Field notebooks relating to Australian geology and archaeology

This series can be divided into two groups. The first and larger group, AA 159/1/1 to AA 159/1/8, contains field notes from trips undertaken on behalf of both the South Australian Department of Mines and Geosurveys Pty Ltd between 1953 to 1963. These field notebooks are closely related in subject matter, with geology and ethnology being the principal matters discussed. More specifically, they include written notes on geological sites, sketches of Australian Aboriginal artefacts and colour sketches of rock art with written descriptions.

The field notebooks cover consecutive periods, and closely follow on from each other. Some field books contain a contents page on the inside back or front cover and some contain an index, both of which usually refer to place names. Items AA 159/1/6 and AA 159/1/7 are exercise books used for field notes and the remainder AA 159/1/1 to AA 159/1/5, and AA 159/1/9 to AA 159/1/10 are stenographer style notebooks.

The second group of notebooks, AA 159/1/9 and AA 159/1/10, date from 1972 to 1980, during the period Johnson was an Honorary Research Worker and Associate at the South Australian Museum. There is some overlap in dates between the two notebooks in this group. These field notebooks refer extensively to meteorites (Johnson is known to have obtained at least 3 meteorites for the South Australian Museum in this time) and phosphates. They are less rigorously organised than the early field notebooks.

Correspondence relating to mineralogy and geology

This series contains Johnson’s mineralogical correspondence. It includes a wide variety of material, including correspondence with other mineralogists in Australia and overseas (both amateur and professional) as well as photographs, postcards, draft papers and other material.

Most of the correspondence in this series was sent to Johnson by other mineral specimen collectors in relation to the collection and exchange of mineral samples, particularly micromounted specimens. Some correspondence also relates to general mineralogical and geological subjects, and some relates to the age and distribution of australites. It appears that many people initiated contact with Johnson from around the world, following publication of articles in various journals, and expressed interest in exchanging samples with him. In some cases, the correspondence continued for many years after this initial contact.

Johnson was a prolific correspondent, usually making a careful note of the date of his reply on each letter.

The correspondence in this series has been collated into groups for each individual correspondent, organised alphabetically by surname, then listed and described in chronological order.

Records relating to Johnson's personal life, mineralogy and work at the South Australian Museum

This series contains personal and working papers accumulated by Johnson. It includes a wide range of material, including personal financial papers, certificates, photographs, mineralogical notes, a catalogue of mineral specimens collected by Johnson, correspondence and documents relating to Johnson’s death and the organisation of his memorial, and documents relating to Johnson’s work at the South Australian Museum.

Manuscripts and papers written by Johnson relating to Australian archaeology, minearlay and geology including the 'Catalogue of South Australian Minerals'

This series contains manuscripts and papers authored by Johnson, either solely or in collaboration with others, often with associated correspondence and documentation. Some of the manuscripts are in draft form and some in published form. In some cases various drafts of the same paper are included. The papers cover a range of topics, including the archaeology of Australian Aboriginal living sites in Central Australia, the mineralogical and geological characteristics of various locations, the distribution of australites, and the minerals of South Australia.

This series also includes a number of drafts and a significant amount of working notes and other documentation relating to the Catalogue of South Australian Minerals, the major research project of Johnson’s later years. He died in the week it was published and he never saw the published version.

Monographs and reprints collected by Johnson

This series contains several monographs and reprints covering various subjects of interest to Johnson, including anthropology and ethnology, particularly with regard to Australian Aborigines, as well as some discussion of mineralogy and geology. Several papers authored by Norman Tindale (see AA 338) are included in this series, and Australian Aboriginal tool-making methods and Australites were clearly subjects of interest to Johnson.

Some of the monographs have been inscribed to Johnson personally by the authors.

The monographs are paperback, and many have been reprinted from other journals, such as Records of the South Australian Museum, and Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. They reflect some of the subjects in which Johnson maintained a keen interest and the colleagues with whom he was in contact.