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Introduction

Collection Processed by Joel Miyasaki and Kristen Herrud

Register Created by Joel Miyasaki and Kristen Herrud

Date: October 24, 2003

Physical Description: .5 linear feet


Biographical Sketch of / Agency History

Anna Johnson was born in 1892 in Logan, Utah to Olie and Sophie Johnson who were Scandinavian immigrants. Anna Johnson spent most of her life sharing her thoughts and feelings through poetry. Johnson never married, but she was part of a great tradition of missionary work. She visited China in 1933 and suffered a debilitating accident that left parts of her body paralyzed. Her condition inspired many of her most profound poems. However, she was cured through groundbreaking neural surgery. She spent a good deal of time as a missionary in Hawaii after her recovery. She died in Bountiful, Utah, Oct. 1,1979, remembered as a distinguished LDS poet.

Of special interest is Johnson’s ancestry. Her grandfather, Olaus Johnson was responsible for introducing John Widtsoe’s mother to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Olaus, as a cobbler, had placed missionary tracts into each one of Sister Widtsoe’s shoes, and thus, introduced her to the church.


Scope and Content

The Anna Johnson Manuscript Collection consists primarily of Johnson’s poetry. This collection was donated to the BYU-Idaho Special Collections through her sister Della Johnson. The poems are arranged chronologically beginning with a published collection of poems written during the time that she was disabled. Also included is a collection of poems written for the Relief Society’s Home Night. Folders 2-5 contain an anthology of poems that Johnson was preparing to publish before her death. This manuscript was written between the years 1971 and 1974. The final folder contains a few photocopied articles about Johnson’s life as well as some photographs of the poet. All of the manuscripts have been placed in acid-free folders and the staples have been removed for preservation purposes.

Inventory

Box 1  
Book 1 Echoes, published by the Deseret News in 1932

Fd 1

Anna Johnson Home Night Program Poetry (1968-1969)

Fd 2

Anna Johnson Poetry 1971

Fd 3

Anna Johnson Poetry 1972

Fd 4

Anna Johnson Poetry 1973

Fd 5

Anna Johnson Poetry 1974

Fd 6

Anna Johnson Poetry Miscellaneous

Fd 7

Pictures and Articles