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Overview
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| Record Creator: | Johnson, Eben Samuel |
| Title: | Eben Samuel Johnson Collection |
| Dates: | 1889- 1968 |
| Abstract: | Eben Samuel Johnson (1866-1967), Bishop and chaplain, was born in Warwickshire, England on February 8, 1866. He is a direct descendent from one of John Wesley's original helpers. Johnson was raised and educated in England. He married Sarah Tilsey (born August 4, 1863) in 1884. At the age of sixteen he was preaching on an English Methodist circuit and later spent several years as a newspaper reporter in London. In 1889 Johnson moved to the United States and was admmitted on trial sight unseen with the Northwest Iowa Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When the Spanish-American War broke out Johnson became the chaplain for the Iowa 52nd Volunteers. After recieving a degree from Oxford University in 1906, Johnson returned to Iowa to take up his pastoral duties. By 1915 he had become the district superintendent of the Souix City District. At the 1916 General Conference, Johnson was elected missionary bishop for Africa. Bishop Johnson retired in 1936 and took up residence in Oregon. He died on December 9, 1939, in Veteran's Hospital, Portland, Oregon and is buried in Riverview Abbey, Portland. |
| Extent: | 7.05 cubic feet |
| Resource ID: | gcah.ms.753 |
Eben Samuel Johnson (1866-1967), Bishop and chaplain, was born in Warwickshire, England on February 8, 1866. He is a direct descendent from one of John Wesley's original helpers. Johnson was raised and educated in England. He married Sarah Tilsey (born August 4, 1863) in 1884. At the age of sixteen he was preaching on an English Methodist circuit and later spent several years as a newspaper reporter in London.
When Johnson was ten years old he was admitted to the Queens Hospital in Birmingham, England. During his twelve week stay a number of events happened which shaped the rest of his life. The first was the impact of the amount of sickness, suffering, and dying of those who were around him. This created such a compassion for others within him that he knew then and there that the ministry was to be his life's calling. The second and third events happened simultaneously when his brother sent young Johnson two books. The first was a book on Pitman shorthand. Johnson quickly learned this type of writing and subsequently used it throughout his ministry. The second book was about David Livingstone. After reading this biography Johnson felt a strong conviction to serve the church in Africa. Later, when his mother was visiting him in the hospital, Johnson expressed this high calling to her. To which she replied that if God wanted him to serve in Africa, then it would come to pass. To his dying day Johnson felt that his mother's reply was his confirmation to serve as a missionary in Africa. All of these influences are elucidated in this collection.
In 1889 Johnson moved to the United States and was admmitted on trial sight unseen with the Northwest Iowa Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While serving various churches within the conference he attended Mornnigside College in Souix City, Iowa.
When the Spanish-American War broke out Johnson became the chaplain for the Iowa 52nd Volunteers. He was mustered out of active service within a year but remained active in the National Guard until he was elected a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church. his final rank was that of major.
After recieving a degree from Oxford University in 1906, Johnson returned to Iowa to take up his pastoral duties. By 1915 he had become the district superintendent of the Souix City District. During this time period he was appointed secretary of the Northwest Iowa Annual Conference which lasted for twelve consecutive years. Johnson was elected a delegate to the General Conference in the years of 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1916. Being a proficient stenographer, he served as journal secretary to the General Conference in those four above mentioned sessions.
At the 1916 General Conference, Johnson was elected missionary bishop for Africa. His childhood dream being fulfilled, he quickly moved into the episcopal residence at Umtali, Rhodesia. The 1920 General Conference voted to empower him as a general superintendent. Johnson then moved the episcopal residence to Cape Town, South Africa to establish a new mission work. To his credit Johnson overcame many odds and established a firm work that included many indigenous pastors in key leadership roles.
Bishop Johnson retired in 1936 and took up residence in Oregon. He died on December 9, 1939, in Veteran's Hospital, Portland, Oregon and is buried in Riverview Abbey, Portland. He was survived by his wife, Sarah, and their three children. Sarah Tilsley Johnson died on March 29, 1967. Children include Samuel Darlow Johnson (Methodist minister in Oregon), Arthur Holmes Johnson (medical doctor in Alaska), and Dorothea Spears (who was married to an archivist in Cape Town, South Africa).
The Eben Samuel Johnson Collection is primarily composed of the Bishop' s papers but also includes records from his immediate family as well. The collection does not end with the death of the Bishop. It continues with correspondence between Sarah Tilsley Johnson and her children, especially with Samuel Darlow. The collection reflects the close interconnected relationships within the Johnson family. These were individuals whose characteristics were unique to themselves yet found a commonality within their love for each other and the church.
There are a total of nine series which cover a variety of subjects and record types. Included are correspondence, a journal, various writings, clippings, biographical material, and a racoon coat. Topics embrace David Livingstone, various church organizations, mission work, cultural anthropology, educational institutions, industry, cannibalism, governments, sermons, world events, etc. Much of Johnson's autographs are written in Pitman shorthand.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
The Eben Samuel Johnson Collection is arranged by subject. Whether these subjects are topical or by record type depended upon the subject matter contained therein. The intent of the arrangement was to capture as much of the original provenance as possible while also providing easy access to the material for the researcher. Unless otherwise noted the standard arrangement within each of these nine series are chronological by calendar date with all undated material located at the beginning of each individual series. The series are identified in the following order. Series One: Artifacts (Undated), Series Two: Biographical (1905-1955), Series Three: Clippings (1916-1939), Series Four: Correspondence (1889-1968), Series Five: Glass Lantern Slide Sets (Undated), Series Six: Journals (1889-1905), Series Seven: Livingstone (1906-1934), Series Eight: Miscellaneous (1890- 1939), and Series Nine: Writings (1912).
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Eben Samuel Johnson Collection, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Administrative Files Series of the Board of Missions of the Methodist Church
Mission Biographical Reference Files
Papers of Bishop John McKendree Springer
Roy Stinson Smyers Collection
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1487-1-1: 01 | Textile: Racoon Coat | Undated |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-3: 08 | Biographical | 1905-1955 |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-3: 07 | Clippings | 1916-1939 |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-3: 01 | Correspondence | 1889-1925 |
| 1342-5-3: 02 | Correspondence | 1926-1934 |
| 1342-5-3: 03 | Correspondence | 1935-1968 |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-4: 01 | Africa | Undated |
| 1342-5-5: 01 | Africa (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-5-6: 01 | Africa (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-5-7: 01 | Africa (continued), Scriptural Stewardship | Undated |
| 1342-5-8: 01 | Scriptural Stewardship (continued), Christmas story, Angels | Undated |
| 1342-5-9: 01 | Christmas story, Angels (continued), Hymns, Scriptures, Bible scenes, Missions | Undated |
| 1342-5-10: 01 | Hymns, Scriptures, Bible scenes, Missions (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-5-11: 01 | Hymns, Scriptures, Bible scenes, Missions (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-5-11: 02 | Glass Lantern Slides Set 4 (continued): Hymns, Scriptures, Bible scenes, Missions | undated |
| 1342-6-1: 01 | Hymns, Scriptures, Bible scenes, Missions (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-6-2: 01 | Hymns, Scriptures, Bible scenes, Missions (concluded), Centenary, Promotional, Scriptures, World War 1, Miscellaneous | Undated |
| 1342-6-3: 01 | Centenary, Promotional, Scriptures, World War I, Miscellaneous (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-6-4: 01 | Centenary, Promotional, Scriptures,World War I, Miscellaneous (concluded), African Missions, Northwest United States,Church camping | Undated |
| 1342-6-5: 01 | African Missions, Northwest United States,Church camping (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-6-6: 01 | African Missions, Northwest United States, Church camping (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-6-7: 01 | African Missions, Northwest United States, Church camping (continued) | Undated |
| 1342-6-8: 01 | African Missions, Northwest United States, Church camping (concluded) | Undated |
| 1411-7-1: 01 | Glass Lantern Slide Projector | Undated |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-3: 04 | Journal | 1889-1905 |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-3: 09 | David Livingstone | 1906-1934 |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-3: 10 | Miscellaneous: Pitman Shorthand Bible | 1890 |
| 1342-5-3: 11 | Miscellaneous | 1905-1939 |
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1342-5-3: 05 | Writings: Sermons, addresses, and poems | Undated |
| 1342-5-3: 06 | Writings: Westminister Abbey | 1912 |
