Guide to the Silas Franklin Johnson Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Silas Franklin Johnson Papers

Inclusive Dates

1889-1936

Call Number

RG 55

Creator(s)

Johnson, Silas Franklin, 1865-1936.

Quantity

2.00 cubic feet

Language

Materials in English and Bantu (Other)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

Silas Franklin Johnson was appointed as a medical missionary to Africa by the Board of Foreign Missions in 1894. He served in the Southern Cameroons until 1900, when his wife's poor health necessitated their return to the U.S. Following his wife's death in 1902, Dr. Johnson returned to Africa, where he subsequently remarried in 1904 and served there until his retirement in 1935. Though his work was primarily that of a physician and surgeon, Dr. Johnson was instrumental in creating a written language for the Bulu natives to whom he ministered.

Collection Overview

Dr. Johnson's papers consist primarily of his personal correspondence, diaries and biographical materials for both himself and his two wives, Mary Hays Johnson and Laura Mosher Johnson.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES 1: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1889-1936

Contained in this series are Dr. Johnson's inbound and outbound correspondence, photographs and scrapbooks compiled while in Africa. Also included are excerpts ¬£rom his wives' diaries.

SERIES 2: DIARIES, 1894-1934

This series contains Dr. Johnson's diaries covering the period from 1894-1934.

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Johnson, Silas Franklin, 1865-1936.

Johnson, Laura Grace Mosher, 1876-

Johnson, Mary Hays

Topical Subject

Missions, Medical Cameroon.

Presbyterian Church Missions West Africa.

Bulu language.

Personal Added Name

Johnson, Laura Grace Mosher, 1876-

Johnson, Mary Hays

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

		SERIES 1: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE/MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1889-1936

	1	Genealogy of SFJ compiled by Lois Johnson McNeill
	2	Outbound correspondence of SFJ, 1889-90, 1894-96
	3	Outbound correspondence of SFJ, 1899-1914
	4	Outbound correspondence of SFJ, 1916-20
	5	Outbound correspondence of SFJ, 1921-27
	6	Outbound correspondence of SFJ, 1928-34, 1936
	7	Inbound correspondence of SFJ, 1894-1934
	8	Miscellaneous letters, n.d.
	9	Biographical material about SFJ, n.d.
	10	Diary of SFJ (typescript), 11/8/94-7/28/95
	11	Mission file on SFJ, 1894
	12	Mission file on Mary Hays Johnson, 1894
	13	Mission file on Laura Mosher Johnson, 1904
	14	Medical Mission file on SFJ, 1921-36
	15	Medical Mission file on LMJ, 1916-36
	16	Photographs, 1899-1935?	Digital
	17	Bulu-English Lexicon compiled by SFJ/MHJ, n.d.
	18	Diary, MHJ, 9/1894-12/1894
	19	Diary, MHJ, 1/1895-12/1897
	20	Diary (excerpts), SFJ/MHJ, 1895-96?
	21	Diary, LMJ, 6/22/1904-12/31/1908
	22	Speech outlines of SFJ, n.d.
	23	Memorial notes on death of SFJ, 1936
	24	Miscellaneous items, n.d.
	25	Miscellaneous correspondence, 1894-1933
	26	Report of SFJ on trip to Yebekolo country, n.d.
	27	Scrapbook, n.d.
	28	Scrapbook, n.d.

		SERIES 2: DIARIES, 1894-1934

2	1	Index to diaries
	2	Diary/notes, 1894-95
	3	Diary, 1895-96, 1898
	4	Diary, 1899
	5	Diary, (incomplete), 1903-11
	6	Diary, 1904
	7	Diary, 1904
	8	Diary, February-June, 1901
	9	Diary, 1905-06
	10	Diary, 1906-10
	11	Diary, 1911-15
	12	Diary, 1916-17
	13	Diary, 1922-26
	14	Diary, 1927-31
	15	Diary, 1932-35
	16	Diary, 1934
	17	Miscellaneous items, n.d.
	18	Bulu Handbook, 1904