Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
J. Ambler Johnston Papers
Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974
Ms.1974.012
15.4 Cubic Feet
11 boxes
1901-1974
Please note: This collection is in off-site storage and requires 2-3 days notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.
The J. Ambler Johnston Papers pertains to his many activities throughout his professional and personal life, especially his involvement with the Civil War Round Table (CWRT) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Materials consist of correspondence, publications and ephemera, organizational and committee reports, and photographs, relating to Johnston's involvement with historical and civic organizations including the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Society of the Sons of the Revolution, Virginia Institute for Scientific Research, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquites, and the Southern Historical Society and association with Douglas Southall Freeman and the VPI Alumni Association.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], J. Ambler Johnston Papers, Ms1974-012, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The J. Ambler Johnston Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1974. An small addition was donated in 1980.
Appraisal
The following maps were deaccessioned in 2019 due to poor condition and availability of information elsewhere.
Deaccessioned maps
- Railroads in Virginia, 1861-1865. 1963. 29 x 61 in. 2 copies.
- Second Bull Run Campaign. undated. 11 maps, 26 June - 1 September 1862. Each map 34 x 42 in.
- Antietam Campaign. undated. 11 maps on 5 sheets, 7 September - 17 September 1862. Each sheet 34 x 43 in.
- Fredericksburg Campaign. undated. 6 maps on 4 sheets, 7 November - 13 December 1862. Each sheet 36 x 43 in.
- The American Civil War: Principal Campaigns of the War. undated. 31 x 40 in.
- Battle of Cold Harbor (3 June 1864) and Vicinity of Richmond: Situation at Cold Harbor and Bermuda Hundred (1 - 12 June 1864). Undated. 2 maps on 1 sheet. 31 x 40 in.
- Movement to the James River (12 - 16 June 1864). undated. 31 x 39 in.
- Peninsular Campaign. undated. 13 maps on 9 sheets, 11 March - 29 June 1862. Each sheet 31 x 40 in.
- The Seven Days Battle. undated. 33 x 43 in.
- Richmond National Battlefield Park. 1948. 36 x 47 in.
- The Second Manassas Campaign. 1960. 34 x 43 in.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the J. Ambler Johnston Papers was completed in November 2021. Minimal description was completed 1974, January 2011, and November 2019.
Biographical Note
Architectural engineer, American Civil War historian, and civic benefactor, J. Ambler Johnston (1885-1974) graduated from Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1904 with B.S and in 1905 with an M.S. In 1906, he received another M.S. from Cornell University and became co-founder of the architectural firm of Carneal and Johnston in Richmond, Virginia. Carneal and Johnston was responsible for many buildings on the campuses of VPI, Virginia Military Institute, and the University of Richmond (which later awarded Johnston an honorary D.Sc.). Johnston helped rewrite Richmond's building code, was a charter member of the Richmond Rotary Club, and helped found a Civil War Round Table (CWRT) at the State Penitentiary.
During World War I, Johnston served with the Richmond Light Infantry Blues (Home Guard). He held offices in several historical and scientific organizations, including the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of the Cincinnatus, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Association for the Protection of Virginia Antiquities (APVA), the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Historical Society, and the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research.
A native of Rockbridge County, Virginia, Johnston was the son of a Civil War veteran. For more than forty years, he was closely associated with Douglas Southall Freeman, noted Civil War author. Both men owned land on which a number of Civil War battles were fought and later donated these lands to the National Park Service. After Freeman's death in 1953, Johnston often presented on the life of his fellow historian. His lecture tours earned him honorary membership in CWRTs in Kansas City, Chicago, Louisville, New York City, the Confederate Historical Society of England, and Richmond. In 1965, he served as chairman of the Richmond Civil War Centennial Committee.
Throughout his life, Johnston maintained close ties with his alma mater. He served as president of the VPI Alumni Association and received the 1961 Distinguished Alumni Citation. In 1966, the university named the dormitory Ambler Johnston Hall after him. He lived in Richmond until his death in 1974.
Scope and Content
The J. Ambler Johnston Papers pertains to his many activities throughout his professional and personal life, especially the Civil War Round Table (CWRT) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The collection is arranged by topic into five series.
Series I: Civil War Round Table, 1953-1973, includes files, notes, and recordings related to the CWRT, a national organization that promotes the study of the American Civil War through lectures, battlefield tours, and other events. This series has been divided in Subseries A: Files, arranged chronologically, and Subseries B: Recordings and File Packets.
Series II: Civil War, 1930-1972, contains files about the Civil War (not related to the CWRT), such as Johnston's work with the Richmond Civil War Centennial Commission, his ancestor's Civil War service, excursion notes, and book manuscripts.
Series III: Organizations and Societies, 1936-1972, contains files regarding Johnston's involvement in several historic and civil societies: the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Society of the Cincinnatti, Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Jamestowne Society, Virginia Historical Society, Society of Colonial Wars, Society of the Sons of the Revolution, Virginia Institute for Scientific Research, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquites, and the Southern Historical Society.
Series IV: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1901-1974, contains files regarding Johnston's long personal and professional relationship with Virginia Tech, including Alumni Association files and correspondence, domintory dedication speeches, correspondence with members of the History Department, including Dr. James I. Robertson, photographs of class reunions, an Johnston's personal diary when he was a student at Virginia Tech in 1901.
Series V: Assorted, 1933-1971, consists of American Revolution book correspondence, maps, Sculpture Model of Sacrifice Pylon and genealogical correspondence not specific to the Civil War.
Arrangement
Materials in the collection are arranged into five series by topic, and each series is arranged by subtopic or chronologically. The collection preimarily remains in original processed order from 1974.
Series
- Series I: Civil War Round Table, 1953-1973
- Subseries A: Files, 1953-1973
- Subseries B: Recordings and File Packets, 1952-1973
- Series II: Civil War, 1930-1972
- Series III: Organizations and Societies, 1936-1972
- Series IV: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1901-1974
- Series V: Assorted, 1933-1971
Related Archival Materials
Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives also maintains the Carneal and Johnston Glass Negatives, Ms2014-016, and Carneal and Johnston Architectural Drawings, Ms2001-008.
Separated Materials
The J. Ambler Johnston collection of Civil War maps were separated to the Special Collections and University Archives Historical Map Collection.
Several books have been separated to the Rare Book Collection.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the J. Ambler Johnston Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Civil War
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Faculty and staff
Students and alumni
University Archives
University History
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
Series I: Civil War Round Table1953-1973Subseries A: Files1953-1973Civil War Round Table1955-195711Civil War Round Table195812Civil War Round Table195913Civil War Round Table1960-196114Civil War Round Table196215-6Civil War Round Table196317Civil War Round Table196418Civil War Round Table196519-10Civil War Round Table1966112-1321Notebook - Chicago Civil War Round Table Talk, "Grant and Lee - Clairvoyants"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741966-02-112Civil War Round Table196722-3Notebook - Houston Civil War Round Table Talk, "Battle of Elkhorn Tavern or Pea Ridge, March 7 and 8, 1862" by Cooper K. Ragan1967-11-202Notebook - "Notes and Scrapbook on the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) - September 17, 1862" by Cooper K. RaganUndated2Civil War Round Table196825-6Civil War Round Table196928-9Civil War Round Table197031-2Civil War Round Table 197133-5Civil War Round Table197236Civil War Round Table
197337Civil War Round Table Photograph Collection1953, 1959, 1963, 1965-1966,1968-1972, Undated5"The Seven Days Campaign and Afterward" Transcript and NotesJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974196998Subseries B: Recordings and File Packets1952-1973Tape Recording, "Dr. Douglas S. Freeman"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974Undated9Tape Recording, "James Ambler Johnston on Lee and Dr. Freeman"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741957-01-179Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870Tape Recording, "Judah P. Benjamin" by S.I. Neiman, Chicago Civil War Round Table1966-09-149Tape Recording, "The Last Six Months" by Pete Long, Kansas City Civil War Round TableUndated9Tape Recording, "Dr. D.S. Freeman"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974Undated9Two cassettes, "Chicago CWRT"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741966-02-109Cassette, "After-Speech Discussion, Helm Bruce, Jr. and JAJ"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741963-059Cassette, "JAJ on Douglas Freeman" (Recordings 1, 2, and 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741964-01-199Cassette, "JAJ on D. Freeman" (Recordings 4 and 5)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741964-01-199Cassette, "7-Day Campaign" (Recordings 1 and 2)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974Undated9Cassette, "7-Day Campaign" (Recording 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974Undated9Cassette, "Mr. J. Ambler Johnston recalling from notes his 40 year association and friendship with Dr. D.S. Freeman"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741966-02-259Cassette, "An Address by Douglas Southall Freeman to the Chicago Civil War Round Table"1953-05-079Gettysburg-Antietam 12th Annual Tour196210Louisiana Battlefields 14th Annual Tour196410Washington-Booth Trail 16th Annual Tour196610Missouri-Arkansas 17th Annual Tour196710Fredericksburg Battlefields 18th Annual Tour196810Tennessee-Mississippi 19th Annual Tour196910Savannah-Charleston 20th Annual Tour197010Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign 21st Annual Tour197110Kentucky Blue Grass Special TourFall 197210The Vicksburg Campaign 22nd Annual Tour197210Gettysburg-Carlisle 23rd Annual Tour197310LP Record, "After Speech Discussion-Reminiscences" by Helm Bruce, Jr. and J. Ambler Johnston1963-0511LP Record, "J. Ambler Johnston on Douglass Freeman" (1 of 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741964-01-1911LP Record, "J. Ambler Johnston on Douglass Freeman" (2 of 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741964-01-1911LP Record, "J. Ambler Johnston on Douglass Freeman" (3 of 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741964-01-1911LP Record, "Chicago Civil War Round Table" (1 of 2)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741966-02-1011LP Record, "Chicago Civil War Round Table" (2 of 2)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741966-02-1011LP Record, "Civil War 7 Day Campaign" (1 of 2)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741963-0511LP Record, "Civil War 7 Day Campaign" (2 of 2)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741963-0511LP Record, "Cassius Marcellus Clay" by William H. Townsend1952-10-1711LP Record, "Mr. Ambler Johnston Talk At Chicago Civil War Round Table (1 of 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741957-01-1711LP Record, "Mr. Ambler Johnston Talk At Chicago Civil War Round Table" (2 of 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741957-01-1711LP Record, "Mr. Ambler Johnston Talk At Chicago Civil War Round Table" (3 of 3)Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741957-01-1711LP Record, "Judah B. Benjamin" by S.E. Neiman (1 of 3)Undated11LP Record, "Judah B. Benjamin: by S.E. Neiman (2 of 3)Undated11LP Record, "Judah B. Benjamin" by S.E. Neiman (3 of 3)Undated11LP Record, "The Last Six Months" by Pete Long (1 of 3)Undated11LP Record, "The Last Six Months" by Pete Long (2 of 3)Undated11LP Record, "The Last Six Months" by Pete Long (3 of 3)Undated11Charleston-Savannah 9th Annual Tour195711Central Tennessee 8th Annual Tour195811On to Richmond 3rd Annual Tour195311Chicago Civil War Round Table Award Plaque1973-05-1111Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974Series II: Civil War1930-1972Newsletter, "The End of A Tragic Struggle"1965111Papers regarding ceremony at Fort Harrison1967-03-1224Papers regarding Robert E. Lee Memorial Association speech by J. Ambler Johnston Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741968-01-2127Notebook - "Narrative of Pilgrimage to Cedar Mountain and Manassas Battlefields"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741968-09-04-1968-09-052Notebook - "Maryland Campaign of 1862 Along the Routes of Lee and Jackson"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741970-09-09-1970-09-123Copy of Notebook - "Maryland Campaign of 1862 Along the Routes of Lee and Jackson"1970-09-09-1970-09-123Scrapbook - "Inauguration of the Jackson Statue Tuesday, October 26th, 1875"1970-09-173Battlefield Guides and The War Did Not End at Yorktown manuscript
Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741930-197141"Salem Flying Artillery" Papers
1953-196242Civil War Guides and "Salem Flying Artillery" Papers1932-196543Echoes of 1861-1961 Book Papers and CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741948-197344Museum of the Confederacy File1960-19685Douglas Southall Freeman Papers and Correspondence1931-197051Richmond Centennial and Civil War Committee1937-196952Richmond at War Book Correspondence and Papers1964-197253Tape Recording, "The J. Ambler Johnston Day Rotary Club"1969-05-209Dictaphone Belts, "JAJ Talk on WRVA"Undated9Cassette, "Rotary on Williamsburg"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741971-049LP Record. "Richmond Chamber of Commerce Presenting Award to J. Ambler Johnston"1966-01-1311Series III: Organizations and Societies1936-1972Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) Papers1964-197245Notebook - Jamestowne Society, Notes on History1968-025Notebook - Jamestowne Society, Notes on History1965-115Jamestowne Society Correspondence1963-197254Jamestowne Society Papers1936-196155Virginia Historical Society1962-196761Virginia Historical Society1968-196962Virginia Historical Society197063Southern Historical Society Index Correspondence1962-197264Virginia Historical Society1971-197265Virginia Institute for Scientific Research1964-196766Virginia Institute for Scientific Research196867Virginia Institute for Scientific Research1969-197268Virginia Institute for Scientific Research Financial Statements1969-12-316Virginia Institute for Scientific Research Financial Statements1970-12-316Society of Colonial Wars1964-197269Sons of Confederate Veterans197471Society of the Sons of the Revolution1964-197072Society of the Sons of the Revolution1971-197273Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence1967-197275Society of the Cincinnati1964-197276Institute of Early American History and Culture Handbook19679Series IV: Virginia Polytechnic Institute1901-1974VPI Alumni Association1932-195377VPI Alumni Association1964-196578VPI Alumni Association196679VPI Dormitory DedicationJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741966-05-167VPI Alumni Association1967710VPI Alumni Association1968711-12VPI Alumni Association196981-2Virginia Tech Name Change CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974196983Virginia Tech Alumni Association197084-5GeneralInstitution undergoes a name change in 1970 - from Virginia Polytechnic Institute to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech Name Change CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741970, 197286VPI Educational Foundation1965-196787Virginia Tech Alumni Association197188Virginia Tech Alumni Association197289Virginia Tech Alumni Association1973-1974810Virginia Tech Department of History1966-1974811Virginia Tech Faculty and Alumni CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974197191Virginia Tech Faculty and Alumni CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974197292Dr. James I. Robertson CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-1974Robertson, James I., Jr.1971-197293Frank L. Curtis Correspondence1962-197294McBryde Hall Photographs and Papers1914, 1966-196995"Old Guard" Photographs and Notes196696VPI Alumni Affairs DiaryJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741938-19409Personal Diary of J. Ambler JohnstonJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-197419019Tape Recording, "Dedication of Ambler Johnston Hall"Johnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741969-10-179Cassette, "U of H v. VPI 57 to 29"1971-11-139Series V: Assorted1933-1971The War Did Not End at Yorktown Book CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741951-197156Genealogical CorrespondenceJohnston, J. Ambler (James Ambler), 1885-19741933-1935, 196374Virginia Maps196797