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Collection Number: 05695

Collection Title: Johnson Family Photographs and Letters, 1949-1952, 2006

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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Size 115 items (1 linear foot)
Abstract Photographs of United States Army Colonel Jasper R. Johnson and his family while they were stationed in Gifu City, Japan, 1949-1952. Images depict scenes on the U.S. Army base in Gifu City including the Johnson family living quarters, scenes in and around the city, and images of Tokyo, Japan. Also included are letters from two Japanese citizens who worked in the Johnson household while they lived in Gifu City and a memorial card from funeral service for Jasper R. Johnson in 2006.
Creator Johnson (Family : Johnson, Jasper Royce, 1921-2006)
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives.
Language English
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice
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], in the Johnson Family Photographs and Letters #05695, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Donated by James R. Johnson in July of 2016 (Acc. 102619)
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: Patrick Cullom, July 2016

Encoded by: Patrick Cullom, July 2016

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse 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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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Jasper Royce Johnson, born in Durham, N.C., on 29 October 1921, was the son of Edwin Pierce Johnson and Eva Mae Johnson. Raised in Durham, N.C., he was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 18 and served in World War Two, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Following the end of World War Two, Johnson was stationed in Gifu City, Japan with his wife Katherine and son James from 1949 to 1952. He received a number of decorations including the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He lived the last 30 years of his life in Augusta, Ga., where he died on 8 June 2006. He is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The collection consists of photographs of United States Army Colonel Jasper R. Johnson and his family, while they were stationed in Gifu City, Japan, 1949-1952. Images depict scenes on U.S. Army base in Gifu City, Japan, including the Johnson family living quarters, scenes in and around Gifu City, Japan, and images of Tokyo, Japan. Also included are letters from two Japanese citizens who worked in the Johnson household while they lived in Gifu City, Japan and a memorial card from funeral service for Jasper R. Johnson in 2006.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Johnson Family Photographs and Letters, 1949-1952, 2006.

115 items.

Black-and-white photographic prints of Jasper R. Johnson and his family while stationed in Gifu City, Japan, in post-war Japan, 1949-1952. Also included are letters from two Japanese citizens who worked in the Johnson's household and a memorial card from funeral service for Jasper R. Johnson in 2006.

Descriptions in quotation marks were transcribed from descriptions found on verso of photographs. Other titles were devised during processing.

Image Folder PF-05695/01

Katherine Johnson and her son James (passport portrait), April 1949

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/02

Jasper R. Johnson with his wife Katherine and son James, 1949

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/03

Jasper R. Johnson with his wife Katherine and son James, pictured with large unidentified group of Japanese citizens, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/04

Katherine Johnson and her son James, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/05

Jasper R. Johnson and his son James, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/06

"Lieutenant Johnson signing in at 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division," January 1949

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/07

"24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division, January 1949, Gifu, Japan ",January 1949

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/08

"Housing area," circa 1949-1952

5 images

Image Folder PF-05695/09

"Airstrip behind housing area, Kamikaze pilots trained here during WWII (on base)," circa 1949-1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/10

"Catholic Chapel in Gifu, Rebuilt by the American and the Japanese," circa 1949-1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/11

"Special Court, Gifu, Japan," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image includes African American officer at desk.

Image Folder PF-05695/12

"Mt. Fuji training area, 1st Lieutenant Johnson-Company Commander, Company K, 24th Infantry," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/13

"24th infantry Regiment Officers Club, Gifu, Japan," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Includes African American serviceman.

Image Folder PF-05695/14

Jasper R. Johnson with Company members at Mt. Fuji training area, circa 1949-1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/15

"Jimmy Johnson with Lieutenant Clay at the Kashoni(?) Hotel outside of Kobe, Japan. The Johnson family was the first family to be (illegible) there.," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/16

"Kay and Jimmy," circa 1949-1952

4 images

Image Folder PF-05695/17

Jasper R. Johnson and his wife Katherine in living quarters, circa 1949-1952

9 images

Image Folder PF-05695/18

Katherine Johnson and her son James getting into car, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/19

Jasper R. Johnson sitting on steps, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/20

"Lieutenant Jasper R. Johnson," (with unidentified man in uniform) circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/21

Katherine Johnson and her son James lying on blanket, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/22

Jasper R. Johnson and his wife Katherine, circa 1949-1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/23

Jasper R. Johnson, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/24

James Johnson in living quarters, circa 1949-1952

3 images

Image Folder PF-05695/25

Katherine Johnson and her son James in living quarters, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/26

"Japanese girls dressed up in bright Kimonos," circa 1949-1952

1 image

On verso: "Notice the little Japanese boy in the baseball uniform; He's so proud"

Image Folder PF-05695/27

"Japanese children gathered around American lady who is giving them gum and candy," circa 1949-1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/28

"Japanese children," circa 1949-1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/29

Views of Gifu, Japan, and surrounding countryside, circa 1949-1952

9 images

Image Folder PF-05695/30

"Nagara River," circa 1949-1952

12 images

Image Folder PF-05695/31

"Picture of Japanese god (Buddha)," circa 1949-1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/32

Water processing plant in Gifu, Japan, circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/33

"A street and arch in Gifu, Japan," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/34

"Japanese village in Gifu, Japan," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/35

Street scenes in Gifu, Japan, circa 1949-1952

Black-and-White Photographic Prints

9 images

Image Folder PF-05695/36

Street scenes in Gifu, Japan, circa 1949-1952

Black-and-White Photographic Prints

8 images

Image Folder PF-05695/37

"Making parasols (umbrellas) in Gifu, Japan," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/38

"Japanese temple," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/39

"Japanese lady working in Japanese rice Paddy in Gifu, Japan," circa 1949-1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/40

"Farewell: Gifu, Japan," circa 1952

1 image

Image Folder PF-05695/41

"Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan," circa 1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/42

"Tokyo, Japan," circa 1952

4 images

Image Folder PF-05695/43

"On the way home from Japan," circa 1952

2 images

Image Folder PF-05695/44

"Re-fueling at Wake Island," circa 1952

Black-and-White Photographic Prints

4 images

Folder 1

Letter from Hiroshi Kunii to Jasper R. Johnson and Katherine Johnson, 17 March 1952

Folder 2

Letter from Hiroshi Kunii to James Johnson, 17 March 1952

Folder 3

Letter from Miyako Sakaida to Katherine Johnson, 25 March 1952

Includes photograph of Miyako Sakaida.

Folder 4

Letter from Hiroshi Kunii to Katherine Johnson, circa 1952

Folder 5

Jasper R. Johnson memorial card, 2006

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