M.A. Johnson Records, 1906-1966

M.A. Johnson Records

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Collection Overview

Title: M.A. Johnson Records, 1906-1966

ID: OGLMC0060

Primary Creator: Johnson, M.A. (Manville Arthur) (1889-1972)

Extent: 30.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 12/00/1970

Subjects: Business and Industry

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The M.A. Johnson Records date from 1906 to 1966 and have been divided into four series as follows:

Series 1: Johnson Stores Financial Records, 1906-1956

Series 2: Personal and Business Correspondence, 1914-1966

Series 3: Advertising Copies, 1921-1961

Series 4: Photographs

Collection Historical Note

"M.A. Johnson Papers Given to UND

The M.A. Johnson papers were deposited by Manville A. Johnson of Larimore, North Dakota, with the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection at the University of North Dakota in December 1970. Mr. Johnson began his career as a handyman in the Michigan Mercantile Store in 1907 and through skill and ambition rose to become principal owner and manager of the 14 stores of the Johnson Home Town Stores Company until his retirement. This large collection of records and correspondence accumulated by the donor for 55 years will contribute to the writing of regional, social, and economic history of North Dakota.

A willing worker, M.A. Johnson increased his business skill through determination, attention to customer needs, development of new selling techniques, and knowledge gained from mail order correspondence courses. When the Michigan Mercantile Company opened a branch store in Michigan, North Dakota, in 1910, he was placed in charge. The company was reorganized in 1913 and he was made general manager. After another reorganization in 1929, Johnson and other store personnel purchased most of the interests if outside stockholders and the name of the store was changed to Johnson Stores Incorporated. New branch stores were opened and a chain store system established.

The business grew with the building of a creamery in 1931. A processing plant for poultry was added later. Personal service to patrons, efficient operations, and sound policies helped pull the Company through the Depression and promoted later growth.

A book, Fifty Years of Country Storekeeping, was written by Mr. Johnson in 1955 about his early life and experiences as a merchant in the days when customers bargained for merchandise, butter was sold in crocks, molasses was sold in bulk form, and dried fruit was a staple in every home. He was also featured in Erling G. Rolfsrud's book Extraordinary North Dakotans."

Source: unknown newspaper clipping, likely from the Larimore Pioneer

Subject/Index Terms

Business and Industry

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Manville A. Johnson, Larimore, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation

Related Publications:

Fifty Years of Country Storekeeping by M. A. Johnson. 1955.

Special Collections Stacks F636 .J62x

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). M.A. Johnson Records. OGLMC 60, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid input to Archon in October 2019.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Johnson Stores Financial Records, 1906-1956],
[Series 2: Personal and Business Correspondence, 1914-1966],
[Series 3: Advertising Copies, 1921-1961],
[Series 4: Photographs],
[All]

Series 1: Johnson Stores Financial Records, 1906-1956

Ledger 1: Customer Accounts, 1906-1907
Ledger 2: Customer Accounts, 1907-1911
Ledger 3: Cash Book, Accounts Receivable and Payable, 1907-1910
Ledger 4: Cash Book, Accounts Receivable, 1910-1912
Ledger 5: Cash Book, Accounts Receivable, 1910-1913
Ledger 6: Cash Book, Accounts Receivable, 1912-1913
Ledger 7: Cash Book, Accounts Receivable, 1913-1916
Ledger 8: Cash Book, Accounts Receivable, 1916-1917
Ledger 9: Cash Book, Accounts Receivable, 1918-1919
Ledger 10: General Journal, Daily Record of Sales, 1906-1907
Ledger 11: General Journal, Daily Record of Sales, 1907-1908
Ledger 12: General Journal, Daily Record of Sales, 1908
Ledger 13: General Journal, Daily Record of Sales, 1908-1909
Ledger 14: General Journal, Daily Record of Sales, 1909-1910
Ledger 15: General Journal, Daily Record of Sales, 1910-1911
Ledger 16: Michigan Mercantile, Expenses, 1906-1912
Ledger 17: Michigan Mercantile, Expenses, 1912-1914
Ledger 18: Michigan Mercantile, Expenses, 1915-1916
Ledger 19: Michigan Mercantile, Expenses, 1916-1918
Ledger 20: Michigan Mercantile, Expenses, 1926-1935
Ledger 21: Fordville, Expenses, 1929-1941
Ledger 22: Fordville, Cash Book, 1929-1932
Ledger 23: Fordville, Cash Book, 1932-1938
Ledger 24: General Ledger, Expenses, 1941-1946
Ledger 25: General Ledger, Expenses, 1944-1949
Ledger 26: General Ledger, Expenses, 1946-1949
Ledger 27: General Ledger, Expenses, 1950-1956
Ledger 28: General Ledger, Expenses, 1948-1950
Ledger 29: General Ledger, Expenses, 1950-1953
Ledger 30: General Ledger, Expenses, 1952-1955
Ledger 31: Michigan Mercantile, Daily Sales, 1910-1911
Ledger 32: Michigan Mercantile, Daily Sales, 1911-1912
Ledger 33: Michigan Mercantile, Daily Sales, 1912
Ledger 34: Michigan Mercantile, Customer Accounts, 1910
Ledger 35: Merchandising Accounts, 1906-1911
Ledger 36: Merchandising Accounts, 1912-1913
Ledger 37: Merchandising Accounts, 1915-1919
Ledger 38: Incomplete, 1913
Ledger 39: Nelson County Old Settler Association, 1920
Ledger 40: Purchase Journal, 1929-1938
Ledger 41: Purchase Journal, 1929-1936
Ledger 42: Purchase Journal, 1931-1936
Ledger 43: Purchase Journal, 1937
Ledger 44: Purchase Journal, 1939
Ledger 45: Cash Journal, 1927
Ledger 46: Cash Journal, 1927
Ledger 47: Cash Journal, 1929-1930
Ledger 48: Cash Journal, 1931
Ledger 49: Cash Journal, 1931-1932
Ledger 50: Cash Journal, 1933
Ledger 51: Cash Journal, 1934
Ledger 52: Cash Journal, 1935
Ledger 53: Cash Journal, 1936
Ledger 54: Cash Journal, 1937
Ledger 55: Cash Journal, 1938
Ledger 56: Cash Journal, 1939
Ledger 57: Cash Journal, 1940
Ledger 58: Cash Journal, 1940
Ledger 59: Cash Journal, 1941
Ledger 60: Sales Journal, 1920-1937
Ledger 61: Cost Journal, 1941
Ledger 62: Check Register, 1941
Ledger 63: Recapitalization Journal, 1940-1942
Ledger 64: Creamery Ledger, 1923-1945

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