Executive Papers of Governor Joseph Johnson, 1852-1855

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Virginia Governor (1852-1856 : Johnson)
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Joseph Johnson's Executive Papers primarily consist of incoming correspondence during his four-year term as governor from 1 January 1852 until 1 January 1856. The correspondence in this collection relates to a variety of topics including appointments & recommendations for state positions; improvements to Capitol Square; the construction of the Washington Equestrian Statue; the Virginia Penitentiary; slavery; arms and ammunition; the militia; Revolutionary War bounty land claims; banks and banking; resignations; extraditions; state expenses & revenue; elections; and others. In addition to correspondence, there are resolutions from the Virginia Senate & House of Delegates; accounts; oaths; contracts; pardons; proposals; receipts; election returns & certificates; qualifications; lists; proclamations; petitions; reports; appointments; resignations; bonds; commissions; orders; proceedings; opinions; and other sundry items.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Johnson was born on 19 December 1785 in Orange County, New York. The second son of Joseph and Abigail Johnson, Johnson relocated to Harrison County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1801. He married Sarah (Sally) Smith, daughter of Ephraim Smith, on 16 May 1804. Johnson served as captain of the Harrison Riflemen during the War of 1812. Following the war, Johnson represented Harrison County in the House of Delegates for the sessions 1815-1816, 1818-1819, 1819-1820, and 1821-1822. Elected to the Eighteenth & Nineteenth Congresses, Johnson also served in the House of Representatives from 4 March 1823 to 3 March 1827. Subsequent to an unsuccessful reelection to the Twentieth Congress, Johnson was elected to fill the vacancy in the Twenty-second Congress occasioned by the death of Philip Doddridge in 1832. Johnson returned to Washington as a Jackson Democrat to serve in the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, & Twenty-ninth Congresses from 4 March 1835 to 3 March 1841 and 4 March 1845 to 3 March 1847. At various times during his tenure in the House of Representatives, Johnson chaired several committees including the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings, the Committee on Accounts, and the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. Following his federal service, Johnson again represented Harrison County in the House of Delegates for the session of 1847-1848. In 1850, Johnson was elected as one of the delegates to the Convention of 1850-1851 which established universal white adult male suffrage and provided for the popular election of the governor. During the Convention, Johnson acted as chairman of the essential Committee on Suffrage. As a result of his work in the Convention of 1850-1851, Joseph Johnson became the first popularly elected governor of Virginia on 1 January 1852 defeating Whig candidate Judge George W. Summers. Johnson served one four-year term and retired from public office. Although opposed to secession, Johnson nevertheless supported Virginia & the Confederacy during the Civil War. He died in Bridgeport on 27 February 1877 and was buried in the Old Brick Church Cemetery.

Acquisition information:
Acquired prior to 1905
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • I. Executive Papers of Governor Joseph Johnson, 1852-1855
Physical description:
9.60 cubic feet (21 boxes)