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John W. Johnson work diaries

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0397

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists primarily of the work diaries of John W. Johnson from 1917-1943 as transcribed by Meredith A. Hmura. The diaries are broken down by year and cover Johnson's daily life as a forest ranger for the U.S. Forest Service. The collection also contains a map of the Santa Fe National Forest where many of Johnson's experiences happened and his autobiography of his adventures in the Pecos Valley, Reminiscences of a Forest Ranger, 1914-1944.

Dates

  • 1917-1943

Language of Materials

English

Access and Use Restrictions

This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in theSearch Room.

Copy Restrictions

Limitedduplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyrightand other applicable statutes.

Copyrights associated with this collection have not beentransferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.

Biography

Born near Asotin, Washington in a one room log cabin, John W. Johnson was the eldest son of 10 children. As the family ranch grew, Johnson took on additional responsibilities and at an early age learned much about cattle, which would help him later in his career as a forest ranger. At the age of 10 Johnson started breaking horses for riding and by 18 had assumed management of the family ranch in addition to acquiring 160 acres of his own.

After establishing his own ranch, Johnson realized that ranching did not keep him busy enough in the winter and he started a hardware store. A natural salesman, his store prospered. In 1912 he contracted tuberculosis and was advised to leave the Northwest. He then moved to Glendale, Arizona and started a general store there. After a couple of years he decided that he needed more time in the open air and in 1914 sold his store and began a career with the U.S. Forest Service.

Extent

0.50 Linear Feet (1 Box)

Abstract

Work diaries compiled by John W. Johnson while employed by the U.S. Forest Service. Johnson wrote a book of his experiences as a forest ranger, focusing primarily on the time he was in the Santa Fe National Forest Upper Pecos Ranger District. The book is entitled Reminiscences of a Forest Ranger, 1914-1944 which is in the collection along with a map of the Santa Fe National Forest.

Acquisition

  1. RG 97-079 Gift of Merideth A. Hmura

Related Material

Elliott S. Barker papers.Ms 294. New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special Collections Department. George A. Viles personal diaries.Ms 396.New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special Collections Department.

Separated Material

Johnson’s autobiography of his adventures in the Pecos Valley, Reminiscences of a Forest Ranger, 1914-1944, has been cataloged in Special Collections.

General

Contact Information

  1. Archives and Special Collections
  2. New Mexico State University Library
  3. P.O. Box 30006
  4. Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
  5. Phone: (575) 646-3839
  6. Fax: (575) 646-7477
  7. Email: archives@nmsu.edu
  8. URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/

General

Title
Guide to the John W. Johnson work diaries, 1917-1943
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Portia Vescio, with Roxanne Klunczyk
Date
© 2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Repository Details

Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Branson Hall
PO Box 30006
MSC 3475
Las Cruces New Mexico 88003 USA