I. Correspondence,, 1942-1983

The Franklyn A. Johnson Papers consists of one manuscript box divided into six series and a total of thirteen folders. The majority of the collection (folders 1-7) consists of correspondence between Johnson and various Rutgers University staff members in the Office of Alumni Relations, the Office of Undergraduates on Leave, the Dean of Men, and the Rutgers Alumni Monthly magazine. Ultimately, folders 1-5 manage to tell a nearly unbroken and very vivid story of Johnson's military career starting in 1942 to his return to civilian life in 1947.

Folder 1 consists of a series of friendly and personal correspondence between Johnson and the Rutgers University Dean of Men, Dr. Fraser Metzger during Johnson's training and first deployments overseas. The initial items held in folder 3 are various correspondences between Johnson's parents and various official from the Rutgers Office of Alumni Relations notifying each other of Franklyn's status as missing in action and offering condolences. The latter half of folder 3 features some of Johnson's first letters since his capture where he assures the current Dean of Men Earl Reed Silvers and Registrar Luther H. Martin that was still alive, on the mend, and intended to return to Rutgers. Folders 5 and 6 primarily contain correspondences between Johnson and the Rutgers Alumni Monthly magazine regarding his changes in employment, address, and achievements.

Folder 8 contains multiple biographical forms submitted to the Alumni office from 1940 to 1966 that provide personal information about Johnson and his affiliations before and after attending Rutgers. These are particularly useful because they list all of his campus activities, academic awards, and military metals in his own words. Folders 9 and 10 consist of event programs, flyers, and other ephemera pertaining to Johnson's presidency at Jacksonville University and California State College in Los Angeles respectively. The portion of the collection referring to Cal. State also contains what appears to be a speech given by Johnson.

Most of the photographs were portraits that appear to be taken on behalf of the Rutgers Alumni Monthly magazine. Most interestingly, one of the photographs has no RAM markings and features Johnson and his father in uniform upon his return to the states with "Dad and I at the house in Miami Beach—29 Oct 44—Just to prove I am back in one piece" written on the back.

This collection also contains many clippings from New York, New Jersey, and Florida newspapers (including the Targum and Rutgers Alumni Monthly) that mention Johnson through his life.