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Livingston Johnson and Family Papers

Finding Aid & Inventory

Livingston Johnson was a Baptist minister and editor of the Biblical Recorder. His papers contain biographical information, correspondence, photographs, news clippings, writings, and other memorabilia.

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Biographical and Historical Note

Livingston Johnson was a Baptist minister in North Carolina and editor of the Biblical Recorder. He was born November 14, 1858, to Duncan and Catharine Livingston Johnson in Richmond County (now Scotland County), N.C. He attended Spring Hill Academy, then in Scotland County (now Richmond County) while working on his family's farm, progressing to Wake Forest College (1877-1878); after one year of study, Johnson returned to the farm. From 1888-1889, Johnson attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and upon completion of his degree, he was ordained in his childhood church, Spring HIll Baptist Church (1889). This was the beginning of Johnson's lifelong ministerial role in churches throughout N.C.

In 1901, Johnson became Corresponding Secretary of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (1901-1916) and editor of the Biblical Recorder (1917-1930). While editor, Johnson advocated for co-operating with "our [Black] brethren," supporting public schools, aid for unemployed Americans during the Great Depression, and prison and election reforms.

In addition to his work with the Baptist State Convention, Johnson served many years as Trustee at several Baptist institutions: Wake Forest College, Meredith College in Raleigh, and his alma mater, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Wake Forest awarded Johnson a Doctor of Divinity degree (1913). He also authored two books, History of N.C. Baptists (1908) and  Christian Statesmanship (1913).

Livingston Johnson and Mary Francis (Fannie) Memory married in October 1882. Fannie was a native of Whiteville in Columbus County, N.C.; two of her brothers, Jasper Lutterloh Memory (1882-1884) and William Alexander Memory (1871-1872), attended Wake Forest College. Together, Livingston and Fannie had five children: Wingate Memory, Foy Elisabeth, Duncan Monroe, Frances Livingston, and Mary Lynch. Livingston Johnson died on February 8, 1931, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, N.C. A second Livingston Johnson, the son of Wingate Memory Johnson and Undine Futrell and grandson to the original Livingston Johnson, graduated from Wake Forest College in 1947.

Sources: Johnson, Mary Lynch. "Johnson, Livingston," Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, 1996. Available online at https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/johnson-livingston

Collection Overview

This collection contains biographical information; photographs of Johnson, wife Fannie, and brother; correspondence with Henry Alfred Brown, Charles E. Johnson, wife Fannie Memory Johnson (1861-1931), Gerald White Johnson, Martin Luther Kesler, Angus McLean, Victor Irving Masters, Sr., Hight C. Moore, John Thomas Riddick, Archibald Thomas Robertson, Egbert W. Smith, George Washington Truett, and John Ellington White, Jr.

Johnson's sermons and sermon notes, speeches, and pamphlets of essays are also present. Other materials include Fannie's memoir, "Blessed Experiences," circa 1931; a Memorial Fund pamphlet, circa 1931; a graduate prospectus for an Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary papers on Johnson, 1962; remarks by John Charles McNeill in honor of Fannie Memory Johnson, undated; a 1923 passport; remarks from Greensboro, North Carolina, 1898; Fannie's correspondence, 1878-1932; and correspondence from the Memory family dated 1873 into the 1930s.

Summary Information

Repository
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
Creator
Johnson, Livingston
Title
Livingston Johnson and Family Papers
ID
MS136
Date [inclusive]
Quantity
2 document boxes
Extent
0.84  Linear Feet
Mixed Materials
2
Mixed Materials
1

Administrative Information

Publication Information
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2005
Revision Description
Revised by Stephanie Bennett, Stephanie Bennett, 2020, 2021
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use. 
Copyright Notice
The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 
Preferred Citation
Livingston Johnson and Family Papers (MS136), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. 

Controlled Access Headings

Occupation(s)

Subject(s)

Other collections in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives that relate to the Johnson and Memory families include:

  • Foy Johnson Willingham Farmer Papers
  • Gerald White Johnson Papers
  • Jasper Livingston Memory, Jr., Papers
  • Odessa A. Memory Collection of Riverton, N.C., History
  • Mary Lynch Johnson Papers

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