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Marion Johnson photographs

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.VIS33

Scope and Content

This collection documents the Atlanta urban environment, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, through cityscapes, aerial views and scenes of individual buildings as the city underwent a period of building and growth. The arrival of the city's first professional sports team, the Atlanta Braves, is documented. Also included in the collection are scenes pertaining to Southern politics including local, state and presidential races. A wide variety of Georgia agriculture and industry is included as well as scenic views of rural, mountain, and coastal Georgia.

Dates

  • 1938-1975

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.

Administrative/Biographical History

Marion Johnson (1917-1998) was born in Geneva, Georgia, and moved to Atlanta in 1936, joining his sister who worked as office secretary for the Atlanta Constitution. At her suggestion, Johnson took a job as an office boy for the paper, working in the news department. Kenneth Rogers, head of the photography department, encouraged him to study photography in his spare time. Johnson was hired by UPI as a wire photo transmitter and worked for them in their Atlanta and Dallas, Texas, offices from 1938-1941.

Johnson returned to the Atlanta Constitution staff following service in World War II as a United States Marine Corps photographer. After theAtlanta Journal and theAtlanta Constitution newspaper companies merged in 1950, Johnson was appointed head of the photography department, a position he held until 1980.

Known as "Slug," Marion Johnson married Helen Johnson and the couple had one son, William M. Johnson.

Extent

3901 item(s) (3,901 black and white and color negatives)

Language

English

System of Arrangement

This collection is arranged in four series: I. Politics; II. Atlanta; III. Sports; IV. Georgia: Cities and Scenes. Within each series, photographs are arranged in the original order of each photo assignment.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 1989

Title
Marion Johnson photographs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040