Dr. Robert C. Johnson Collection

Excerpted and edited from WashU Special Collections Finding Aid for The Dr. Robert C. Johnson Papers:

Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Robert C. Johnson grew up throughout the United States, including Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and St. Louis, Missouri. His family would eventually settle in Minnesota, though Dr. Johnson also spent time abroad as a student in France, Senegal, and Ghana. An inaugural member of his high school’s honors program, he then graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. After spending further time abroad in France, Dr. Johnson began his graduate work at WashU in 1970. His time at WashU included: 1967-68 (MBA program, no degree); 1968-1970 (MAT-French, Arts & Sciences); 1972-1976 (Ph.D., Arts and Sciences); and (1973-74, A.M., Arts & Sciences). Between his graduate programs in the early 1970’s, he was teaching as an assistant professor and adjunct faculty member in the Black Studies Program which is now the Department of African & African American Studies at WashU.

Along with his role within the Black Studies Program, Dr. Johnson was active in forming the Association of Black Collegians, or the ABC. The association organized to advocate for change in the institutional structure and environment of this university, including giving students of color a larger voice. The ABC held multiple events to connect Black students at WashU and organize at the university.

Several of the films donated represent the earliest years of events hosted by the program and the ABC. The events range from dinners organized by the ABC to student tours and events at locations such as Tennessee State University. During his time, he also worked and documented his time developing study programs in Jamaica and Ghana.

After his time at WashU, Dr. Johnson went on to teach at Grambling State University in Louisiana and then to St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Dr. Johnson would continue his education and advocacy for community cultural outreach both in the United States and abroad.

The full biography for Dr. Johnson as well as the collection inventory is available online here.

All films have been digitized and are available online here.

For questions or concerns, please contact the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections at spec@wumail.wustl.edu or 314-935-5495.