Special Collections Home :: Manuscript :: MSS 7 | |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. | |
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Inventory
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