DACS

]> jo1000-144 Guide to the John Johnston Papers, 1833 - 1877, 1919-1920 Processed by: Diana Perron; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie &hdrsca;

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: February 2008 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS Guide to the John Johnston Papers, 1833 - 1877, 1919-1920 Special Collections & ArchivesWesleyan University Middletown, CT, USA

Descriptive Summary Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University Johnston, John, 1806-1879. John Johnston Papers, 1833 - 1877, 1919-1920 1000-144 Material in English 0.75 2 For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Special Collections & Archives staff. John Johnston was a professor of natural sciences at Wesleyan University, and twice served as its acting president. The John Johnston Papers include correspondence, biographical information, materials about the study of science at Wesleyan University, and a scrapbook of programs from 19th century Wesleyan events. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

No restrictions. However, the scrapbook is extremely fragile and should be handled with care.

Copyright for Official University records is held by Wesleyan University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John Johnston Papers, Collection #1000-144, Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Two autograph notes in folder 8 were the gift of Robert Maas, 1980

Items in folders 1-6, 9-10, and 13-15 were the gift of Robert J. Williams, great-grandson of John Johnston, 1987-1988.

Other materials assembled by John Spaeth, University Archivist.

Alternate Finding Aids

An older, printed finding aid with a complete list of correspondents is available for use in Special Collections & Archives.

Processing Information

Processed by Diana Perron, January 1990

Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, February 2008

Biographical Note

John Johnston was born in Bristol, Maine and received his B.A. and M. A. degrees from Bowdoin College. Before coming to Wesleyan, he taught at Cazenovia Seminary (Oneida Conference) in New York from 1832-1835. At Wesleyan, Johnston began as Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Lecturer in Natural Science in 1837, was Professor of Natural Science from 1837-1873, and Professor Emeritus from 1873 until his death in 1879. Johnston was acting President of Wesleyan twice in this period. Her served in 1851-1852, prior to the presidency of Augustus William Smith, and in 1857-1858 following Smith's presidency.

Collection Overview

The John Johnston Papers include correspondence, biographical information, materials about the study of science at Wesleyan University, and a scrapbook of programs from 19th century Wesleyan events.

The correspondence of John Johnston contains much interesting material on and around the formative years of Wesleyan University. Many of the letters deal with science (fossils and minerals); the teaching of science (textbooks, lab experiments, and equipment); letters of inquiry and requests for catalogs from prospective students; addresses at commencement; and contributions to Frankfort Mineral Cabinet. The collection is especially useful on the topics of science and science vis a vis Methodism at the dawning of Darwinism. Other letters in the collection discuss the Civil War and Wesleyan University.

The correspondence of J.G. Blair is notably interesting for comments on the Civil War and on science education in relation to religion, or inquiries into the mysteries of God's great laboratory. (January 27, 1863)

A. Rollins' letter for February 3 is an interesting diatribe on the suspect morals of a Wesleyan student. A letter (May 6, 1851) from M. C. White from China contains the flavor of his life as a missionary as he tries to preach in Chinese on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in a little room opening to the street between the river and the south gate of the city. Many of the J. Holdich letters of the 1860s deal with the politics as well as the sorrow of the war. Among other Johnston correspondents are Nathan Bangs, Cyrus Foss, Joseph Cummings, the Hoyts, and Orange Judd.

Collection Arrangement

Correspondence is arranged chronologically.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Johnston, John, 1806-1879. Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Administration. Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Faculty. Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--History--19th century. Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Presidents. Natural history--United States--History--19th century. Related Material

Register of Meteorological Observations Made in Middletown, by Augustus Smith, John Johnston, and H. D. A. Ward, 1849-1890 (lacks September 1852-January 1858). Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University

Wesleyan Museum Records. Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University

Vertical (reference) File on John Johnston. Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University

Several letters from John Johnston can be found in the William North Rice Papers. Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University

A letter to John Johnston can be found in the Willbur Fisk Papers. Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University.

Letters and documents referring to John Johnston's book, A History of the Towns of Bristol and Bremen in the State of Maine, including the Pemaquid Settlement, were sent by Robert Williams to the Harrington Meeting House, Pemaquid, Maine.

Detailed Description of the Collection Series 1: Correspondence 11 1842-1861

96 letters to John Johnston.

12 1862-1869

79 letters to John Johnston.

13 Orange Judd to John Johnston, June 24, 1851 and October 18, 1869 14 Undated correspondence

17 letters to John Johnston. Filed alphabetically.

15 Civil War letter from John Johnston to C. D. Hubbard, May 30, 1861 Exchange of letters between a Johnston grandson and a Hubbard son regarding Civil War letter, December 1919-January 1920. 16 John Johnston to J. M. Reid about publishing an article, May 14, 1853-July 18, 1853

11 letters.

John Johnston to J. M. Reid about proposed nominees for professorships, 1859-1860

4 letters.

17 John Johnston letter of recommendation for student, May 14, 1838 17 John Johnston to Stephen Olin, May 1, 1843

Written from the American Association of Geologists and Naturalists Meeting at Albany, NY.

17 John Johnston to Good _____, November 28, 1844

Regarding settling of note.

17 John Johnston to Stephen Olin, July 17, 1845

Regarding Middletown and Vicinity Bible Society.

17 John Johnston to Good _____, October 20, 1845

Regarding printing delays on Johnston's work on Natural Philosophy, October 20, 1845.

17 Note to John Johnston as registrar, August 5, 1850 17 Student honorably dismissed, August 8, 1850 17 D. W. Clark to John Johnston, June 3, 1852

Regarding the Legacy of Bishop Hedding.

17 John Johnston to Mrs. Olin, February 20, 1862

Regarding Henry Olin's mumps.

17 John Johnston to Mrs. Olin, June 28, 1867

Thanking Mrs. Olin for contribution to mineral case.

17 Invitation to John Johnston from Charles R. North, February 16, 1869

Invitation to first annual dinner of the New York Wesleyan University Club.

18 John Johnston autograph notes, October 26, 1847 and November 1, 1847

Envelopes addressed to Third Assistant Post Master General, Washington.

19 List of Wesleyan names

2 pages. Signature unreadable.

19 Letters of introduction from W. S. Smyth to Dr. Cummings, June 30, 1869

Letters of introduction for prospective students.

Series 2: Biographical/Personal/Wesleyan Administrative 110 Miscellaneous works about John Johnston 111 Portraits 112 Minor publications 113 Documents related to John Johnston, 1824-1876

Character references, letters certifying teacher qualifications, records of donations, honors, awards, memberships, and official commission as State Chemist (January 10, 1872).

114 Annual report as acting president, 1851-1852 115 Penciled Trustee minutes on funeral arrangements of Stephen Olin, August 18, 1851 115 Abstract of Annual Financial Report, April 1950

Written by John Johnston, Registrar. Includes description of Wesleyan's real and moveable property.

115 John Johnston letter to Treasurer, August 17, 1866 115 John Johnston letters to Financial Committee, April 1856, July 1856

2 letters, which request money.

Series 3: Wesleyan Scientific 116 Report on natural history collections, 1868 117 Inventory of apparatus, 1861 118 Committee on Apparatus reports, 1860, 1862-1872 119 Bills, expenditures, 1836-1844, 1877 119 Appropriation request, 1839 120 Frankfort Cabinet of Minerals, 1857-1863

Payments, subscriptions.

121 Frankfort Cabinet of Minerals, 1860-1863

Reports

122 John Johnston letter to the Joint Board, 1867

Discusses adding personal mineral collection to the Wesleyan Mineral Cabinet.

123 Pressed botanical specimens

Removed from two volumes of the Maine Wesleyan Journal from Johnston's own library.

124 Loose scrapbook items, 1872-1874

These items were loose in the scrapbook found in Box 2.

Series 4: Scrapbook

The items in the scrapbook are pasted in chronologically, but they have been listed here by type. Items dating from 1872 to 1874 were loose, and can be found in Box 1, Folder 24.

2 Commencement programs, 1833, 1836-1874 2 Senior Exhibition programs, 1834-1842