Gerald W. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Gerald White Johnson was a journalist, editor, essayist, historian, biographer, and novelist. Over his nearly 75 year career he was known for being "one of the most eloquent spokespersons for America’s adversary culture."
He was born in Riverton, North Carolina
, the son of an editor of a Baptist magazine. He graduated from Wake Forest College in 1910.
During World War I
he was a member of the American Expeditionary Force
. He was the first professor of journalism at the University of North Carolina
. While there he published the first of many books, The Story of Man's Work, a defense of liberal capitalism.
He worked at the Baltimore Evening Sun
from 1926 to 1944, when he retired to write for magazines and to concentrate on writing books.
In 1949 he served as the honorary chairman of a committee that advocated against loyalty oath
s and in 1950 published an article in Harper's
called "Why Communists are Valuable."
He wrote many works on topics in American history, beginning with Andrew Jackson: An Epic in Homespun (1927).
He wrote mystery novels under the pen name of Charles North.
He was a friend and colleague of H. L. Mencken
.
He married Kathryn Howard and they had two children. He died in Baltimore on March 22, 1980.
He was born in Riverton, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, the son of an editor of a Baptist magazine. He graduated from Wake Forest College in 1910.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was a member of the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
. He was the first professor of journalism at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. While there he published the first of many books, The Story of Man's Work, a defense of liberal capitalism.
He worked at the Baltimore Evening Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
from 1926 to 1944, when he retired to write for magazines and to concentrate on writing books.
In 1949 he served as the honorary chairman of a committee that advocated against loyalty oath
Loyalty oath
A loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
s and in 1950 published an article in Harper's
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
called "Why Communists are Valuable."
He wrote many works on topics in American history, beginning with Andrew Jackson: An Epic in Homespun (1927).
He wrote mystery novels under the pen name of Charles North.
He was a friend and colleague of H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken
Henry Louis "H. L." Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of American life and culture, and a scholar of American English. Known as the "Sage of Baltimore", he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the...
.
He married Kathryn Howard and they had two children. He died in Baltimore on March 22, 1980.
Works
- Randolph of Roanoke: A Political Fantastic. (New York: Minton, Balch & Co., 1929).
- Imperial Republic: Speculations on the Future, If Any, of the Third U.S.A.
- Incredible Tale:The Odyssey of the Average American in the Last Half Century (Harper, 1950)
- Roosevelt - Dictator or Democrat
- The Congress (Morrow, 1963)
- The Cabinet (Morrow, 1966)
- This American People (1951)
- The First Captain: The Story of John Paul Jones. (NY: Coward-McCann, 1947)
- Pattern for liberty: The Story of Old Philadelphia (1952)
- America is Born: A History for Peter (1959)
- America Moves Forward: A History for Peter (Morrow, 1960)
- America Grows Up: A History for Peter (Morrow, 1960)
- Hod-carrier: Notes of a Laborer on an Unfinished Cathedral (1964)
- Woodrow Wilson: The Unforgettable Figure who has Returned to Haunt Us(1944)
- Communism an American View (Morrow, 1964)
- The Supreme Court (1968)
- A Little Night Music (1945)
- Andrew Jackson An Epic in Homespun
- American Heroes and Hero-Worship (NY: Harper, 1943)
- The Lines are Drawn: American Life since the First World War as Reflected in the Pulitzer Prize Cartoons (Lippincott, 1958)
- The British Empire: An American View of its History from 1776 to 1945 (Morrow, 1969)
- America-watching : perspectives in the course of an incredible century (1976)