Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Wednesday’s Wonderful Collection - Rogerline Johnson photograph collection, MS.000754

Rogerline Johnson was born in 1927 to Henry and Rita Johnson in Columbus, Hempstead County, Arkansas. After completing high school in 1944 at Yerger High School in Hope, Arkansas, Johnson attended Arkansas Agricultural Mechanical and Normal College (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). He became interested in photography during his college years and upon graduating in 1948 briefly taught science and coached football in Marianna before pursuing a career in photography. In 1952, he married Ludie Dolphin and began their family in Lake View. That same year, Johnson opened Johnson’s Studio in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Active in community life, Johnson ran for public office on three separate occasions though did not win his campaigns. He continued to be active in the local community, as reflected in his photography subjects. Rogerline Johnson died in November of 1996.
This collection is comprised of photographic reproductions from black and white negatives of images taken by Rogerline Johnson, as well as promotional materials from a 2004 traveling exhibit of his work. The subjects and themes of Johnson’s body of work are of black life, the black experience, and the black community in the Arkansas Delta, primarily in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas.
·         File 1
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.01: Portrait of Rogerline Johnson posed with camera. Photographed in Johnson’s Studio, located in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1961
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.02: The Roger Johnson Orchestra, jazz and blues band. L-R: LeRoy Dolphin, Fred Starkey, Curtis Pete Wilson, unidentified member, Roger Johnson, and unidentified member. Photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1960
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.03: Mattie May Whyte Woodridge, 1909 – 1999, posed behind desk. Principal of North End Elementary School. Founder of National Teacher’s Day. Worked with Eleanor Roosevelt to establish this national holiday. Photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1955
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.04: Ms. Minor with student and spelling bee champion William Duncan, posed on steps of train. Pair heading to Chicago for national spelling bee competition. Photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1957
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.05: Unidentified woman and children at train station landing sending off spelling bee champion William Duncan. Children performing in small marching band. Other children standing with signs. Photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1957
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.06: Unidentified woman with female student and spelling bee winner of West Side School, posed on train station landing. Pair heading to Houston, Texas for national spelling bee competition. Photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1957
·         File 2
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.07: Elton Hammonds, teacher, and unidentified student raising flag during ceremony at Eliza Miller High School. Photographed in West Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1955
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.08: View of showers in Eliza Miller High School. Photograph taken to demonstrate segregated facilities were separate but unequal. Photographed at Eliza Miller High School, located in West Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1952
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.09: View of row of toilets in Eliza Miller High School. Photograph taken to demonstrate segregated facilities were separate but unequal. Photographed at Eliza Miller High School, located in West Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1952
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.10: View of businesses along road in Lake View, a small rural community primarily made up of black residents. Lake View was established as a black rural resettlement program by the United States Resettlement Administration during the Depression to aid farm families in becoming land and home owners. Photographed Lake View, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.11: View of Lake View High School marching band. Lake View was established as a black rural resettlement program by the United States Resettlement Administration during the Depression to aid farm families in becoming land and home owners. Photographed Lake View, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.12: View of all female typist class with teacher. Likely photographed at Lake View High School. Lake View was established as a black rural resettlement program by the United States Resettlement Administration during the Depression to aid farm families in becoming land and home owners. Photographed Lake View, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
·         File 3
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.13: View of ceremony photographed at Lake View High School. Likely a homecoming queen and junior queen ceremony. Lake View was established as a black rural resettlement program by the United States Resettlement Administration during the Depression to aid farm families in becoming land and home owners. Photographed Lake View, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.14: Members of congregation of unknown church. Likely photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.15: Members of congregation of unknown church in front of brick structure. Likely photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.16: Members of congregation of unknown church taking part in lake baptism [body of water unknown]. Likely photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1957
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.17: Members of congregation of unknown church in front of wooden church. Likely photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.18: Unknown individuals during ceremony or social event. Unidentified woman crowning another unidentified woman. Two unidentified men looking on. Roger Johnson Orchestra on stage in background. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s – 1960s
·         File 4
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.19: View of unidentified men and one woman during Alpha Phi Alpha event. Fraternity symbols and sign reading Sphinxmen’s Sweetheart Miss Erma Greene 1966. Alpha Phi Alpha is the first black Greek fraternal organization, founded in 1906 in New York. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1966
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.20: Unidentified woman in fez reading [S]pince Court No. 50. May be a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1940s – 1960s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.21: Three unidentified women seated around table. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1960s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.22: Baseball team. Photograph reads Rondo Sluggers – 1967. Unknown location in Arkansas, possibly Rondo, Lee County. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1967
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.23: View of football players on field during a game. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Date unknown
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.24: Unidentified individuals posed beside 1952 Oldsmobile 88 Rocket. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s – 1960s
·         File 5
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.25: Unidentified individuals with child posed beside 1952 Oldsmobile 88 Rocket. Likely photographed in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s – 1960s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.26: Unidentified individuals posed indoors for what appears to be a multi-generational family photograph. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.27: Unidentified individuals posed outdoors for what appears to be a multi-generational family photograph. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.28: Unidentified individuals posed around table with glasses raised. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.29: Unidentified child in old fashioned baby walker. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.30: Unidentified child posed beside table with presents and cake. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Circa 1950s
·         File 6
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.31: Portrait of unidentified man in military uniform. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Date unknown
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.32: Portrait of unidentified woman in fur collar with cigarette. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Date unknown
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.33: Portrait of unidentified man in business casual attire. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Date unknown
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.34: Portrait of unidentified woman in dress attire. Unknown location in Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. Date unknown
o    PH.RogerlineJohnson.35: Portrait of unidentified demonstrator with sign reading “Make whites right, No Shopping”. Photographed during Marianna Boycott in Marianna, Lee County, Arkansas. Black and white photographic reproduction. 1971
·         File 7
o    "Through The Lens of Rogerline Johnson" traveling exhibit promotional materials.
·         File 8
o    African-American Life in the Arkansas Delta Through the Lens of Rogerline Johnson: 1952 - 1971 [book]
General Note
This book can also be found in the Arkansas State Archives research room: F417 .A67 J64 2004