sarah Quigley, and Accessioning Archivist, Meaghan O'Riordan, prepared the materials for transfer to the Rose Library at Eloise McKinney Johnson's home in San Francisco, California.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Eloise McKinney Johnson papers, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Appraisal Note

Curator of African American Collections, Pellom McDaniels, III, acquired the collection as part of the Rose Library's holdings in African American education. All material received with the collection has been retained.

Processing

Arranged and described at the collection level by Meaghan O'Riordan and Sarah Quigley, February 2020.

This finding aid may include language that is offensive or harmful. Please refer to the Rose Library's harmful language statement for more information about why such language may appear and ongoing efforts to remediate racist, ableist, sexist, homophobic, euphemistic and other oppressive language. If you are concerned about language used in this finding aid, please contact us at rose.library@emory.edu.


Collection Description

Biographical Note

Eloise Vaughn McKinney Johnson (1926-2018) was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on December 7, 1926. Her mother was Martha Lloyd McKinney, who graduated from Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia) in 1919 and taught English in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County school system (North Carolina). Johnson's father was Theophilus Elisha (T. E.) McKinney (1897-1962), Dean of Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina) from 1929-1962. Her grandfather was George Patterson McKinney (1863-1933), president of Florida Memorial College (now University, in Miami Gardens), who sent all eight of his children to college in Atlanta, Georgia, at Morehouse College and Spelman College.

Johnson attended Spelman College from 1943-1947 where she majored in English and minored in history. She also became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority. From 1947-1948, she attended Boston University (Massachusetts) to complete her M.A. in English with a focus on American literature. She would further her education by pursuing advanced studies in drama, speech, and history at the University of Colorado (Boulder), the University of Wisconsin (Madison), and Stanford University (California).

On June 11, 1952, Eloise married Myron H. Johnson (1924-1997). They had a son, Myron H. Johnson, Jr., in 1953, who adopted the nickname, "Jay Jay." The couple divorced in 1958, and Myron moved to San Francisco, California, where he became an administrator in the San Francisco Unified School District. In 1963, Myron, Jr., moved to join his father. In 1964, Myron Sr. and Eloise reconciled, and Eloise moved to San Francisco. The couple remarried on June 11, 1965 but divorced a second time in 1973.

Johnson taught at Winston-Salem State College (North Carolina) from 1948-1952; at Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia) from 1953-1961 while Benjamin Mays was the president; and at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (Greensboro) from 1961-1965. After her move to San Francisco, she taught in the San Francisco Unified School District from 1966-1967; at San Francisco Community College from 1966-1971; at North Peralta College (Oakland, California) from 1971-1973; and at Laney College (Oakland, California) from 1973-1989. Her students included the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., Dr. David Satcher, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Sr., and Dr. Louis Wade Sullivan.

She was a member of several organizations, including the African American Historical & Cultural Society, the San Francisco Chapter of the United Nations Association, the College Language Association, the San Francisco Academy of World Studies, the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, the Spelman College National Alumnae Association, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Johnson has contributed articles and reviews to The Langston Hughes Review, the CLA Journal, the Journal of Negro History, Black Art International Quarterly, the Journal of African Civilizations, and the Journal of Black Sacred Music.

Johnson died on May 27, 2018, in San Francisco, California.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of the papers of Eloise McKinney Johnson and include subject files, photographs, books and periodicals, correspondence, teaching files and family papers. Subject files document Johnson's research interests, including her research on African feast ladles, which are carved wooden ceremonial spoons that acknowledge a woman's remarkable generosity, of which Johnson had a significant collection. Subject files also include research on various African and Latin American countries and culture, her participating in the African American Historical & Cultural Society, research on black culture, files documenting the lives of Johnson's friends and family, and other personal interests. A significant amount of material across the collection concerns historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), especially Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia), Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia), and Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina). Correspondence includes letters between Johnson and her parents, as well as friends and other family members. Family papers document the history of the McKinney and Johnson families’ long history of professional educators. Teaching files include worksheets and lessons for teaching English. Photographs include images of Johnson's travels, as well as numerous family events, such as birthdays and reunions.

Arrangement Note

Arranged by record type. Items remain in original physical order but are arranged alphabetically by type in the container list to facilitate access.


Selected Search Terms

Personal Names

Corporate Names

Topical Terms

Geographic Names

Form/Genre Terms

Occupation


Container List

Box Folder Content
137 - Awards, 1940-1993
128 - Awards, 1952-2014
138 - Awards, 1971-2004
126 - Clippings, 1961-1989
110 - Clippings, 1957-2001
40 - Clippings, 2001-2005
75 - Clippings, 2004-2009
137 - Drawings, 1940-1993
200 - Correspondence, 1943-2018
57 - Correspondence, 1960-2000
29 - Correspondence, 1971-1984
81 - Correspondence, 1977-2001
30 - Correspondence, 1980-1987
105 - Correspondence, 1981-2006
2 - Correspondence, 1984-2009
70 - Correspondence, 1986-2006
106 - Correspondence, 1988-2001
136 - Correspondence, 1990-2014
91 - Correspondence, 1996-2001
34 - Correspondence, 2000-2005
87 - Correspondence, 2003-2007
108 - Correspondence, 2009-2016
131 - Correspondence, circa 2014
23 - Correspondence and notecards, 2003-2010
9 - Correspondence, primarily from McKinney’s mother, 1969-1980
8 - Correspondence, subject files, and rolodex cards, 1990-2005
40 - Correspondence, telegrams, condolences for the death of McKinney’s father, 1962
200 - Divorce papers, guest books, notecards, degrees, and passports, 1943-2018
55 - Family and autobiographical papers, 1949-1980
56 - Family and autobiographical papers, 1978-2002
99 - Family papers, 1968-1993
88 - Family papers, 1970-2001
101 - Family papers, 1976-1998
2 - Family papers, 1984-2009
71 - Family papers, 2003-2008
7 - Family papers, 2008-2011
83 - Family papers, including McKinney-Ellis clan, 1976-1997
84 - Family papers, including McKinney-Ellis clan, 1976-1998
32 - Feast ladle research, 1985-2008
33 - Feast ladle research, 2001-2008
XOP1 - First Ward poster, with inscriptions, 1987
69 - Friends, 1974-2010
72 - Friends, 1981-2000
79 - Friends, 1989-2002
86 - House maintenance files, 1968-2000
62 - House maintenance files, 1981-1994
33 - Johnson, Myron, III, papers, 2001-2008
21 - Laney College (Oakland, California), files and correspondence, 1977-2008
27 - McKinney, Richard I. and McKinney-Ellis family papers, 1977-2000
28 - McKinney, T.E. papers, 1945-1990
202 1 Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia), senior class photographs, includes T.E. McKinney, 1921
123 - Notebooks, 1960-2012
105 - Notebooks, 1981-2006
135 - Notebooks, circa 1990-2001
116 - Notebooks, 1996-2011
108 - Notebooks, 2009-2016
131 - Notebooks, circa 2014
114 - Notebooks and desk calendars, 1947-2002
138 - Notecards, 1971-2004
1 - Photograph albums, 1942-2001
80 - Photograph albums, 1955-1977
10 - Photograph albums, 1962-1965
11 - Photograph albums, 1968-1976
82 - Photograph albums, 1978-1982
137 - Photographs, 1940-1993
4 - Photographs, circa 1940-2008
138 - Photographs, 1971-2004
38 - Photographs, 1973-1994
121 - Photographs, 1976-2002
117 - Photographs, 1979-1999
25 - Photographs, 1984-2000
122 - Photographs, 1985-1992
129 - Photographs, circa 1986-1995
118 - Photographs, 1993-2010
31 - Photographs, 1995-2005
95 - Photographs, 1996-2001
54 - Photographs, 1997-2004
120 - Photographs, 1999-2009
34 - Photographs, 2000-2005
108 - Photographs, 2009-2016
XOP2 - Posters, undated
XOP3 - Posters, undated
93 - Printed material, 1984-1998
95 - Printed material, 1996-2001
108 - Printed material, 2009-2016
97 - Professional papers, 1936-1998
38 - Professional papers, 1973-1994
104 - Professional papers, 1978-2000
128 - Scrapbooks, 1952-2014
53 - Scrapbooks and yearbook, 1944-1965
201 - Slides, 1976-1998
113 - Slides and film reel [1], circa 1951-1990 [original: 16 mm film reel]
202 2 Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia), plaque with drawing of Johnson, 1948
3 - Subject files, African American activists S-W and Frederick Douglas, 1970-1991
89 - Subject files, African American artists and African American dance, 1967-2001
90 - Subject files, African American artists and Cleopatra, 1874-2000
57 - Subject files, African American Historical & Cultural Society, 1960-2000
47 - Subject files, African American Historical & Cultural Society, 1980-2000
45 - Subject files, African American Historical & Cultural Society, 1985-2000
48 - Subject files, African American Historical & Cultural Society, 2000-2003
87 - Subject files, African American Historical & Cultural Society, 2003-2007
35 - Subject files, African American Historical & Cultural Society, 2008
20 - Subject files, African art, 1990-2000
45 - Subject files, African American Historical & Cultural Society, 1985-2000
34 - Subject files, Amiri Baraka and Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), 2000-2005
85 - Subject files, ancient art, 1980-2003
13 - Subject files, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and notebook, 1990-2001
40 - Subject files, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), 2001-2005
50 - Subject files, black American art, 1992-2007
96 - Subject files, black dance and Martin Luther King, Jr., 1974-2001
67 - Subject files, black music and literature, 1984-2000
65 - Subject files, black music and literature, 1999-2002
66 - Subject files, black music and literature, 1999-2003
107 - Subject files, blackness and black identity, 1979-2009
77 - Subject files, black theatre, 1985-2001
75 - Subject files, Brazil, 1984-1990
17 - Subject files, Brazil, 1993-2001
24 - Subject files, Brazil and general, 1982-2000
103 - Subject files, Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1984-1988
93 - Subject files, Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1984-1998
106 - Subject files, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1988-2001
44 - Subject files, Egypt and general, 1977-2008
37 - Subject files, Egypt and general, 1995-1999
78 - Subject files, Egypt and Greece, 1963-2008
49 - Subject files, the elements (earth, air, fire, and water), hair, and memorable mustaches, 1998-2002
4 - Subject files, family, circa 1940-2008
63 - Subject files, the family [as a subject], 1971-2002
136 - Subject files, feast ladles, 1990-2014
112 - Subject files, general, 1943-2004
119 - Subject files, general, 1950-2010
128 - Subject files, general, 1952-2014
110 - Subject files, general, 1957-2001
123 - Subject files, general, 1960-2012
126 - Subject files, general, 1961-1989
64 - Subject files, general, 1964-1995
99 - Subject files, general, 1968-1993
115 - Subject files, general, 1970-2002
111 - Subject files, general, 1971-2001
109 - Subject files, general, 1975-1999
58 - Subject files, general, 1976-1996
101 - Subject files, general, 1976-1998
81 - Subject files, general, 1977-2001
104 - Subject files, general, 1978-2000
56 - Subject files, general, 1978-2002
46 - Subject files, general, 1980-2000
68 - Subject files, general, 1980-2007
72 - Subject files, general, 1981-2000
105 - Subject files, general, 1981-2006
100 - Subject files, general, 1984-1999
42 - Subject files, general, 1984-2002
134 - Subject files, general, 1984-2014
70 - Subject files, general, 1986-2006
125 - Subject files, general, 1988-2002
39 - Subject files, general, 1988-2004
6 - Subject files, general, 1988-2009
79 - Subject files, general, 1989-2002
135 - Subject files, general, circa 1990-2012
92 - Subject files, general, 1991-1997
43 - Subject files, general, 1991-2007
118 - Subject files, general, 1993-2010
95 - Subject files, general, 1996-2001
116 - Subject files, general, 1996-2011
127 - Subject files, general, 1998-2012
120 - Subject files, general, 1999-2009
51 - Subject files, general, 2000
124 - Subject files, general, 2005-2007
131 - Subject files, general, circa 2014
22 - Subject files, general, and notecards, 1976-2012
41 - Subject files, general and San Francisco, California, art, 1969-1999
18 - Subject files, Ghana, 1990-1999
19 - Subject files, graffiti and profanity, 1975-1993
102 - Subject files, Grigsby family and holidays, 1993-2002
60 - Subject files, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and general, 1989-2007
61 - Subject files, house maintenance and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), 1977-1991
95 - Subject files, Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina), 1996-2001
100 - Subject files, Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia), 1984-1999
14 - Subject files, Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina) friends and general, 1992-2004
15 - Subject files, Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina) friends and musicians, 1986-2000
133 - Subject files, Langston Hughes and feast ladles, 1981-2014
110 - Subject files, Martin Luther King, Jr., 1957-2001
76 - Subject files, Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia), 1977-2001
52 - Subject files, Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia) and African American Historical & Cultural Society, 1998-2003
48 - Subject files, Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia) and Maynard Institute (Oakland, California), 2000-2003
97 - Subject files, Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia) and Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia), 1936-1998
30 - Subject files, Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia) and Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia), 1947-1959
124 - Subject files, Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia), Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia), 2005-2007
200 - Subject files, Myron Johnson, Jr., “Jay Jay,” 1943-2018
199 - Subject files, Myron Johnson, Jr., “Jay Jay,” 1981-1995
5 - Subject files, museums and general, 1991-2002
16 - Subject files, musicians, 2001-2002
86 - Subject files, Nigeria, 1968-2000
88 - Subject files, Nigeria, Caribbean, and Haiti, 1970-2001
130 - Subject files, people and friends, 1978-2008
132 - Subject files, peppers to weddings, 1992-2002
59 - Subject files, southeast United States and art, Midwest, 1985-2002
94 - Subject files, Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia), 1974-2002
35 - Subject files, Spelman College (Atlanta Georgia), 2008
36 - Subject files, Spelman College (Atlanta Georgia) and negro spirituals, 1997-2007
74 - Subject files, Willie Brown, 1996-2009
111 - Teaching files, 1971-2001
103 - Teaching files, 1984-1988
58 - Teaching files, English, 1976-1996
46 - Teaching files, English, 1980-2000 [1]
47 - Teaching files, English, 1980-2000 [2]
62 - Teaching files, English, 1981-1994
73 - Teaching files, general, 1963-1989
98 - Teaching files and notecards, 1981-1986
57 - Travel files, 1960-2000
26 - Yearbooks, 1930-1961
12 - Yearbooks, 1969-2006
139 - Books
140 - Books
141 - Books
142 - Books
143 - Books
144 - Books
145 - Books
146 - Books
147 - Books
148 - Books
149 - Books
150 - Books
151 - Books
152 - Books
153 - Books
154 - Books
155 - Books
160 - Books
162 - Books
163 - Books
164 - Books
165 - Books
166 - Books
167 - Books
168 - Books
169 - Books
170 - Books
171 - Books
172 - Books
174 - Books
175 - Books
178 - Books
179 - Books
180 - Books
181 - Books
182 - Books
183 - Books
184 - Books
185 - Books
186 - Books
187 - Books
188 - Books
189 - Books
190 - Books
191 - Books
192 - Books
193 - Books
194 - Books
195 - Books
196 - Books
197 - Books
198 - Books
156 - Periodicals
157 - Periodicals
158 - Periodicals
159 - Periodicals
161 - Periodicals
173 - Periodicals
176 - Periodicals
177 - Periodical
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