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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | About 7,200 items (13.0 linear feet). |
| Abstract | Herschel Vespasian Johnson (1894-1966) was a United States foreign service officer whose career, 1921-1953, included posts in Europe, Latin America, and with the United Nations. The collection contains family, social, and personal correspondence. About half of the letters are from Johnson to his mother in Charlotte, N.C., describing his activities. Also included are clippings, speeches, photographs, daily journals and calendars of engagements, press releases, and scrapbooks of Johnson's public and private life. Among Johnson's diplomatic posts were London, 1934-1941; Stockholm, 1941-1946; and Rio de Janiero, 1948-1953. The Addition of January 1991 consists of 19 diaries and daily planners, 1921-1949; 13 scrapbooks, 1880-1966; photographs; and two photograph albums. The Addition of June 1991 consists of about 25 negatives, prints, and medals, relating to travels in South America and Europe in the 1920s and visits of the president of Brazil in the 1940s. |
| Creator | Johnson, Herschel Vespasian, 1894-1966. |
| Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Processing Information
Processed by: SHC Staff
Encoded by: Noah Huffman, December 2007
Updated by: Kate Stratton and Jodi Berkowitz, October 2009; Dawne Howard Lucas, July 2021
Updated because of additions by Virginia Ferris, November 2012
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Related Collections
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Biographical Information
Herschel Vespasian Johnson was a United States foreign service officer whose career, 1921-1953, included posts in Europe, Latin America, and with the United Nations.
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Scope and Content
The collection contains family, social, and personal correspondence. About half of the letters are from Johnson to his mother in Charlotte, N.C., describing his activities. Also included are clippings, speeches, photographs, daily journals and calendars of engagements, press releases, and scrapbooks of Johnson's public and private life. Among Johnson's diplomatic posts were London, 1934-1941; Stockholm, 1941-1946; and Rio de Janiero, 1948-1953. The Addition of January 1991 consists of 19 diaries and daily planners, 1921-1949; 13 scrapbooks, 1880-1966; photographs; and two photograph albums. The Addition of June 1991 consists of about 25 negatives, prints, and medals, relating to travels in South America and Europe in the 1920s and visits of the president of Brazil in the 1940s.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Correspondence, 1910-1969.
Arrangement: chronological.
Family, social, and personal correspondence. About half of the letters are from Johnson to his mother in Charlotte, N.C., describing his activities. Other correspondents include lifelong friends from Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina, as well as personal friends in the diplomatic service and the State Department, and foreign government officers. Among the topics represented in the correspondence are: the Episcopal Church in Brazil and Bishop Louis C. Melcher; political matters discussed with Swedish correspondents; English Speaking Union (1959); Knights of Malta, Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem (July 1959); Sigma Chi fraternity-- the organization and individual brothers; books purchased; Johnson's Chinese porcelain collection; detailed description of the furniture and decorations at the embassy at Rio de Janiero (November 1952); and correspondence with the Truman Library concerning placing the main body of Johnson's unofficial papers there (May 1961-June 1962).
An index of correspondents, filed in Folder 1, includes the names of approximately 330 correspondents and covers about two-thirds of the personal letters (not including letters to Johnson's mother). The index is not complete either as to the correspondents or the dates of all their letters.
| Folder 1a |
Original finding aid |
| Folder 1 |
Index and lists |
1910-2 October 1912 |
|
| Folder 2 |
6 October-December 1912 |
Folder 3-4
Folder 3Folder 4 |
1913 |
Folder 5-7
Folder 5Folder 6Folder 7 |
1914 |
Folder 8-9
Folder 8Folder 9 |
1915 |
Folder 10-11
Folder 10Folder 11 |
1916 |
Folder 12-13
Folder 12Folder 13 |
1917 |
Folder 14-17
Folder 14Folder 15Folder 16Folder 17 |
1918 |
Folder 18-22
Folder 18Folder 19Folder 20Folder 21Folder 22 |
1919 |
Folder 23-27
Folder 23Folder 24Folder 25Folder 26Folder 27 |
1920 |
Folder 28-30
Folder 28Folder 29Folder 30 |
1921 |
Folder 31-33
Folder 31Folder 32Folder 33 |
1922 |
Folder 34-35
Folder 34Folder 35 |
1923 |
| Folder 36 |
1924 |
| Folder 37 |
1925 |
Folder 38-39
Folder 38Folder 39 |
1926 |
Folder 40-41
Folder 40Folder 41 |
1927 |
Folder 42-46
Folder 42Folder 43Folder 44Folder 45Folder 46 |
1928 |
Folder 47-49
Folder 47Folder 48Folder 49 |
1929 |
Folder 50-53
Folder 50Folder 51Folder 52Folder 53 |
1930 |
Folder 54-58
Folder 54Folder 55Folder 56Folder 57Folder 58 |
1931 |
Folder 59-62
Folder 59Folder 60Folder 61Folder 62 |
1932 |
Folder 63-67
Folder 63Folder 64Folder 65Folder 66Folder 67 |
1933 |
Folder 68-71
Folder 68Folder 69Folder 70Folder 71 |
1934 |
Folder 72-75
Folder 72Folder 73Folder 74Folder 75 |
1935 |
Folder 76-77
Folder 76Folder 77 |
1936 |
Folder 78-81
Folder 78Folder 79Folder 80Folder 81 |
1937 |
Folder 82-84
Folder 82Folder 83Folder 84 |
1938 |
Folder 85-87
Folder 85Folder 86Folder 87 |
1939 |
Folder 88-91
Folder 88Folder 89Folder 90Folder 91 |
1940 |
Folder 92-100
Folder 92Folder 93Folder 94Folder 95Folder 96Folder 97Folder 98Folder 99Folder 100 |
1941 |
Folder 101-107
Folder 101Folder 102Folder 103Folder 104Folder 105Folder 106Folder 107 |
1942 |
Folder 108-112
Folder 108Folder 109Folder 110Folder 111Folder 112 |
1943 |
Folder 113-118
Folder 113Folder 114Folder 115Folder 116Folder 117Folder 118 |
1944 |
Folder 119-127
Folder 119Folder 120Folder 121Folder 122Folder 123Folder 124Folder 125Folder 126Folder 127 |
1945 |
Folder 128-140
Folder 128Folder 129Folder 130Folder 131Folder 132Folder 133Folder 134Folder 135Folder 136Folder 137Folder 138Folder 139Folder 140 |
1946 |
Folder 141-143
Folder 141Folder 142Folder 143 |
January-February 1947 |
| Folder 144 |
March 1947 |
| Folder 145 |
April 1947 |
Folder 146-147
Folder 146Folder 147 |
May-June 1947 |
| Folder 148 |
July 1947 |
| Folder 149 |
August 1947 |
Folder 150-151
Folder 150Folder 151 |
September-October 1947 |
Folder 152-153
Folder 152Folder 153 |
November 1947 |
Folder 154-155
Folder 154Folder 155 |
December 1947 |
Folder 156-157
Folder 156Folder 157 |
January 1948 |
| Folder 158 |
February 1948 |
| Folder 159 |
March 1948 |
Folder 160-161
Folder 160Folder 161 |
April 1948 |
Folder 162-163
Folder 162Folder 163 |
May-June 1948 |
Folder 164-166
Folder 164Folder 165Folder 166 |
July-August 1948 |
Folder 167-168
Folder 167Folder 168 |
September 1948 |
Folder 169-172
Folder 169Folder 170Folder 171Folder 172 |
October-November 1948 |
Folder 173-175
Folder 173Folder 174Folder 175 |
December 1948 |
Folder 176-178
Folder 176Folder 177Folder 178 |
January 1949 |
Folder 179-181
Folder 179Folder 180Folder 181 |
February-March 1949 |
Folder 182-184
Folder 182Folder 183Folder 184 |
April-May 1949 |
Folder 185-187
Folder 185Folder 186Folder 187 |
June-August 1949 |
Folder 188-189
Folder 188Folder 189 |
September-October 1949 |
Folder 190-191
Folder 190Folder 191 |
November-December 1949 |
| Folder 192 |
January 1950 |
| Folder 193 |
February 1950 |
| Folder 194 |
March 1950 |
| Folder 195 |
April 1950 |
| Folder 196 |
May 1950 |
| Folder 197 |
June 1950 |
| Folder 198 |
July 1950 |
| Folder 199 |
August 1950 |
| Folder 200 |
September 1950 |
| Folder 201 |
October 1950 |
| Folder 202 |
November-December 1950 |
| Folder 203 |
January 1951 |
| Folder 204 |
February 1951 |
| Folder 205 |
March 1951 |
| Folder 206 |
April 1951 |
| Folder 207 |
May 1951 |
Folder 208-209
Folder 208Folder 209 |
June 1951 |
| Folder 210 |
July 1951 |
Folder 211-212
Folder 211Folder 212 |
August-September 1951 |
| Folder 213 |
October 1951 |
| Folder 214 |
November 1951 |
| Folder 215 |
December 1951 |
| Folder 216 |
January 1952 |
| Folder 217 |
February 1952 |
| Folder 218 |
March 1952 |
| Folder 219 |
April 1952 |
| Folder 220 |
June 1952 |
| Folder 221 |
July 1952 |
| Folder 222 |
August 1952 |
| Folder 223 |
September 1952 |
| Folder 224 |
October 1952 |
| Folder 225 |
November 1952 |
| Folder 226 |
December 1952 |
| Folder 227 |
January 1953 |
| Folder 228 |
February 1953 |
| Folder 229 |
March 1953 |
| Folder 230 |
April 1953 |
Folder 231-232
Folder 231Folder 232 |
May 1953 |
Folder 233-235
Folder 233Folder 234Folder 235 |
June-July 1953 |
| Folder 236 |
August 1953 |
| Folder 237 |
September 1953 |
| Folder 238 |
October 1953 |
| Folder 239 |
November-December 1953 |
| Folder 240 |
January 1954 |
| Folder 241 |
February 1954 |
| Folder 242 |
March 1954 |
| Folder 243 |
April 1954 |
| Folder 244 |
May 1954 |
| Folder 245 |
June 1954 |
| Folder 246 |
July 1954 |
| Folder 247 |
August 1954 |
| Folder 248 |
September 1954 |
Folder 249-250
Folder 249Folder 250 |
October-December 1954 |
Folder 251-258
Folder 251Folder 252Folder 253Folder 254Folder 255Folder 256Folder 257Folder 258 |
1955 |
Folder 259-262
Folder 259Folder 260Folder 261Folder 262 |
1956 |
Folder 263-267
Folder 263Folder 264Folder 265Folder 266Folder 267 |
1957 |
Folder 268-273
Folder 268Folder 269Folder 270Folder 271Folder 272Folder 273 |
1958 |
Folder 274-280
Folder 274Folder 275Folder 276Folder 277Folder 278Folder 279Folder 280 |
1959 |
Folder 281-286
Folder 281Folder 282Folder 283Folder 284Folder 285Folder 286 |
1960 |
Folder 287-292
Folder 287Folder 288Folder 289Folder 290Folder 291Folder 292 |
1961 |
Folder 293-295
Folder 293Folder 294Folder 295 |
1962 |
| Folder 296 |
Undated |
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Series 2. Speeches and Press Releases, 1941-1953 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
| Folder 297 |
1941 |
Folder 298-300
Folder 298Folder 299Folder 300 |
1946 |
Folder 301-304
Folder 301Folder 302Folder 303Folder 304 |
1947-1949 |
| Folder 305 |
1952-1953 |
Undated |
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Series 3. Clippings, undated.
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Series 4. Profession-Related Materials, undated.
Materials in this series include invitations, programs, souvenirs, lists, and mimeographed information papers about locations where Johnson was stationed.
| Folder 309 |
United Nations |
| Folder 310 |
Brazil |
| Folder 311 |
London |
| Folder 312 |
World War II |
| Folder 313 |
Miscellaneous |
Folder 314-316
Folder 314Folder 315Folder 316 |
Numbers not used |
Image Folder PF-3755/1-6
PF-3755/1PF-3755/2PF-3755/3PF-3755/4PF-3755/5PF-3755/6 |
Photographs, circa 1920-1940Primarily snapshots of professional events and award presentations. There are several pictures of Herschel V. Johnson touring an airplane manufacturing plant in Buffalo, N.Y., with Brigadier General Stephen G. Henry and Commander Walter Heiberg, U.S.N. There are also photographs inside meetings at the United Nations, including one showing Hershel V. Johnson voting in favor of a Balkan Commission. There are scattered photos of interior scenes of office spaces, and exterior shots of official buildings. There is one undated panoramic photograph of a graduating class and several signed portraits of friends and colleagues. |
| Folder 317 |
Passports |
| Folder 318 |
Smith Manuscript, 1954 |
| Folder 319 |
Biographical information |
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Series 5. Volumes, 1914-1966 and undated.
Arrangement: chiefly chronological.
Volumes primarily consist of engagement books and also include photograph albums, mailing lists, and a list of bound books bought by Johnson, 1941-1966.
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Series 6. Additions
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Addition of January 1991 (Acc. 91028): Diaries, Planners, Scrapbooks, Photographs,
and Other Items, 1922-1950
Diaries and daily planners of Herschel Vespasian Johnson as well as scrapbooks, two photograph albums, and photographs. Diaries include short descriptions of daily activities, travel, professional, and social engagements; planners list brief details of daily appointments. The scrapbooks were created largely by Johnson's mother. Contents document Johnson's diplomatic career, but there are also many items relating to Johnson's family and to his leisure activities. Items include newspaper clippings, photographs, and correspondence.
| Folder 355a |
Diary, 1922-1923 |
| Folder 356 |
Diary, 1923-1927 |
| Folder 357 |
Diary, 1928-1932 |
| Folder 358 |
Diary, 1933-1937 |
| Folder 359 |
Planner, 1935 |
| Folder 360 |
Planner, 1936 |
| Folder 361 |
Planner, 1937 |
| Folder 362 |
Planner, 1938 |
| Folder 363 |
Planner, 1939 |
| Folder 364 |
Planner, 1940 |
| Folder 365 |
Planner, 1941 |
| Folder 366 |
Planner, 1941 |
| Folder 367 |
Planner, 1942 |
| Folder 368 |
Planner, 1942 |
| Folder 369 |
Planner, 1943 |
| Folder 370 |
Planner, 1944 |
| Folder 371 |
Planner, 1945 |
| Folder 372 |
Planner, 1946 |
| Folder 373 |
Planner, 1947 |
| Folder 374 |
Planner, 1949 |
| Folder 375 |
Other papers |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/1 |
Scrapbook, 1880-1925 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/2 |
Scrapbook, 1926-1947 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/3 |
Scrapbook, 1929-1937 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/4 |
Scrapbook, 1930s-1955 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/5 |
Scrapbook, 1938-1941 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/6 |
Scrapbook, 1941-1946; 1964-1966 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/7 |
Scrapbook, 1946-1947 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/8 |
Scrapbook, 1947 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/9 |
Scrapbook, 1947-1949 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/10 |
Scrapbook, 1949-1950 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/11 |
Scrapbook, 1951-1951 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/12 |
Scrapbook, 1951 |
| Oversize Volume SV-3755/13 |
Scrapbook, 1952 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/7 |
Photographs: Herschel V. Johnson and others in London, England, circa 1940Photographs arrived at the repository in envelope with annotation "Mr. Kennedy and HVJ, London." |
Image Folder PF-3755/8-9
PF-3755/8PF-3755/9 |
Photographs: Herschel V. Johnson portraits, circa 1940 |
| Oversize Image Folder OP-P-3755/1 |
Photographs: Rio de Janiero, Brazil scenic views |
| Photograph Album PA-3755/1 |
Photograph album: BrazilAppears to be photographs of Brazil, primarily scenery and interiors of rooms. No annotations. |
| Photograph Album PA-3755/2 |
Photograph album: various locationsContains annotations by Herschel V. Johnson; photographs of sites in Berne, Switzerland, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and other locations. |
| Photograph Album PA-3755/3 |
Photograph album: "The American Ambassador's visit to General Moters in Brazil," Sao Paulo, 19 October 1949 |
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Addition of June 1991 (Acc. 91086): Negative Albums and Other Items, 1921-1928 and
undated
Negatives, prints, and medals. The negatives and prints relate to travels in South America and Europe and are chiefly from the 1920s. Negative albums contain image listings by Hershel V. Johnson. Some of the medals are commemorative of visits of the Brazilian president in the 1940s and others are fraternity service awards.
Title of the negative albums are from original labels.
| Image Folder PF-3755/10 |
Negative album: Swiss 1921 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/11 |
Negative album: Swiss 1921 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/12 |
Negative album: Sofia, Athens, Sicily, Italy, 1922 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/13 |
Negative album: Berne, 1921 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/14 |
Negative album: Berne, 1921 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/15 |
Negative album: Berne, 1921 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/16 |
Negative album: Berne 1921, Bulgaria, 1921-1923 |
| Image Folder PF-3755/17 |
Negatives and prints: Honduras, 1926-1928 |
Folder 376-378
Folder 376Folder 377Folder 378 |
Medals |
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Items Separated