John Johnson (photographer)

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John Johnson (1879–1953) was an American photographer. His photographs are considered among the few documents of the early 20th-century African-American community in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Life[edit]

Johnson was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1879, to Harriet and Margaret Johnson. His parents had self-emancipated, and his father was a Civil War veteran.[1] John Johnson graduated from Lincoln High in 1899 and studied at the University of Nebraska. He played football for the school but never graduated. Afterward, he worked as a janitor[2] and a drayman before beginning his photography career. Johnson married Odessa Prince in 1919; the couple had no children, and Johnson died in 1953.

Photography[edit]

Johnson's began taking photographs in 1910 and ended around 1926.[3] He took over 500 photographs.[4] He photographed in cities other than Lincoln, including Kansas City, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska.[5] His black and white photographs were noted for their high contrast and natural lighting. His family portraits often showed subjects in their homes, on their porches, or outside their house.[6] He also made many glass plate negatives of buildings and parades. Johnson did not show African-American people as poor or inferior.[7] He typically portrayed families as well-educated and proud, by photographing them as well-dressed and posed confidently.

Legacy[edit]

Johnson's photos fit into a midwestern version of the Harlem Renaissance.[8] By portraying dignified African-Americans, Johnson encouraged their confidence and self-expression. Johnson's work is one of the earliest contributions to the movement.

Johnson's work was largely forgotten until historians found some of Johnson's glass negatives in 1999. After reading an article about the negatives, Douglas Keister connected them to a collection of negatives he bought at a garage sale.[9] Originally, historians thought the photographs were taken by Earl McWilliams, an assistant at a photography studio in Lincoln. However, after talking to an elderly woman in Lincoln, they determined the photographer to be Johnson. Johnson's work has been displayed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Museum of Nebraska Art.[10]

Exhibitions[edit]

  • A Greater Spectrum: African American Artists of Nebraska 1912–2010, on view at the Museum of Nebraska Art from December 4, 2010 to April 3, 2011.[11]
  • Black and White in Black and White exhibit, on view at the Greeley History Museum from February 17 to May 28th, 2022.[12]
  • Recovered Views-African American Portraits 1912–1925, on view at Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery from September 1 to October 5, 2006[13]
  • Recovered Views: African-American Portraits, 1912–1925, on view at SUNY Fredonia from March 31 to April 25, 2008.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Johnson's photos recorded history of local Black community". news.unl.edu. 2023-02-09. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  2. ^ "Personal Historical: Hundred-Year-Old Photos Help Tell Story of Nebraska's Black History". Nebraska Public Media. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  3. ^ "Black & White in Black & White: The Story of Lincoln's Long-Forgotten Photographer of the African-American Community". Downtown Lincoln. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  4. ^ Correspondent, Mandy Feder-Sawyer | (2018-09-06). "Dignity, hope and diversity in black and white photos". Chico Enterprise-Record. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  5. ^ Joel, Madeleine (2020-12-09). "John Johnson (1879–1953) and Earl McWiliams (?-?) •". Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  6. ^ "Lincoln through John's eyes". The Clocktower. 2023-02-22. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  7. ^ "Black and White". Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. Archived from the original on 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  8. ^ Haack, Emily (2021-03-12). "Resilience in Black and White - Lincoln TeamMates". lincolnteammates.org. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  9. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Stromberg, Joseph. "Lost and Found Again: Photos of African-Americans on the Plains". Smithsonian Magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  10. ^ "Great Plains photographer John Johnson's lasting impact on the portrayal of African Americans in media". KUNC. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  11. ^ Kearney, dpi graphics, University of Nebraska at (2015-06-30). "John Johnson (1879–1953) | MONA". Archived from the original on 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2024-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Kuhn, Jonson (2022-02-01). ""Black and White in Black and White" Exhibit Opening at Greeley History Museum". North Forty News. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  13. ^ "Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery | Exhibitions: Past | Recovered Views". bristolcc.edu. Archived from the original on 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  14. ^ "Historic African-American photos shown in library | Fredonia.edu". www.fredonia.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
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