Leroy V. Johnson photograph collection

Leroy V. Johnson photograph collection, circa 1900-1950

Overview of the Collection

Collector: Johnson, Leroy V
Title: Leroy V. Johnson photograph collection
Dates: circa 1900-1950 (inclusive)
19001959
Quantity: 23 photographic prints, 3 postcards, 1 brochure (1 folder) ; various sizes
Collection Number: PH1096
Summary: Photographs of Leroy V. Johnson, a Seattle theater manager, and his family; photographs relating to theater performers and a view of the Rainier Theater marquee
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

LeRoy Johnson was born in Minnesota in 1894 and was married to Alys A. Johnson. He was the general manager of Seattle theaters owned by Jensen & Von Herberg including the Bagdad Theater, the Liberty Theater, and the Venetian Theater. The theaters were part of a chain based in Portland, Oregon. Johnson was reportedly arrested, the warrant signed by George Bouckart, Chairman of the Seattle Board of Theatre Censors, for showing flapper films at one of the theaters he managed.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The photographs depict theater buildings, advertisements, and equipment managed by LeRoy Johnson. The photographs also depict family and family friends of LeRoy Johnson as well as their picnics and an excursion to Granite Falls, Washington.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

The collection was acquired as a purchase in 1990 and part of it was separated out to manuscripts. Some architectural drawings that came with it were apparently discarded at that time.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from William D. Hughey, January 1990.

Processing Note

Processed by Elizabeth Russell and Heather Robbins ; processing completed in 2012.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

TheaterReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1/1	1	Publicity photograph of Leroy Johnson	circa 1930s
1/1	2	Fold-up brochure, The Seattle Guide containing advertisements for Seattle entertainments Leroy Johnson pictured on cover and contains brief article about Leroy Johnson in feature, "The Sauntering Seattleite."	August 17, 1946
1/1	3	U.S. Army Fort Lewis postcard photograph of Richard L. Ballard, possibly a former theater performer Morley Studios, Tacoma, Wash. (photographer) Written on verso: Dear Mr. Johnson, Am busier than well. Getting along swell. Don't like the army but am stuck, we are leaving here Friday or Monday for Alabama, Will have more time to write when I get there. Here is a picture I had taken the other day. Yours forever. Dick.	1951
1/1	4	Searchlight on wheels towed by Starlight Advertising Co. trailer	undated
1/1	5	Group of male and female performers on train station platform with suitcases and musical instruments	circa 1910s
1/1	6	Six men dressed as clowns carrying musical instruments	undated
1/1	7a	Rainier Theater marquee	1938
1/1	7b	Commercial Hotel and Liberty Theatre, Yakima, Washington	circa 1935

FamilyReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1/1	8a-c	Young man posed outdoors, probably Leroy Johnson, possibly in Eastern Washington	circa 1910s
1/1	9	Infant posed on cushion outdoors Written on verso: Read Anthony 5 mo.	undated
1/1	10	Older woman and infant Written on verso: Grandmother and Jimmie at the ranch.	undated
1/1	11	Little girl in overalls and cap in the snow	circa 1910s
1/1	12	Woman kneeling to embrace toddler	circa 1910s
1/1	13	Farmhouse, probably in Eastern Washington	undated
1/1	14	Boy roller skating on sidewalk	circa 1910s
1/1	15	Young woman watering with garden hose	circa 1910s
1/1	16	Young woman seated on riverbank, probably in Eastern Washington	circa 1920s
1/1	17	Man, probably Leroy Johnson, and woman	circa 1920s
1/1	18	Five people, including Leroy Johnson, posed across the water from Snoqualmie Falls Powerhouse	circa 1920s
1/1	19	Older man and woman with Leroy Johnson, photographed standing on suspension bridge	circa 1920s
		Picnic in Carbon Canyon with the Johnson, Sayre, and Estey families Pearl and Elinore Sayre were the wife and daughter of Seattle theatre critic J. Willis Sayre.	May 28, 1922
Folder	item
1/1	20	Group seated on picnic blanket Written on verso: May 28 - 22. At lunch on creek in Carbon Canyon between Buckley and South Prairie. L-R: Mrs. Leroy Johnson, Mr. Estey holding daughter Martha Jean, Elinore Sayre and Pearl Sayre.	May 28, 1922
1/1	21	Three women seated on picnic blanket L-R: Elinore Sayre, Mrs. Leroy Johnson, and Pearl Sayre.	May 28, 1922
1/1	22	Martha Jean Estey, Elinore Sayre, and Pearl Sayre on picnic blanket	May 28, 1922
1/1	23a-b	Martha Jean Estey, the young daughter of Mr. Estey	May 28, 1922
		Excursion to Granite Falls, Washington	September 7, 1924
Folder	item
1/1	24	Two men and three women posed near the Falls Man at left is probably J. Willis Sayre. Women pictured are probably Pearl Sayre, Mrs. Leroy Johnson, and Elinore Sayre.	September 7, 1924
1/1	25	Two women near the Falls, including Mrs. Leroy Johnson in foreground	September 7, 1924
Folder	item
1/1	26a	Man, probably Leroy Johnson, posed next to car	circa 1940s
1/1	26b	Woman, probably Leroy Johnson's wife, posed next to car	circa 1940s

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