William F. Johnston papers
Content Description
Personal and work papers of former Lewiston Morning Tribune journalist William (BJ, or Bill) F. Johnston. Johnston worked as a journalist for the Lewiston Morning Tribune. He worked as a Managing Editor from 1948-1965. In 1965, Johnston resigned from the tribune and began lecturing at the University of Washington, where he would work until his retirement in 1986.
Materials include class assignments, class notes, and writings from Johnston's time at the University of Idaho. These include articles for the Argonaut and Argus, programs for commencements and Borah Foundation Lectures.
From his time at the Lewiston Morning Tribune there are clippings of editorials and articles, correspondence, speeches, and materials from various committees he served on, including: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Idaho Civil Rights Advisory Committee, Nez Perce Development Advisory Committee, and Advisory Board on Indian Affairs. There is also correspondence with Senator Frank Church, Governor Robert E. Smylie, the White House, Senators, etc.
Materials from his time at University of Washington are primarily class files, lecture notes, and retirement albums.
There are also assorted materials pertaining to the establishment of the Nez Perce National Historic Park.
Dates
- Creation: 1924-1987
Creator
- Johnston, William F., 1917-1990 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
William F. “B.J.” Johnston was a former editor of the Lewiston Morning Tribune, a journalism educator, and a civic activist. Johnston was born in 1917 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. He graduated from Orofino High School in 1935 where he was class valedictorian, editor of the yearbook and school paper, and student body president. Johnston went on to attend the University of Idaho obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and political science in 1941. While a student at the university he married Majella Tyra, September 19, 1940, with whom he had four children: Walter, Stephen, Allen, and Melissa. He joined the Lewiston Morning Tribune in 1949 as managing editor where he remained until he left in 1965. He then became the first publisher of student publications at the University of Washington and then became association professor of journalism there and retired in 1986. Johnston was a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington, University of Idaho, DePauw University, Washington State University, and Idaho State University. Johnston was a huge contributor of the establishment of the Nez Perce National Historical Park, in addition to this Johnston had an honorary Doctorate degree of Literature at the University of Idaho in 1966. Johnston died at the age of 73 on 8 July 1990 in Seattle, Washington.
Extent
4 Cubic Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The materials within this collection are heavily concerned with William F. Johnston’s time as a professor at the University of Idaho. The materials held in this collection are Johnston’s notes, class materials, speeches, and publications.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials donated by Steve and Al Johnston, sons of Bill in June of 2019.
Condition Description
Some pages are torn and folded around edges, but mostly in good condition. A few pages have larger tears. News clippings were glued and taped to paper, and the glue has caused discoloration, and the clippings have come loose.
Processing Information
Materials within this collection are organized by topic.
Cultural context
Topical
- Title
- Guide to William F. Johnston papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Megan Wood.
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository