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- Erick Johnson Papers
Erick Johnson Papers, undated
Title: Erick Johnson Papers
ID: OGLMC 1208
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet

1905-1990; Immigrated to the United States in 1928

Erick Johnson was born October 16, 1905, to Anton and Jenny Jonsson in Renneslov, Sweden. He grew up on his parents' 25 acre farm, where they raised mostly potatoes and rye. In 1918, he left the farm to search for work throughout Sweden. In 1928, he immigrated to the United States. Johnson eventually settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he worked various jobs on local farms. In 1939, Johnson moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to try his hand at construction work. That same year Johnson married Dorothy Wright on July 3, 1939. They bought a farm south of Michigan, North Dakota. During World War II, he served at Naval Ammunition Depots in Hawthorne, Nevada, and Hanaford, Washington. After the war, Johnson worked construction jobs on Air Force bases, and traveled to several foreign countries. One of his most memorable construction jobs was building an Air Force base in Morocco from 1952-1953. Erick Johnson died May 28, 1990, at the age of 84.

Acquired:
06/12/1990.
Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Note:
Source: Dorothy Johnson, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Donation; Acc.90-1707
Donation; Acc.90-1707
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Erick Johnson Papers. OGLMC 1208, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revisions: Finding aid migrated to Archon in November 2014.
Collection Material Type: Personal Papers
Scope and Contents: The Erick Johnson Papers mainly consist of his autobiography/diary from 1905-1969. The first folder consists of Erick Johnson's obituary. When he arrived in American, the country was on the verge of the Great Depression but he managed to find work on various farms in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After he established himself in America, Johnson visited Sweden after an eight year absence in 1936. In 1952 Johnson ventured to Morocco to work construction on the biggest foreign construction job since the Panama Canal. At that time, this construction job consisted of building the biggest Airbase system in the world.