Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
d'Elaine Johnson papers, 1972-2023
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Johnson, d'Elaine
- Title
- d'Elaine Johnson papers
- Dates
- 1972-2023 (inclusive)19722023
- Quantity
- 0.19 cubic feet (1 box including 1 DVD and 2 CDs)
- Collection Number
- 6012
- Summary
- DVD and CDs, artistic biographies, newspaper articles, resumes, and writings of an artist and former Seattle Visual Arts Instructor based in Edmonds, Washington
- 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
-
No restrictions on access.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
d’Elaine A. Herard Johnson is an artist primarily based in Edmonds, Washington. d'Elaine Johnson (Edmonds) was raised in Auburn, Washington, and received a BA in Art Education from Central Washington University and an MFA from the University of Washington. She served for twenty-four years as a Visual Arts Instructor in Seattle. Johnson was inspired by her former students and experiences as one of the first female scuba divers. Much of her artwork focuses on water and its life-giving properties, and the myths and lore of the people of the world.
d'Elaine Johnson was born on March 19, 1932, with low vision in her left eye and legally blind in her right. She was known as an artist in school but was told she would not be able to go to college because of her vision. After high school, she was awarded two scholarships and attended Central Washington University where she was involved in multiple organizations including as a Violinist in the CWSU string quartet and University Orchestra. Due to her disability, Johnson had to work “twice as hard as other students” and relinquished her social life to succeed in class while also financially supporting herself. At 22 she became a full-time educator and was an art instructor until she was 47 when her vision no longer allowed her to continue as a teacher. She began creating art in a day-lit studio and exhibited her work at venues where sales were not required so that Social Security disability wouldn’t cancel her stipend, until age 65. Johnson did not acknowledge her disability until her 70s because she wanted to “compete in the art arena as an equal to the best of painters” but began acknowledging it to try to inspire younger artists.
[Source: "Diligence" by d'Elaine A. Herard Johnson, and https://www.delainejohnson.com/about]
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Materials include two CDs, one DVD, artistic biographies, newspaper articles, resumes, and writings of d'Elaine Johnson and her work as a painter and Visual Arts Instructor in Seattle. The CDs contain jpeg images of Johnson's art work and an interview conducted by Edmonds Community College (interviewer Melissa Newell) in 2009, titled "Life is an Art Form." The DVD is titled “d’Elaine The Art of Myth & Lore.”
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 2 accessions.
- Accession No. 6012-001, d'Elaine Johnson papers, 2009
- Accession No. 6012-002, d'Elaine Johnson papers, 1972-2023
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 6012-001: d'Elaine Johnson papers, 2009Return to Top
Scope and Content: Materials include two CDs. One contains jpeg images of Johnson's art work. The other is an interview with Johnson conducted by Edmonds Community College (interviewer Melissa Newell) in 2009, titled "Life is an Art Form".
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Copyrights retained by creator. Contact Special Collections for details.
Acquisition Info: d'Elaine Johnson, 2016-06-20
Accession No. 6012-002: d'Elaine Johnson papers, 1972-2023Return to Top
Scope and Content: Papers and materials, including artist bios, newspaper articles, resumes, and writing, 1 DVD: “d’Elaine The Art of Myth & Lore”
- Series 1, d'Elaine Johnson biographical information
- Series 2, Press and promotion
- Series 3, Pisces Studio
- Series 4, Writing
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: d'Elaine Johnson, 2023-06-06
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Series 1: d'Elaine Johnson biographical information |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/1 | 6012-002 | Resumes |
2014 |
1/2 | 6012-002 | Artist statements and bios
Scope and Content: Includes 1958 University of Washington Master of Fine Arts
Thesis and "Diligence" by d'Elaine A. Herard Johnson
|
1995 |
Box | |||
1 | 6012-002 | d'Elaine The Art of Myth & Lore DVD DVD
Scope and Content: "A Retrospective of Northwest painter d'Elaine Johnson and the
inspiration for her art, the waters of the world."
Available
to watch in UW Special Collection's Reading Room.
|
2013 |
Series 2: Press and promotion |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/3 | 6012-002 | PNW Diver Magazine |
2015 |
1/4 | 6012-002 | News articles |
2020-2023 |
1/5 | 6012-002 | Press releases |
2014 |
Series 3: Pisces Studio |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/6 | 6012-002 | Pisces Studio for sale inventory |
1972-2022 |
1/7 | 6012-002 | Pisces Studio not for sale inventory |
1972-2022 |
1/8 | 6012-002 | Handwritten inventory |
2022 |
Series 4: Writing |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/9 | 6012-002 | Creative writing
Scope and Content: Includes writing about art, and philosophical and poetic
writing
|
2017 |
1/1 | 6012-002 | Selected Comments from diary |
undated |
1/11 | 6012-002 | Correspondence |
2017-2023 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Johnson, d'Elaine--Archives
- Johnson, d'Elaine--Interviews