UUS_mss372.xml Guide to the Michael W. Johnson papers 1865-2006 Michael W. Johnson papers 1865-2006 Finding aid/Register created by Frankie Urrutia-Smith and Clint Pumphrey Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives ©2018
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, Utah 84322-3000 Business Number: 435 797-8248 Fax Number: 435 797-2880 scweb@usu.edu https://archives.usu.edu/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-05-27. Finding aid encoded in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition). 2009 Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Michael W. Johnson papers UUS_COLL MSS 372 8 boxes 3.5 linear feet 1865-2006 This collection contains materials pertaining to Michael W. Johnson, a public historian involved in the Utah State History Fair, the Jensen Living Historical Farm, and the Golden Spike National Monument. Material in English

Processed in April of 2018.

This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives in 2009 by Suzanne Johnson.

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Michael W. Johnson papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Initial Citation: Michael W. Johnson papers USU_COLL MSS 372, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 372, USUSCA.

Michael W. Johnson, born in Illinois and raised in Arizona, first came to Utah in 1983 after receiving his bachelor's degree at Arizona State University. He enrolled at Utah State University to pursue a master's degree in history, which he completed in 1987. After graduation, he worked as an interpreter on the Jensen Living Historical Farm and later served as the director of the Utah State History Fair Program. This experience, coupled with his stint as a park ranger at Golden Spike National Monument, gave Johnson the experience to work as a historical and museum consultant. In this capacity, he helped museums such as the Ely Anderson Wagon and Carriage Museum and the Jensen Living Historical Farm to draft proposals, studies, and grants. Johnson was always an active historian. In the 1990s, he collaborated with Robert Parson and Daniel Stebbins to write A History of Daggett County: A Modern Frontier, an installment in the Utah Centennial County History Series. Johnson also had an interest in railroad history, an interest reflected in this collection. He died in February of 2007 after a battle with cancer.

This collection consists of correspondence, research, writing samples, and other files pertaining to the work of Michael W. Johnson. These materials would be particularly useful to those interested in railroad history, Daggett County, and the operation of the Utah State History Fair.

This collection was arranged by topic.

 Golden Spike National Historic Site (Utah) Daggett County (Utah) Promontory Point (Utah : Cape) Railroads--Utah--History. Elementary and Secondary Education Labor History Overland Journeys to the Western United States Railroads Transportation Utah Diaries Oral Histories Photographs Railroads Utley - Special Report on Promontory Summit, UT from National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings 1960 1 1 Life at Old Promontory Station in the Golden Spike Era - WAC 1969 1 2 The Way the "Hogs" Worked Promontory Hill During the Golden Spike Era - Old Pappy WA Clay 1969 1 3 Personal Life of a Chinese Coolie 1869-1899 by Old Pappy WA Clay 1969 1 4 Hot Springs, UT: Promontory Station History - Old Pappy WA Clay 1969 1 5 Promontory Station 1869-1899 by Old Pappy WA Clay 1969 1 6 Photo of Union Pacific Train from Turn of the Century undated 1 7 John H. White of Smithsonian Institution - Letter About Arizona Spike 1978 1 8 Restaurant and Boarding House at Promontory> 1978 1 9 Michael W. Johnson - Interpreting Promontory Photographs 1980 August 1 10 Michael W. Johnson - Historic Photograph Study of the Golden Spike Ceremony 2001 July 1 11 Letter from Gerald M Best of Railway and Locomotive Historical Society about Switch Stands 1983 December 1 12 Cafky: the Story of Locomotive 42 undated 1 13 Shipping Receipts from Virginia and Truckee Railroad 1870-1920 1 14 Letter from S. William about A.J. Russell's Trestle Photos 2000 September 1 15 Photos of Threshing Machines - Richmond and Petersboro undated 1 16 Ken Longe of Union Pacific System - Letter about Trackage Right Agreement Between Ogden and Corinne 1985 November 1 17 Correspondence from Harvey Fenton Regarding Identification of a Second Golden Spike 2002 1 18 Bibliography of Books and Articles Relevant to the History of Golden Spike National Historic Site 2000 1 19 Tents at Golden Spike National Historic Site - Appendices undated 1 20 Hedren - Tents at Promontory, May 1869 1978 December 1 21 Grant Application to Southwest Parks and Monuments Association for "Racing Towards Promontory: Golden Spike Historic Research Project for Railroad Construction Sites" 1999 1 22 Research Grant Proposal - Project: Golden Spike Oral History Project 2002 1 23 Untitled Thesis about Promontory Point undated 1 24 Adolph Reeder - Promontory as I Remember It undated 1 25 Switch Targets at Promontory undated 1 26 History of the Golden Spike (1949) undated 1 27 Utah Division of State History Grant Application - Project: Golden Spike Ceremony Revisited undated 1 28 Stage Guide for Golden Spike Cast 1963 1 29 109th Anniversary Golden Spike Celebration 1978 May 1 30 The Last Spike is Driven: a Reenactment Script for the Driving of the Golden Spike 1982-2000 1 31 Notes on Research and Plans for a Golden Spike Reenactment Program 1990-2000 1 32 Eckberg - Carrying on a Tradition: Golden Spike Ceremonies Through the Years undated 1 33 Promontory Self-Guided Walker - Program Outline 1985 1 34 Statement for Interpretation 1985 1 35 Golden Spike National Historic Site - Scope of Collection 1986 1 36 Conference Schedule at Golden Spike National Historic Site 1987 1 37 Golden Spike Rail Feasibility Study 1994 1 38 Letter from Michael W. Johnson and Daniel Stebbins to Ron Everhart about Feasibility of "Rail Link" Project 1995 May 1 39 Comprehensive Interpretive Plan - Golden Spike National Historic Site 1995-1997 1 40 Golden Spike National Historic Site - Wayside Exhibit Proposal 1998 1 41 Resource Management Plan: Golden Spike Historic Site 1998 September 1 42 Strategy for Expanding and Coordinating Historic Research Efforts at Golden Spike National Historic Site 1999 October 1 43 Draft Promontory Station Roundhouse Test Excavation 2002 1 44 Implementation Plan - Reconstruction of Last Spike Site for Golden Spike National Historic Site 2000 December 1 45 Rules for Firing Golden Spike Locomotives undated 1 46 Daggett County Links to the Past - Norma Gamble and Francie Anderson Intro undated 2 1 Links to the Past - Norma Gamble and Francie Anderson Intro undated 2 1 The Aldridge Family undated 2 2 Allen Family, Taylor Family undated 2 3 Mary Olson Almond undated 2 4 William Anderson - Forest Service Work in Early 1900s. undated 2 5 Anderson Family undated 2 6 Leila Terry Anderson undated 2 7 Stewart and Anderson Families undated 2 8 TR Anderson undated 2 9 Anson Family undated 2 10 Mary Elizabeth Swett Despain Arrowsmith - a Home Steader's Daughter 1988 2 11 Beatrice Eudora Edwards Beck undated 2 12 Donald Behunin undated 2 13 Orson Behunin undated 2 14 Bennett Family on Bennett Trail undated 2 15 Lawrence Paul Biorn and Thelma Edginton Biorn 1995 2 16 Boynton Family undated 2 17 Harold and Zelda Brady undated 2 18 Simeon Brady undated 2 19 Briggs Family undated 2 20 Mary Nelson Briggs undated 2 21 Agnes and David Briggs - An Enlightenment Experience 1987 May 2 22 Afton Nebeker Christensen undated 2 23 Clifford Amasa Christensen undated 2 24 Bill and Emma Cox undated 2 25 Bonnie Crosby undated 2 26 Elijah Driscoll undated 2 27 Zebulon Edwards undated 2 28 Alvin Elmer undated 2 29 Narrative Believed to be Written by Alta Gamble undated 2 30 Garibaldi B Gamble undated 2 31 Norma Buckles Gamble undated 2 32 Veloy Terry Gregory undated 2 33 Henry and Melissa Heiner undated 2 34 Reynold Heiner undated 2 35 Journal of Florence Smith Welch Hill undated 2 36 Ora Schofield Iverson undated 2 37 Harry and Florence Katzmyer undated 2 38 Lucille Katzmyer undated 2 39 Esther and Donald Larsen undated 2 40 MN Larsen - History of Daggett County (1938) undated 2 41 "This Was Papa" - Biography of NM Larsen 1997 2 42 Donna Lloyd 1993 May 2 43 Charles Stewart "Tinker" Lyle undated 2 44 Phill Mass undated 2 45 Mack McGinnis undated 2 46 Charles Meeks Family undated 2 47 Jesse Mendenhall undated 2 48 Martha Rigbee Nelson undated 2 49 Olsen and Jarvie Family undated 2 50 Sara Frances Harris Olson undated 2 51 Allan Dale Pallesen and Rena Faye Potter Pallesen 1993 May 2 52 Delbert Pallesen 1993 May 2 53 Neils Pallesen undated 2 54 William Pearson undated 2 55 Ida Stewart Peay - Rafting Over Green River undated 2 56 Perkins Family undated 2 57 Albert F. Potter - Diary (1902) undated 2 58 Bertha Nelson Potter undated 2 59 Orvel JW Potter undated 2 60 Tim and Bertha Potter undated 2 61 Mont Pulham undated 2 62 Steve and Arlie Radosevich undated 2 63 Minnie Crouse Rasmussen 1982 June 2 64 Clara Geneva Ruble Robinson and William Elmer Robinson undated 2 65 William Robinson - Mckinnon as I Remember It undated 2 66 Ivan Eugene Ruble undated 2 67 Mary R Ruble 1989 2 68 Thomas H Ruble undated 2 69 Merlin Frank Schofield 1995 February 2 70 Fon Slagowski undated 2 71 Eli and Susie Mae Slagowski undated 2 72 Chloa Robert Slaugh undated 2 73 Alvin E Smith - Country Dentist undated 2 74 Alvin Smith undated 2 75 Sarah Smith, Pioneer Wife undated 2 76 Recollections of Keith Smith fo Linwood, UT, as Told By His Daughter Susan 1962 3 1 Austin and Lovina Stevens undated 3 2 Clyde and Elinore Stewart undated 3 3 Edna Stoll Stiteler undated 3 4 Jerrine Rupert Wire to Edna Stoll Stiteler: Letter undated 3 5 George "Dutchy" Stoll undated 3 6 Pearson and Stoll Family - Wyoming Centennial Celebration 1990 3 7 Thelma Mendenhall Taylor undated 3 8 Genevieve Lilian Jarman Tinker undated 3 9 Triplett Family undated 3 10 Beulah Eleanor Larsen Turner - Childhood Memories 1981 January 3 11 Boots Twitchell undated 3 12 Glen and Doris Walker undated 3 13 Glen and Mabel Warby undated 3 14 Washam Family undated 3 15 Welch Family undated 3 16 Frank White and Alden White undated 3 17 Nita Anderson White undated 3 18 Widdops Family in Burntfork undated 3 19 Eleen T Williams undated 3 20 Henry Williams undated 3 21 Story of Mick - by Jerrine Rupert Wire undated 3 22 Coon Hollow - by Jessie Youngberg undated 3 23 History of a Tree - Eleen Williams undated 3 24 Fragment of an Oral History undated 3 25 Dagget County Statistics 1985 3 26 Sweetwater County Info Sheet 1970 3 27 Briggs - Linwood the Town Baptized by Fire and Water undated 3 28 Briggs - the Tragic Flood at Sheep Creek 1985 3 29 World Civilization - an Enlightening Experience by Agnes Briggs as told by David Briggs 1987 May 3 30 Daggett County Photos - Linwood Historical Photos undated 3 31 Hell Raising Linwood - the Town that Drowned - Kerry Ross Boren undated 3 32 C Pitt - Daggett County 1974 3 33 Swett Ranch at Greendale, Utah undated 3 34 Baxter - History of Public Education in Daggett County, Utah and Adjacent Areas 1959 3 35 Elna Walker - Washam School District 1990 3 36 School Thesis undated 3 37 Old Schools undated 3 38 Dedication Green Dale Junction to Manila 1971 August 3 39 Daggett County - Courthouse Dedication 1978 December 3 40 The Pinon o Pinon Camp DF-35 Newsletters 1934-1965 3 41 Carter Dugway Road #004: Ashley National Forest - Road History Report undated 3 42 Men on the Mountain - Vernal District Rangers undated 3 43 Men on the Mountain - Vernal District Rangers undated 3 44 Human History of the Ashley National Forest undated 3 45 Loosle - The Ashley National Forest undated 3 46 Inventory of the County Archives of Utah - Daggett County 1939 3 47 Grandpa Knew Butch Cassidy - Kerry Ross Boren 1966 3 48 Sheep Creek Mtn - Range Management Plan for 1956 Grazing Season 1956 3 49 History of Lucerne Valley and Irrigation undated 3 50 Recreation in Daggett County undated 3 51 Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area - Pamphlet undated 3 52 Daggett County - Heart of the Flaming Gorge undated 3 53 Death of Emerson Wells (1913) undated 3 54 Letter from Craig Fuller to Michael W. Johnson about Dagget County History Project 1992 September 4 1 Michael W. Johnson's Contract for Daggett County Centennial History 1993 4 2 Centennial History Project - Budgeting and Planning 1991-1996 4 3 Correspondence 1996 February 4 4 Daggett County History Manuscript Draft of Ch. 1 - Flaming Gorge Country 1995 December 4 5 Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir undated 4 6 Mormons, Mountaineers, and Utah's Forgotten County undated 4 7 Daggett County History Manuscript Draft - Into the Far West 1995 December 4 8 Daggett County History Manuscript Draft - Ranching Communities 1995 December 4 9 New Communities undated 4 10 Utah's Newest County undated 4 11 A Recreational Economy undated 4 12 Regional Travel and Transportation undated 4 13 Daggett County Historical Note undated 4 14 Daggett County History Manuscript, Additions to Draft 1996 November 4 15 Epilogue undated 4 16 County History Bibliography 1980-1989 4 17 Utah State History Fair Schimbeck - Delving Into History: A Report on Preparing for the History Fair undated 4 18 Utah History Fair Request for Donations undated 4 19 Certificate of Achievement Presented by Utah History Fair and National History Fair undated 4 20 Sorensen - the History Fair Experience 2006 4 21 Leany - An "Honor" to Teach History Fair at Lava Ridge 2006 4 22 Utah History Fair Implementation Report 2006 4 23 Lefler - Utah History Fair Process Paper 2006 4 24 Utah History Fair at Utah State University - Budgets and Expenses 2006 4 25 Utah's History Fair Student Guide and Info. 1987-1988 4 26 Utah History Fair Theme: Discovery, Encounter, Exchange in History; the Seeds of Change 1991 4 27 Utah Education Projects 1990-1999 4 28 History Fair Schedule and Worksheets 1996 December 5 1 National History Fair: Grants and Funding 1999-2000 5 2 National History Day - Public Relations Plans 2001 5 3 National History Day - Judging Instructions undated 5 4 National History Fair Development Plans 2000-2006 5 5 National History Day Report - Migration in History 1998 5 6 National History Day - National Contest: State Coordinator Guide undated 5 7 National History Day - Rule Interpretation Manual undated 5 8 Miscellaneous National History Fair Materials 2000-2009 5 9 National History Day - Judging Process, Forms, Handbooks 1999 5 10 Arizona History Day Theme Supplement - Science, Technology, and Invention in History 1999 5 11 Other Materials Michael W Johnson: Historian and Museum Consultant - Resume 1990-1999 5 12 Utah Heritage Areas and Corridors undated 5 13 National Register of Historical Places Registration Form - Ogden, Logan, and Idaho Railroad Depot 1990 5 14 The State of the Past: a Strategic Plan for Utah's History 1992 5 15 Ely Anderson Wagon and Carriage Museum Feasibility Studies 1993-1994 5 16 Buffalo Bill Historical Center 1990-1999 5 17 Utah War Sesquicentennial 2006 5 18 Strategic Plan for the Bear River Heritage Council 2000 5 19 Michael W. Johnson - Steam in the Valley: a Plan B Proprosal - Jensen Historical Farm undated 5 20 Clarixe-Collection Management at the Jensen Farm 1990 5 21 Harold J Tippetts - Iron Mission Park Study 1972 5 22 Buchel - Museum Assessment Program Assessment of the Iron Mission State Historical Monument 1985 5 23 Iron Mission State Park - Working Trustee's Meeting 1990 September 5 24 Iron Mission Development Project - Agenda and Planning 1990 5 25 Iron Mission Development Project - Proposed Museum Map and Plan 1990 5 26 Condition Assessment Program: Iron Mission State Park/Museum Architectural Assessment 1991 September 5 27 Iron Mission State Park - Correspondence 1995 April 5 28 Program for the Iron County One Stop Visitor Center Building 1995 May 5 29 Iron Mission State Park: Local Agencies Contact Persons 1995 5 30 Iron Mission State Park Heritage Center - Presentation on Project Plan undated 5 31 Articles of Incorporation of Iron Mission Museum Foundation: a Nonprofit Corporation undated 5 32 Renn Zphiropoulos - Proposal of an Outline for the Iron Mission Advertising Brochure undated 5 33 Building the Iron Mission Park in Cedar City undated 5 34 Roberts - the History of Antelope Island undated 6 1 Antelope Island Historial and Interpretive Study 1993 6 2 Friends of Antelope Island Committee Descriptions undated 6 3 Report to Provide Guidance for Development of Antelope Island undated 6 4 Plan and Results of the Garr Ranch House Survey undated 6 5 Westward Movement Transaction Outline - Lists Education Objectives, Learning Activities, Primary Activity undated 6 6 The Westward Movement: A Multimedia Supplement - Transaction Lists undated 6 7 The Westward Movement: a Multi-Media Supplement - Final Report undated 6 8 US West Project - Statement of Work and Administrative 1996 6 9 "Hotwords" and Their Descriptions undated 6 10 William A Cart - The Fort Thornburg Road (1936) undated 6 11 Letter About and Transcripts of FM Cleary Letters - From Fort Bridger 1996 6 12 Visit "Miss Esther" Campbell with Carole L Jackson 1990-1999 6 13 Alice Eliza Phillips Frary 1966 6 14 Terror at 32 Below - as Told by Walter Boren undated 6 15 History of the Cattle Industry in Box Elder, UT from the Utah Farmer 1966 6 16 Nelson - Communicators who Changed History: Navajo Code Talkers undated 6 17 Michael W. Johnson - Whiskey or Water: a Brief History of the Cache National Forest 2003 October 6 18 AJ Hansen - Logan Canyon undated 6 19 Michael Johsnon - Games and Sports in Early Southeastern Idaho (1860-1890) 1990 6 20 Loosle, Broadbent, Ingram - the Other Side of Life: Hunting with the Fremont 1993 6 21 Notes on Ronald V Jensen Living Historical Farm and Living History Museums undated 7 1 Story of Promontory Point and the Railroad - Essay undated 7 2 Agricultural Steam Engines in America undated 7 3 Photograph by : American Fork Junior High Students, 3rd Place in Group Junior Performance National History Day Maryland 1989, Philo T. Farnsworth project - Tiffany Long, Terri Norton, Kelly Olsen, Dana Rosvall 1989 8 1 Association of American Railroads advertisements undated 8 2 Transcontinental Railroad Diary, Vol. 1 (author unidentified) 1865 8 3 Transcontinental Railroad Diary, Vol. 2 (author unidentified) 1865 8 4