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Walter Johnson Papers on Adlai E. Stevenson

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Johnson, Walter

Walter Johnson was born in Nahant, Massachusetts, on June 27, 1915 to Alfred and Annie Johnson. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth in 1937, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1938 and 1941, respectively. He served on faculty at the University of Chicago, 1943-1957, Oxford University 1957-1958, and the University of Hawaii starting in 1966. He died in June 1985.

In 1952 Johnson became co-chairman, along with Leo Lerner, of the National Committee for Stevenson for President. This committee was organized by members of the Independent Voters of Illinois, a liberal group that became the nucleus of the state chapter of Americans for Democratic Action. With the help of Johnson and this committee, Stevenson received the Democratic presidential nomination in 1952. After Stevenson's defeat to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Johnson accompanied Stevenson on his world tour in 1953.

Over the years, Johnson wrote and edited numerous books. He is the author of The Battle Against Isolation (1944), William Allen White's America (1947), The United States: Experiment in Democracy (with Avery Craven) (1947), How We Drafted Adlai Stevenson (1955), American Studies Abroad (1963), and he co-wrote The Fulbright Program, A History (1965). Johnson was the editor of Selected Letters of William Allen White (1947); Roosevelt & The Russians: The Yalta Conference, by Edward Stettinius Jr. (1949); Turbulent Era: A Diplomatic Record of 40 Years, by Joseph C. Grew (1952); 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: Presidents & The People (1960); and The Papers of Adlai Stevenson (1972).

This material was later used by Johnson to write his book, How We Drafted Adlai Stevenson in 1955. The collection contains newspaper clippings from non-mainstream papers, media reports, correspondence, meeting notes, ephemera from the Democratic National Convention, and press releases by the National Committee for Stevenson for President. There is also a campaign song written about Adlai Stevenson.

This collection is arranged alphabetically by topic and documents Johnson's role as co-chairman of the National Committee for Stevenson for President 1952.

Walter Johnson donated the collection in 1966.

This collection was processed by Suzanne Siefert in August 2001. Finding aid written by Suzanne Siefert in August 2001.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Public Policy Papers
Finding Aid Author
Suzanne Siefert
Finding Aid Date
2001
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. For those few instances beyond fair use, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. Researchers do not need anything further from the Mudd Library to move forward with their use.

Collection Inventory

Campaign Button, circa 1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Chapter Materials, circa 1952-1955. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, circa 1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1952-1955. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Democratic National Convention, 1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Related to Robert Kerr; Averell Harriman; Richard Russell; Estes Kefauver and India Edwards, circa 1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Media Coverage, circa 1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Meeting Notes, 1952 August 7. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

National Committee for Stevenson for President: Press Releases, 1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Song about Stevenson, circa 1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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