Jane Hall Johnson
Architectural Papers, 1955-1986, Ms2000-051, 8 cu. ft.
Prepared by
Susan Conway, Jennifer Gunter, and Catherine G. OBrion
Encoded by
Catherine G. OBrion
Administrative Information
Provenance: The papers of Jane Hall Johnson were donated to Special Collections at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University by Jane Hall Johnson, via her niece Deborah Rice, in June 2001.
Processing History: The processing, arrangement and description of Johnson's papers began in December 2001 and was completed in September 2002.
Preferred Citation: Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Jane Hall Johnson Architectural Papers, Ms 2000-057, Digital Library and Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Biographical Note
Jane Hall was born in Maryville, Missouri, in 1919. She was the second of three daughters. Both her parents were schoolteachers. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to St. Louis, where she Johnson attended elementary and high school. In 1941, Hall graduated from the Missouri School of Mines with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation, Hall worked at numerous firms as a structural engineer on highway design and airplane stress analysis. In 1949, Hall decided to go back to school to study architecture. She earned a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Harvard University in 1955. In 1970, this degree was changed to a Master of Architecture.
From 1955-59, Hall worked as a design draftsman in Boston, Massachusetts. She moved back to St. Louis in 1959 and worked for several architectural firms, first as a design draftsman and then as an architect. She established her own practice in 1970 and continued practicing until 1997. She married Benjamin Johnson in 1969, and she and Johnson, an engineer, opened their own firm, Jane C. Hall, Architect, in St. Louis in 1970. The firm's larger clients included the St. Louis Redevelopment Authority, the Human Development Corporation, and Montgomery Hyde-Park. Johnson also completed numerous residences in the St. Louis area. Johnson enjoyed photographing her own projects.
Jane Hall Johnson retired in 1997.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Jane Hall Johnson (1919-2001) span the years 1955-1986. They consist of architectural drawings and blueprints, presentation boards, portfolios, photographs, sketches, professional correspondence, and publicity brochures about her firm. They are organized into the following series: Education, Credentials, Professional Work, and Photographs.
Architectural drawings, sketches, blueprints, and presentation boards form the centerpiece of the collection. These materials document Johnson's career from her days at Harvard, where she earned a degree in architecture in 1955, to her professional career in Boston, from 1956 to 1959, and her career in St. Louis from 1959 to 1986. The collection also contains numerous photographs and slides of Johnson's work, a file of general correspondence from her firm, Jane C. Hall, Architect, for the years 1973 and 1976, and publicity materials created for her firm. The collection also includes a portfolio of her professional work, ca. 1968, which contains biographical information, clippings, and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF SERIES
| Container Nos. | Series |
| Oversize 1-3; Box 1, Folder 1; Box 2 | Education, 1955
This series contains drawings and presentation boards of work for Johnson's Thesis, an International Student Center for the Boston metropolitan area; a drawing of a design for a small residence; and a folder of paintings identified as experiments with color. Photographs of models of the International Center are in the Photographs series.
|
| Oversize 3; Box 1, Folders 2-4 | Credentials, 1958-1994
This series contains Johnson's diploma from Harvard, her state registration certificates, and continuing education certificates.
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| Oversize 6-54; Box 1, Folders 5-13 | Professional Work, 1956-1986.
This series consists primarily of blueprints, drawings, sketches, presentation boards, and construction drawings created by Johnson during her professional career. It also contains a file of professional correspondence, 1973-1976; brochures for the firm Jane C. Hall, Architect, 1973-1986, a series of smaller sketches, some of which are not identified by date or firm but were probably created early in her career; and a portfolio, ca. 1968, of clippings, drawings, and photographs of her work. The bulk of the material in this series documents Johnson's career from 1973 to 1986, but the series also includes projects she did while working for Boston firms between 1956 and 1959. Materials are organized into the following sub-series: Anderson, Nichols & Company; Kilham, Hopkins, Greeley, & Brodie; Jane C. Hall, Architect; and Miscellaneous Projects. Within these sub-series, materials are arranged by both project and type of material.
|
| Box 1, Folders 14-21 | Photographs, 1955-1986.
This series consists of prints and negatives and slides, both black and white and color, of Jane Hall Johnson's architectural projects beginning with her graduate school projects. The series also includes several black and white photographs of Jane Hall Johnson, 1959-1965. Photographs of her work are also in the portfolios described in the in the Education and Professional Work series and located in boxes 2 and 3.
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CONTAINER LIST
Education, 1955
| Container Nos. | Contents |
| Oversize Folders 1-2 | Thesis Project, "An International Student Center for the Greater Boston Area," (Presentation Boards and Interior Drawings) |
| Box 2 | Portfolio of Student Work |
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Write-up of Thesis Project |
| Oversize Folder 3 | Graduate School Project: A Small Residence (Drawings) |
Credentials, 1958-1994
| Container Nos. | Contents |
| Oversize Folder 4 | Harvard University diploma, 1958 |
| Box 1, Folders 2-4 | State Registration Certificates, 1961-1994 Membership Certificate, Society of American Registered Architects, 1964 Continuing Education Certificates, 1967 and 1971 Certificate from Harvard University changing Johnson's degree to a master's degree, 1970 |
Professional Work, 1956-1986
| Container Nos. | Contents |
| Oversize Folder 6 | Anderson-Nichols and Company Drawings, 1955-1956 (Raynham Elementary School, Sharon High School) Blueprints, 1956-1961; (University of Missouri, Student Annex; Building Connecting Vocational Recreational Building and Proposed Treatment Building; Laclede Gas Company, Meter Storage Building; Raynham Elementary School |
| Oversize Folder 7 | Sketches, n.d. (Laclede Steel, interior rooms) |
| Oversize Folder 8 | Anderson-Nichols and Company Presentation Boards, n.d. (Laclede Steele) |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Jamieson, Spearl, Hammand, & Grolock, Architects Interior Room Sketches, n.d. (Wood River Township Hospital) |
| Oversize Folder 9 | Kilaham, Hopkins, Greeley Drawings, 1957-1961 (Franklin School, Cushing Academy, Central Junior High, Blytheswood) |
| Oversize Folder 10 | Blueprints, 1961-1962, n.d. (Cook Middle School, Minut-Shop Stores, Inc., 1961, Renovation of Caroline Mission) |
| Box 1, Folders 6-9 | Jane C. Hall, Architect Firm Brochures, 1973-1981, 1986 Business Correspondence, 1973-1976 Proposal write-ups for firm brochures, 1986 |
| Oversize Folders, 13-54 | B.P.O. Elks Lodge, 1973 (Presentation Boards) Retirement Village, Cuba, Missouri, 1973 (Presentation Boards) Montgomery Hyde Park Health Clinic, 1973 (Presentation Boards, 2 folders) Human Development Corporation Single Family Residence, 1974 (Drawings) Schaller Residence, Prototype Single Family Residence, 1974, 1979 (Preliminary Drawings, Presentation Boards) Human Development Corporation Retirement Village, 1975-1976 (Preliminary Drawings and Drawings) New City Place, 1976 (Drawings) Antoine Residence, 1976-1982 (Preliminary Sketches, Preliminary Drawings, 2 folders; Drawings, Construction Drawings, Presentation Boards, 2 folders Williams Residence Addition, Walnut Park Senior Citizens Home, Fairfax Senior Citizens Home Ramp, 1977-1979 (Construction Drawings) Q-Pit, 1978 (Drawings) Remodeling for Clarice Murphy, 1978 (Construction Drawings) Towne Furniture, Behlman Residence, Royal Vagabonds Tennis Courts and Swimming Pool, 1978-1979 (Preliminary Drawings) Schaller Residence, 1979 (Construction Drawings) Herdlick Residence, 1979 (Construction Drawings) Rite Hall, Grand Haven Senior Citizens Center, 1979 (Preliminary Drawings) Benton Pride Senior, Carondelet, Montgomery Hyde Park Senior Citizens Home, 1980 (Construction Drawings) Human Development Corporation Retirement Village, 1980 (Presentation Boards) Parent-Child Center, 1981 (Schematic Design, Construction Drawings, Drawings) Wellston Municipal Building, unidentified residence, 1981 (Preliminary Drawings) Shop Plaza News, 1982 (Preliminary Drawings) Jockerst Residence, 1982 (Preliminary Drawings) Frank's Tower, 1982 (Preliminary Drawings) Sun Crest Senior Citizens Housing, 1982 (Preliminary Drawings) Case Residence, 1983-1985 (Construction Drawings and Presentation Boards) NRG Saves, Incorporated/Energy Savings Shop, 1983 (Drawings) CMC Medical Buildings, Credit Systems Cafeteria Patio, 1983-1984 (Preliminary Drawings) Daniels Residence, 1984 (Construction Drawings) Grand View Heights, 1984-1985 (Presentation Boards) Vlasaty Residence, Brandav Residence, 1985 (Construction Drawings) Melone Addition, Places for People, Stair Addition, 1985 (Construction Drawings) Two Townhouses, 1986 (Preliminary Drawings) Frimel Addition, 1986 (Drawings) Kennerly Temple Apartments, n.d. (Presentation Boards and Drawings) |
| Box 1, Folders 10-13 | Miscellaneous Projects Daniel and Henry, n.d. (Lobby Sketches) American Insurance Company, n.d. (Handrail Scheme Sketches and Lobby Sketches) Unidentified Project, n.d. (Lounge and Patio Sketches) |
| Oversize Folder 55 | Materials for Unidentified Project, n.d. |
Photographs, 1955-1986
| Box 1, Folders 14-21 | Jane Hall Johnson, 1959-1965 Models from graduate school projects (3 folders), 1955 Professional work (3 folders), 1969 Interior, Antoine Residence, 1986 |
