REVEREND SAMUEL JOHNSON ( ) PAPERS,

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1 REVEREND SAMUEL JOHNSON ( ) PAPERS, MSS 248 Processed by: Karen Clemons July 2011 Volume: 15 boxes 7.5 Linear feet Provenance: Conservation: The provenance of this collection is unknown. The material was placed in acid-free folders. Copyright: Requests for permission to publish material from the collection must be submitted in writing to the Manuscript Librarian in the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Samuel Johnson ( ), was born in Salem, Massachusetts on October 10, 1822 to a physician father and a mother whose family who had lived in Salem for many generations. Best known for his independent religious and political philosophies, Johnson embraced ideas and practiced views of science, humanity, ethics, spirituality, and natural and universal religion. At sixteen, Johnson entered Harvard College, where he graduated second in his class in 1842 with a degree in Arts. From there, he enrolled in the Harvard Divinity School, where he graduated in 1846 with a degree in Theology. It was at the Harvard Divinity School, where along with fellow classmates, Octavius Brooks Frothingham ( ) and Samuel Longfellow ( ), Johnson would discover and adopt the philosophies of transcendentalism, universal religion, and other non-christian religions. Although Johnson had no religious denomination, in 1851 he briefly worked at a Unitarian Church in Dorchester, MA before resigning in In 1853, Johnson established the Free Church of Lynn (Massachusetts), which focused on free and independent thought, and was described by the founder himself as being an independent religious society. Johnson remained a minister of the Free Church until June 26, 1870, when he retired to concentrate on his writing and publications. Johnson wrote many poems, hymns, essays and sermons which addressed topics that ranged from his beliefs in religion, spirituality and reform, to women s suffrage and the anti-slavery movement; a cause that he actively advocated. Johnson 2011, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum Page 1

2 MSS 248: Reverend Samuel Johnson Papers also wrote many books, such as Book of Hymns in 1846, and Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, with colleague Samuel Longfellow and a three volume series Oriental Religions and Their Relation to Universal Religion: India (1872), China (1877), and Persia (1885), which illustrated his interests in eastern spirituality and philosophy. In 1876, Johnson moved to a house in North Andover, MA that had been bequeathed to him by his father. He remained there until his death on February 18, SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The Reverend Samuel Johnson Papers consist of correspondence, appointment books, notebooks, sermons, and writings of this Lynn, Massachusetts minister. This collection is divided into four series. Series I. Correspondence consists of an extensive assortment of letters written to and from Johnson s family members and colleagues. Series II. Personal Papers is divided into four subseries: Travel Logs and Appointment Books, Notebooks, Clippings and Photographs. Series III. Sermons consists of original sermons that Johnson wrote and preached. Series IV. Compositions is divided into two subseries: School Papers and Exercises, and Essays and Lectures. The collection is arranged chronologically within each series. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RELATED COLLECTIONS "Image of the Month for January 2009." Andover-Harvard Theological Library. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 26 Jan Web. 27 Jul < Longfellow, Samuel. Memoir. Lectures, Essays, and Sermons. By Samuel Johnson. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, Print. Samuel Johnson (clergyman). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 7 April Web. 27 Jul Stewart, Samuel. "Samuel Johnson ( )." Heralds of a Liberal Faith. 3. American Unitarian Association, Web. < REVEREND SAMUEL JOHNSON PAPERS, SERIES I. Correspondence SERIES II. Personal Papers A. Travel Logs and Appointment Books B. Notebooks C. Clippings D. Photographs SERIES III. Sermons SERIES IV. Compositions A. School Papers and Exercises B. Essays and Lectures SERIES LIST Page , Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum

3 CONTENTS LIST MSS 248: Reverend Samuel Johnson Papers SERIES I. Correspondence 1 1 Letters from parents Letters to parents June Letters to parents July (Includes hand drawn map of Harvard University) 4 Letters to parents Letters to parents Nov , undated 6 Letters to Anna (sister) Letters to Anna July , undated 8 Letters from Anna , undated 2 1 Letters to Joshua (brother) 1838-May Letters to Joshua (brother) , undated 3 Letters from Joshua Miscellaneous family letters Letters to Samuel Longfellow Letters from Samuel Johnson Letters from Samuel Johnson Letters from Samuel Johnson Letters from Samuel Johnson Letters from Samuel Johnson Letters from Samuel Johnson Letters from Samuel Johnson , undated 13 Miscellaneous correspondence 14 Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Mar Letters received Apr , Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum Page 3

4 MSS 248: Reverend Samuel Johnson Papers SERIES I. Correspondence (continued) 4 1 Photocopies of letter from Ralph W. Emerson Oct. 1, 1866 (original in Box 4 Folder 2) 2 Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received Letters received 1875-June Letters received July Letters received Letters received 1881, undated 13 Letters received from Samuel Longfellow 14 Letters received from Samuel May 15 Letters received from William Potter 16 Letters received from W.L. Garrison 17 Letters received from Theo Parker Letters received from O.B. Frothingham , undated 5 1 Letters received from David Wasson Letters received from J.W. Chadwick SERIES II. Personal Papers A. Travel Logs and Appointment Books 5 3 European travel log Travel logs 1842, 1860, undated 5 Travel log (Switzerland, France, Italy) Appointment books 1870, Appointment books 1872, 1874, 1875 B. Notebooks 6 3 Notebooks 1844, Notebook (Notes and references for sermons) Personal papers (Certificate of Pastorate-Lynn Free Church) 6 The Repository (weekly journal) 1839 Page , Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum

5 SERIES II. Personal Papers (continued) MSS 248: Reverend Samuel Johnson Papers 6 7 Printed memorabilia (autobiographical sketch, First Sunday School book) 1880, Notebook (Bibliography source info on various subjects) undated C. Clippings 7 1 Newspaper clippings undated [ ] 2 Newspaper clippings (poetry) undated 3 Miscellaneous papers of the Johnson family 1765, 1776, 1784, , 1805, 1882, 1835, undated 4 Miscellaneous papers regarding Jewett and Dodge 1745/6, 1795, , 1830, undated D. Photographs 7 5 Photographs undated SERIES III. Sermons 8 1 Sermons Sermons Sermons (Sermons on slavery) Sermons Sermons Sermons Sermons Sermons 1853 (Sermon on Opening of Free Church. Lynn, Aug. 7, 1853) 9 Sermons 1854, Sermons Sermons 1857 (Sermon on capital punishment and antislavery lecture) 3 Sermons Sermons (John Brown) Sermons Sermons Sermons Sermons , Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum Page 5

6 MSS 248: Reverend Samuel Johnson Papers SERIES III. Sermons (continued) 10 1 Sermons 1865 (Address regarding assassination of President Abraham Lincoln) 2 Sermons Sermons Sermons Sermons Sermons Sermons (Women s suffrage) Sermons (The Boston Fire of 1872) Sermons (Transcendentalism) Sermons Sermons Sermons Sermons (Subjects for sermons notebook) undated 7 Miscellaneous poems, hymns, and sermons undated 8 Miscellaneous poems, hymns, and sermons undated SERIES IV. Compositions A. School Papers and Exercises 11 9 High School papers High School papers undated 12 1 Harvard College exercises , undated 2 Harvard College exercises (Selected Forensics) Harvard College exercises (continued) Divinity School exercises Divinity School exercises 1843, undated 6 Divinity School exercises undated 7 Divinity School exercises undated 8 Divinity School exercises undated B. Essays and Lectures 13 1 Antislavery notes and speeches undated 2 Essays on life issues undated 3 Essays on life issues undated 4 Essays on historical events and different religions undated 5 Essays on historical events and different religions undated 6 Essays on philosophical issues undated Page , Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum

7 B. Essays and Lectures (continued) MSS 248: Reverend Samuel Johnson Papers 13 7 Essays on philosophical issues undated 8 Collections of extracts made at Divinity School Essays and lecture notebooks undated 14 1 Essays and lectures re: Travels in Europe and the U.S Essays and lectures re: Travels in Europe and the U.S Essays and letters on Travel Essays and letters on Travel (continued) Religions of the East undated 6 Religions of the East (continued) undated 7 Miscellaneous essays and lectures undated 15 1 Miscellaneous essays and lectures (continued) undated 2 The Worship of Jesus [a book by Rev. Samuel Johnson] 1868, undated 2011, Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum Page 7