Finding Aid to the Papers of Hugh Johnson, 1946-1999

Selected Search Terms

These papers have been indexed in the International Catalog of Sources for History of Physics and Allied Sciences (ICOS) using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.

Biography of Hugh M. Johnson

Hugh Johnson was born on March 4, 1923 in Des Moines, Iowa. He earned his AB in 1948 and his SB in 1949 from the University of Chicago. In 1953 he received his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Chicago, where he worked as an Assistant Astronomer at Yerkes Observatory from 1950 to 1953. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa from 1954 to 1959. He was an Associate Professor and Associate Astronomer at the University of Arizona from 1960 to 1962. Johnson was an Associate Scientist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory during 1962 and 1963. From 1963 to 1986, Johnson was a Staff Scientist at Lockheed Missiles & Space Company. Johnson was also a Research Associate at the Yerkes Observatory from 1953 to 1960, a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 1958 and 1959, and a lecturer at Stanford University in 1971 through 1975 and 1980 through 1982. Johnson was a member of the American Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union. His research interests included x-ray astronomy, nebulae, galaxies, galactic structure, and interstellar matter.

Scope and Contents of Collection

The collection is centered on Johnson's time at Lockheed Space & Missile Company (1963-1986), with some material from his work before and after this period. The bulk of the research material he saved is on x-ray astronomy. The collection is comprised mainly of correspondence (both professional and personal), with lesser amounts of notes, newspaper clippings, and notebooks. The correspondents include: Helmet A. Abt, Lawrence H. Aller, Frank M. Bateson, Bart J. Bok, Riccardo Giacconi, David S. Heeschen, George Herbig, William Hiltner, W.E. Howard III, Helen Hogg, Willem Luyten, N.U. Mayall, Donald Osterbrock, Stuart Pottasch, Arcadio Poveda, Frederick D. Seward, Lindsey Smith, Theodore Snow, Bruce Stephenson, Polydore Swings, Yervant Terzian, and Gart Westerhout. Some correspondence related to specific research subjects, observatories, meetings, and programs is accompanied by research notes and photographs. The collection also contains notebooks from courses at the University of Chicago (taught by Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Gerard Peter Kuiper, and Bengt Strömgren), the 1964 Hamburg IAU meeting, Yerkes Observatory Colloquia, and an NSF conference for teachers of astronomy at Berkeley in 1954.

Arrangement/Organization of Collection

This collection has been divided into six series: Series I. Alphabetical Correspondence; Series II. Subject Correspondence; Series III. Johnson-Stephenson Correspondence; Series IV. IAU Tapes Correspondence; Series V. Notebooks; and Series VI. Referee Reports.

The arrangement of the collection follows Johnson's original order. The Alphabetical Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent and then in reverse chronological order. The folders which contain only one correspondent were originally separated out by Johnson. The Subject Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by subject and then in reverse chronological order. The Stephenson-Johnson Correspondence and the Referee Reports have also been organized in reverse chronological order by date. The IAU Tape Correspondence and Notebooks have been arranged in chronological order.

Access to Collection

This collection is open to researchers except for the Referee Reports, which require permission of the donor or donor's heirs until 2075.

Restrictions on Use of Collection

Use of primary source material in the Niels Bohr Library requires prior approval through an Application for Access, which includes a statement of research purpose and the names and addresses of two scholars as references. Access applications can be obtained by contacting the Library (telephone 301-209-3177; or e-mail nbl@aip.org). The application can also be printed from our website.

Provenance and Acquisition Information

The IAU Tapes Correspondence was received from Hugh Johnson in October 1999 and the remainder of the collection was received in March 2000.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Heather McBride in May and June 2001.

Newspaper articles were photocopied onto acid-free paper and the originals were removed from the collection. All materials were rehoused in archival quality, acid-free folders and boxes.

Preferred Citation of Collection

Cite as: [Folder title, date; Folder number, Box number], Hugh M. Johnson Papers, 1946-1999. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library, College Park, MD, 20740 USA.

Other Related Materials

Johnson, Hugh M., Address at International Astronomical Union Mtg., 1967; (Highlight of Astronomy-X-Ray Astronomy), Optical and Radio Information. 1967. 7-86-(1-3). Advance notice of two business days is required for use of audio and video tapes.

Container List

Series I. Alphabetical Correspondence, 1999-1946 Boxes 1-5
This series contains correspondence both sent and received by Johnson. The majority of the correspondence pertains to his research at Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, but also covers some of Johnson's work before 1963. Also contains personal correspondence with other scientists.
Box 1	Folder 1	A 1988-1952
	Folder 2	Babcock-Beavers 1991-1947
	Folder 3	Becker-Bowyer 1987-1946
	Folder 4	Bradt-Butler 1990-1950
	Folder 5	Bashkin 1972-1959
	Folder 6	Bok 1979-1954
	Folder 7	Cameron-Clark 1983-1955
	Folder 8	Code-Cummings 1989-1954
	Folder 9	D 1987-1959
	Folder 10	E 1985-1955
Box 2	Folder 1	F 1988-1957
	Folder 2	G 1987-1951
	Folder 3	Golson 1972-1969
	Folder 4	Golson 1968-1967
	Folder 5	Habing-Heeschen 1984-1946
	Folder 6	Henize-D. Hogg 1984-1961
	Folder 7	H. Hogg-Huth 1980-1947
	Folder 8	Herbig 1986-1955
	Folder 9	I 1981-1966
	Folder 10	J 1986-1953
Box 3	Folder 1	K 1983-1955
	Folder 2	L 1986-1957
	Folder 3	Maccacaro-Mayer 1988-1952
	Folder 4	McCarthy-Mezger 1993-1955
	Folder 5	Michalitsianos-Murray 1984-1954
	Folder 6	Mayor- Correspondence with Mayor 1992-1983
	Folder 7	Mayor- Correspondence with Others and Notes 1986-1984
	Folder 8	N 1980-1960
	Folder 9	O 1984-1962
	Folder 10	Osterbrock 1999-1994
	Folder 11	Osterbrock 1993-1988
Box 4	Folder 1	Osterbrock 1987-1985
	Folder 2	Osterbrock 1984-1977
	Folder 3	Osterbrock 1976-1965
	Folder 4	Osterbrock 1963-1952
	Folder 5	Pacholczyk-Pismis 1988-1958
	Folder 6	Plaut-Purton 1986-1958
	Folder 7	R 1986-1955
	Folder 8	Sadler-Scott 1995-1955
	Folder 9	Seaton-Silk 1986-1953
	Folder 10	Simpson-Snijders 1988-1959
	Folder 11	Snow-Spinrad 1979-1963
Box 5	Folder 1	Spitzer-Swings 1982-1946
	Folder 2	T 1993-1960
	Folder 3	U 1983-1973
	Folder 4	V 1988-1957
	Folder 5	Wade-Weymann 1986-1956
	Folder 6	White-Wynn 1986-1958
	Folder 7	Westerlund 1979-1960
	Folder 8	Y 1977-1973
	Folder 9	Z 1983-1969

Series II. Subject Correspondence, 1999-1959 Boxes 5-7
Contains correspondence and some notes regarding Johnson's research work. Most of the research projects took place during his years at Lockheed, but some of the files contain earlier and later notes and correspondence. Some later files pertain to his work as a lecturer at Stanford University and his participation in the American Astronomical Society's Visiting Professor Program.
Box 5	Folder 10	Cerro-Tololo 1984-1969
	Folder 11	Eastman Kodak 1969-1961
	Folder 12	Edinburgh GALAXY Machine 1976-1968
	Folder 13	Far Infrared Characteristics of K Dwarfs with H-Alpha Emission 1985
	Folder 14	Galactic X-Ray Statistics and Cluster Sources 1975-1965
	Folder 15	Haystock Observatory 1975-1970
	Folder 16	HEAO-B Stars 1980-1978
Box 6	Folder 1	IRAS/DRACO 1986-1985
	Folder 2	Jones-Chappell Clusters 1985-1981
	Folder 3	Kitt Peak National Observatory 1980-1975
	Folder 4	Kitt Peak National Observatory 1975-1963
	Folder 5	Lx ≥ 1029 (Origins and Ages) 1983-1982
	Folder 6	Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) 1973-1959
	Folder 7	M31 Spiral Dust Arms and IAU No. 52 1982-1972
	Folder 8	M31 Spiral Dust Arms and IAU No. 52 Photographs
	Folder 9	M82 and NGC 4449 1975-1963
	Folder 10	Mediterranean, Chinese, and Moslem Astronomy 1960-1959
	Folder 11	NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) 1978-1962
	Folder 12	NGC 6888 and NGC 2359 1965-1963
	Folder 13	NSF Proposal 1980
Box 7	Folder 1	Palomar Observatory (Hale) 1973-1966
	Folder 2	Palomar Observatory (Hale) 1965-1961
	Folder 3	Publication- "Optical Survey of IRAS Fields in the DRACO Cloud Region" 1986-1985
	Folder 4	Rome IAU Symposium 1970-1968
	Folder 5	Strömgren Symposium 1978-1977
	Folder 6	Peter Sturrock and Stanford 1989-1965
	Folder 7	U.K. Schmidt Telescope Unit 1986-1977
	Folder 8	Van Biesbroeck 1972
	Folder 9	Visiting AAS Professor Program 1999-1969
	Folder 10	Visiting AAS Professor Program 1968-1960
	Folder 11	VLA/AJ2 - Planetary Nebulae 1984-1977
	Folder 12	Wolf 630/EXOSAT 1987-1986

Series III. Johnson-Stephenson Correspondence, 1999-1949 Boxes 7-8
Contains extensive correspondence between Bruce Stephenson and Johnson. Johnson's correspondence files were supplemented by Stephenson's records, which he gave to Johnson in 1994. Much of the correspondence relates to the men's research, their collaborations, and their personal relationship.
Box 7	Folder 13	Correspondence 1997-1976
Box 8	Folder 1	Correspondence 1974-1968
	Folder 2	Correspondence 1967-Nov. 1966
	Folder 3	Correspondence Oct. 1966-Jan. 1966
	Folder 4	Correspondence 1965-1951
	Folder 5	Correspondence 1950-1949

Series IV. IAU Tapes Correspondence, 1966-1967) 1 folder
Correspondence about the creation, set up, and administration of the Joint Discussion on X-Ray Astronomy at the Prague meeting of the International Astronomical Union in 1967.
Box 8	Folder 6	Correspondence 1966-1967

Series V. Notebooks, 1950-1954 Box 8
Course notes at University of Chicago: Astr. 301 by Chandrasekhar, Astr. 371 Stellar Spectroscopy by Bidelman, Astr. 377 Stellar Atmospheres II by Strömgren, Astr. 385 Celestial Mechanics by Kuiper, Astr. 386 Interstellar Problems by Strömgren. Also contains notes from Yerkes Observatory Colloquia No. 405-540; from the Hamburg IAU meetings of 1964; and from an NSF conference for teachers of astronomy at Berkeley in 1954.
Box 8	Folder 7	Book 6 1950-1952
	Folder 8	Book 10 1952
	Folder 9	Book 11 1952
	Folder 10	Book 12 1952
	Folder 11	Book 15 1952-1954

Series VI. Referee Reports, 1989-1967 Boxes 7-8
Restricted until 2075.
Referee reports on journal articles, funding proposals, and assessments of professional personnel for promotions and society memberships. The reports were made for The Astrophysical Journal, Revista Mexicana de Astronomia y Astrofisica, Nature, the National Science Foundation, NASA, The Astronomical Journal, Cornell, The Geophysical Journal, the American Geophysical Union, Astronomy and Astrophysics, the University of Illinois, and Research Corporation.
The permission of Hugh Johnson or his heirs is required for access to the Referee Reports until 2075.
Box 9	Folder 1	Referee Reports 1989-1983
		RESTRICTED
	Folder 2	Referee Reports 1982-1981
		RESTRICTED
	Folder 3	Referee Reports 1980-1978
		RESTRICTED
	Folder 4	Referee Reports 1977-1974
		RESTRICTED
	Folder 5	Referee Reports 1973-1967
		RESTRICTED