John de Monins Johnson
Encyclopedia
John de Monins Johnson (1882 – 1956) was an English
papyrologist
, printer of the Oxford English Dictionary
, and collector.
in England
, the second son of John Henry Johnson and Anna Braithwaite. He attended Magdalen College
at the University of Oxford
and then earned a scholarship to Exeter College
, Oxford. He studied the classics
and Arabic
in preparation for a career in the Egypt
ian Civil Service
. In Egypt, he became a papyrologist, discovering a papyrus by Theocritus
that was 900 years older than any such previously-discovered manuscript.
Johnson returned to Oxford during World War I
, and was determined to be physically unfit for military service. He became Assistant Secretary to the Delegates of Oxford University Press
. In 1918, he married Dorothea, the daughter of his supervisor Charles Cannan. They had a son whom they named Charles, and a daughter, Paulla. In 1925, Johnson became Printer to the University at Oxford, and in 1928, he was awarded an Honorary D. Litt for his work on the Oxford English Dictionary.
During World War II
, in addition to his printing responsibilities, he became responsible for security at Oxford University Press, living on-site until his retirement in 1946. During that time, he became a collector of what he called "printed ephemera", establishing "The Constance Meade Memorial Collection of Ephemeral Printing" at Oxford University Press. Johnson's definition of printed ephemera was "Everything which would ordinarily go into the wastepaper basket after use, everything printed which is not actually a book." He continued to build up the collection until his death. In 1968 the collection was transferred to the Bodleian Library
, where it is now known as the "John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera"; the collection has been substantially enlarged since its acquisition by the Bodleian, and continues to grow.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
papyrologist
Papyrus
Papyrus is a thick paper-like material produced from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge that was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt....
, printer of the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
, and collector.
Biography
Johnson was born in LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the second son of John Henry Johnson and Anna Braithwaite. He attended Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and then earned a scholarship to Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, Oxford. He studied the classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
in preparation for a career in the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. In Egypt, he became a papyrologist, discovering a papyrus by Theocritus
Theocritus
Theocritus , the creator of ancient Greek bucolic poetry, flourished in the 3rd century BC.-Life:Little is known of Theocritus beyond what can be inferred from his writings. We must, however, handle these with some caution, since some of the poems commonly attributed to him have little claim to...
that was 900 years older than any such previously-discovered manuscript.
Johnson returned to Oxford 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...
, and was determined to be physically unfit for military service. He became Assistant Secretary to the Delegates of Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
. In 1918, he married Dorothea, the daughter of his supervisor Charles Cannan. They had a son whom they named Charles, and a daughter, Paulla. In 1925, Johnson became Printer to the University at Oxford, and in 1928, he was awarded an Honorary D. Litt for his work on the Oxford English Dictionary.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in addition to his printing responsibilities, he became responsible for security at Oxford University Press, living on-site until his retirement in 1946. During that time, he became a collector of what he called "printed ephemera", establishing "The Constance Meade Memorial Collection of Ephemeral Printing" at Oxford University Press. Johnson's definition of printed ephemera was "Everything which would ordinarily go into the wastepaper basket after use, everything printed which is not actually a book." He continued to build up the collection until his death. In 1968 the collection was transferred to the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, where it is now known as the "John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera"; the collection has been substantially enlarged since its acquisition by the Bodleian, and continues to grow.