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Reverend Billy J. Johnson papers

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1104

Overview

The Reverend Billy J. Johnson papers are those of a longtime Kansan who served as pastor at several churches in the state, serving last at Topeka's Calvary Baptist Church.

Dates

  • Creation: 1949 - 1990

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Billy J. Johnson

Billy Jene Johnson was born August 7, 1929 in Easely, South Carolina to John W. and Evilee Johnson. He served in the US Air Force from 1948 to 1968. During that time, he moved to Topeka, Kansas. Johnson earned an Associate of Arts degree from Pratt (Kansas) Community Junior College in 1969 and, in 1972, earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Washburn University. He also completed graduate studies at Newberg, Indiana's Trinity College and Seminary. Johnson served as pastor of Pratt, Kansas' Second Baptist Church from 1968-1970, as Assistant Pastor at Topeka's Calvary Baptist from 1970-1972, and as Pastor of Lawrence, Kansas' First Regular Missionary Baptist Church during 1972. From 1980 until his 1989 retirement, Johnson returned to Calvary Baptist Church in Topeka to serve as Pastor.

Johnson was active in a number of organizations. He served as President of the Southwestern District Baptist Association's Laymen Department and Director of Christian Education for both the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Kansas and the Kaw Valley District Baptist Association. He was a board member of the Mayor's Fair Housing Board and the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, Director of Extension Courses at Western Baptist Bible College of Kansas City, and both Dean for Study Courses and President of the Baptist Ministers Union. Johnson was an active NAACP and Euclid Lodge No 2 F. & A.M. member.

On Dec 11, 1952, Johnson married Ruby Jones. The couple had two sons, Kevin L. and Karl D. Billy J. Johnson died Jan 19, 1990.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 box + 3 folders, 1 oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The Papers of Billy J. Johnson date from 1949 to 1990 and are arranged in a single series. They include such items as clippings, sermons, schoolwork, certificates, Church information, and programs. Folder arrangement is alphabetical.

Photographs from the Collection are located at RH MS-P 1104. Oversize material from the Collection is located at RH MS Q281.

Physical Location

RH MS 1104

Physical Location

RH MS-P 1104

Physical Location

RH MS Q281

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Billy J. Johnson, 1987 ;

Gift, Ruby Johnson, 1998

Separated Materials

Miscellaneous church bulletins from the Calvary Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas. Topeka, Kan.: The Church, 1968-1986, at RH P957, Spencer Library (Kansas Collection).

Calvary Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. Topeka, Kan.: The Church, 1994, at RH D6854, Spencer Library (Kansas Collection).

First century, Calvary Baptist Church. Topeka, Kan.: The Church, 1964, at RH D6843, Spencer Library (Kansas Collection).

58 years of building, 1891-1949: souvenir program, Missionary Baptist State Convention of Kansas and Women's Convention Auxiliary to the State Convention. Parsons, Kan.: The Convention, 1949, at RH E599, Spencer Library (Kansas Collection).

1903 golden jubilee 1953 of the Kaw Valley District Association and Missionary Department. Topeka?, Kan.: The Department, 1953, at RH E602, Spencer Library (Kansas Collection).

Title
Guide to the Reverend Billy J. Johnson Collection
Subtitle
Reverend Billy J. Johnson papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by mbw, 2008; revised by, cl 2010; revised by skt, 2010; Finding aid encoded by mbw, 2008; revised by skt, 2010
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Support for the processing of this Collection was provided by the Dana and Sue Anderson African American Collecting Program Endowment Fund.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/4436860094
Preferred citation
Reverend Billy J. Johnson Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 1104, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334