VIRGIL C. JOHNSON:
An Inventory of His Johnson Family History in Minnesota Collection at the Minnesota Historical Society
Sound and Visual Collection
Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For
details, please see restrictions.
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Johnson, Virgil C., compiler. | |
| Title: | Johnson family history in Minnesota collection. | |
| Dates: | approximately 1883-2011. | |
| Abstract: | Photographs document three generations of the Johnson family of North Minneapolis. The Johnsons emigrated from Sweden to Minnesota in 1881, opened a boarding house, lived a short time in South Dakota and then returned to live many years in Minnesota. Views include the boarding house, family portraits and snapshots, vacations to the North Shore and elsewhere, Lake Minnetonka area, the family at work, and sports images. Collection also includes correspondence from Virgil S. Johnson to Agnes C. (Trantina) Johnson and Helen Emmings, an index to photograph albums, accompanying notes for slides and a family biographical sketch. | |
| Quantity: | 112 photographs: black and white and color; 12 x 14 inches (mount) and smaller + 1 folder, 3 photograph albums; 8 x 12.5 inches and smaller + 1 folder, 130 slides: color, 2 x 2 inches + 1 folder, 90 master video files: sound, color, DVD (2580 MB) and 1 user video file: digital, sound, color, MP4 (975 MB). | |
| Location: | II.70 : See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Andrew Johnson (1855-1914) was born in Olofsfors Bruk, Nordmaling, Sweden as the seventh child of Johan Olof “Sven” Svensson (1820-1904) and Ulrika Jonsdotter (1814-1881). He married Malin (Magdalena Victoria) Nylander (1856-1923) on June 24, 1878 at the Grunsunda Church, Husum, Sweden. She was born in Mo Bruk, Vasternorrland, Sweden to Henrik (Henry) Nylander (1820-1910) and his second wife, Carin (Catarina) Jonsdotter (1833-1911). Andrew, Malin, and their infant son, Elmer, immigrated to the United States in 1881 from Goteborg, Sweden and eventually settled in Minneapolis. Andrew and Malin had five children; Elmer, Anna, Merrette, Emil, and Agnes. In 1900, Andrew built the Boarding House at 4435 (later 4423) Aldrich Avenue North, catering to lumber mill workers. In 1909, the family moved to Ralph, South Dakota to take up
land claims but the homesteading was unsuccessful and they returned to Minneapolis in 1913.
Elmer Andrew (Hjalmar Andreas) Johnson (1879–1961) was born in Husum, Grundsunda, Sweden to Andrew and Malin Johnson. He attended school through the 8th grade then went to work to help support his family. He worked as a lumberman (North Woods) and became a skilled carpenter and tinsmith. Elmer became a naturalized citizen in 1895 and helped his father build the Boarding House in 1900. He married Agnes C. Trantina (Truntle) (1882-1962) on September 6th, 1906 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with a reception at the Boarding House. She was born in Bohemia to Thomas Trantina (1854-1933) and Rosalia Kadlec (1858-1938). Agnes finished the 8th grade and then became a factory girl at the Neven’s Shirt Factory at 106-1/2 First Avenue North. They had three children; Ellsworth, Virgil, and Evelyn. He built their house at 3955 Colfax Avenue North, Minneapolis in 1924.
Virgil Sylvester Johnson (1909-1993) was born in Minneapolis to Elmer A. Johnson and Agnes C. Trantina. His early years were spent on the claim in Ralph, South Dakota and in Minneapolis. He graduated from North High School in 1930. Virgil S. excelled in sports. He lettered in football and hockey in high school and continued his hockey career playing for the Minneapolis Millers (1931-1934, 1945-1947), the Saint Paul Saints (1934-1937, 1938-1942), the Chicago Black Hawks (1937-1938, 1943-1945), the Hershey Bears (1942-1943), and the Cleveland Barons (1944). He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974. Virgil S. married Helen E. Emmings (1905-1987) on May 23, 1936 at Gethsemane Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. Helen was born in Roscoe, South Dakota to Fred R. Emmings (1875-1957) and Emma Shipke (1876-1930). They had three children; Virgil Charles (1939-), Holly Anne (1940-1942), and Alan David (1945-2006). The family lived with the Emmings in Minneapolis and then various places around Minneapolis, Excelsior, Wayzata, and Hopkins.
Information is condensed from biographical sketch by Virgil C. Johnson which is included in materials.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions:
Professional team photographs and postcards within sports images are in copyright. Please consult the reference staff for more information.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Johnson, Virgil C., Johnson Family History in Minnesota Collection. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: AV2017.171
Processing Information:
Processed by: Karen Obermeyer-Kolb, February 2018
Catalog ID number: 990089275370104924
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| Box | |||||||||||
| II.70 | 1 | Family biographical sketch. | |||||||||
| II.70.1 | Hendrik Nylander and Catarina (Carin) Jonsdotter, circa 1883. 1 photograph: black and white; 7 x 5 inches. | ||||||||||
| II.70.2-4 | Andrew Johnson and Malin Nylander Johnson family, circa 1883-1895. 3 photographs: black and white; 8 x 10 inches and smaller. | ||||||||||
Digital image
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| II.70.5-6 | Siblings of Andrew Johnson and Malin Nylander Johnson, circa 1895. 2 photographs: black and white; 4.25 x 6.25 inches and smaller. | ||||||||||
| II.70.7-9 | John Berg family, circa 1895-1920. 3 photographs: black and white; 8 x 10 inches (mount) and smaller. | ||||||||||
| John Berg, Andrew Johnson's nephew, built his home next door to the boarding house. | |||||||||||
| II.70.10-16 | Johnson family boarding house, 4423-4425 Aldrich Avenue, Minneapolis, 1900-1905. 7 photographs: black and white; 8 x 10 inches and smaller. | ||||||||||
Digital image
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Digital image
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Digital image
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| II.70.17-34 | Anna, Merrette, Emil, and Agnes Johnson families, circa 1900-1920. 18 photographs: black and white; 6.75 x 8.75 inches and smaller. | ||||||||||
| Includes views of Andrew and Malin Johnson's children with their spouses and children. | |||||||||||
Digital image
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| II.70.35-37 | South Dakota farm, 1909-1910. 3 photographs: black and white; 3.5 x 5.5 inches. | ||||||||||
| II.70.38-48 | Camden neighborhood, 1915-1920. 11 photographs: black and white; 8 x 10 inches (mount) and smaller. | ||||||||||
| Includes street scenes and and shop interiors, including Hansen Grocery and the Ford Garage. | |||||||||||
Digital image
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Digital image
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| II.70.49-63 | Sports images, circa 1926-1974. 15 photographs: black and white; 8.5 x 11 inches and smaller. | ||||||||||
| Professional team photographs and postcards: In copyright. | |||||||||||
| Includes views of Virgil S. Johnson playing hockey and football, portraits, teammates, and Helen Emmings Johnson on horseback. | |||||||||||
| II.70.64-78 | Virgil Johnson and Helen Emmings Johnson family, circa 1940-1957. 15 photographs: black and white and color; 8 x 10 inches and smaller + 1 folder. | ||||||||||
| Includes correspondence from Virgil Johnson to Helen Emmings and Agnes C. (Trantina) Johnson. | |||||||||||
Digital image
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| Box | |||||||||||
| II.70.79-80 | 2 | Agnes Trantina family, circa 1898-1912. 2 photographs: black and white; 12 x 14 (mount) inches and smaller. | |||||||||
| II.70.81-100 | Elmer Johnson and Agnes Tratina Johnson family, circa 1900-1930s. 20 photographs: black and white; 10.5 x 13.75 inches (mount) and smaller. | ||||||||||
| Includes views of Andrew and Malin Johnson's eldest child, Elmer, his wife Agnes, and their children. | |||||||||||
Digital image
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Digital image
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Digital image
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| II.70.101-112 | Helen Emmings family, circa 1920s-1940s. 12 photographs: black and white; 11.5 x 14 inches (mount) and smaller. | ||||||||||
| Includes views of Helen's parents, employees of Chicago Paints, and unique folk-art Christmas tree and decorations. | |||||||||||
| II.70 slides | Johnson family reunion lecture, July 1982. 130 slides: color; 2 x 2 inches + 1 folder. | ||||||||||
| Includes accompanying notes, slides have numbering system that corresponds to notes. | |||||||||||
| Slideshow and notes document the first 50 years of the Johnson family narrative in America, covering 1882-1932. Many images duplicated in collection. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| II.70 Albums 1-3 | 3 | Helen Emmings Johnson photograph albums, 1930s-1940s. 3 volumes + 1 folder. | |||||||||
| Includes index to people and places featured in photograph albums. | |||||||||||
| Albums include snapshots and postcards documenting the courtship of Virgil Johnson and Helen Emmings; wedding anniversary parties on Lake Minnetonka; celebrations with other hockey players and their families; trips to the North Shore; family get-togethers; and residences in various cities during hockey season. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| II.70.113 dig | Digital | Johnson Family Reunion, 1881-2011: A Celebration of the Immigration to America of Andrew and Malin Nylander Johnson in 1881, 2011. 90 master video files: sound, color, DVD (2580 MB) and 1 user video file: MP4 (975 MB). | |||||||||
| Many images duplicated in collection. | |||||||||||
Digital version
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CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Families -- Photographs.
- Hockey players -- Photographs.
- Swedish Americans -- Minnesota -- Photographs.
- Swedish Americans -- South Dakota -- Photographs.
- Persons:
- Johnson family -- Photographs
- Places:
- Minnesota -- Description and travel -- Photographs.
- Document Types:
- Photograph albums.
- Photographs.
- Portraits.
- Slides (photographs).
- Video recordings.
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