Title: Richard Allan "Dick" Johnson fonds.

Dates: 1932-2001.

Extent: 1.43 m of textual records. -- 3 photographs. -- 4 computer diskettes.

Biographical sketch: Richard Allan "Dick" Johnson was born on March 21, 1932 in Winnipeg. His father was Skuli Johnson, Professor and Head of the Department of Classics (1939-1955) at the University of Manitoba. Richard Johnson received his early education in Winnipeg public schools and entered the University of Manitoba in 1950. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics in 1954 and Master of Science, Electrical Engineering in 1956. From 1955 to 1997, Johnson was a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering. In 1973, he became Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and stayed in this position until 1977. He also served in the University of Manitoba administration as Provost between 1977 and 1982, Associate Vice-President (Programs) in 1982, Associate Vice-President (Planning and Analysis) between 1982 and 1987, Secretary of the Committee of Presidents between 1977 and 1992, Senior Traveling Fellowship for the Association of Commonwealth Universities in 1984, Associate Vice-President (Academic) between 1987 and 1991, and Vice-Provost between 1991 and 1997.

Professor Johnson served on the board of the Winnipeg Community and Long Term Care Authority and continued to promote contact between the Icelandic government, the Manitoba Icelandic community and the University of Manitoba. As of September 2008, he held the position of Senior Scholar in the Office of the President of the University of Manitoba. Richard Johnson married Elaine Lucille Porter on May 4, 1957 and they had three children: Kristin Elaine Johnson, Richard Allan Skuli Johnson, and Karen Doreen Dalkie.

Custodial history: The fonds was donated by R.A. Johnson to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collection in 2001 (A.01-49) and in 2004 (A.04-89).

Scope and content: The first accession (A.01-49) consists of lecture notes during R.A. Johnson's studies at the University of Manitoba, contributions to various periodicals on Linear and Nonlinear Circuits and Systems, his papers and thesis, notes on courses he had taught at the University of Manitoba, and his reports to the University of Manitoba, including reports on Graduate Programmes Fees, Report on Restructuring of the British Universities, Report on Credit Hour Allocation and Evaluation Methods for Fieldwork and Practica, and "The Structure of the University Year: Maximizing Flexibility and Quality." This accession also includes his research material. Dick Johnson also donated his library of books to the University of Manitoba Libraries at this time.

The second accession (A.04-89) consists of seven series: Professor Johnson’s correspondence and reference materials related to the Icelandic Collection at the University of Manitoba and the fundraising efforts for the same, his reference materials on theories of university administration, his reference materials and correspondence from the period that he taught one module of the Professional Practice Seminar & Examination (PPS) offered jointly by the Association of Professional Engineers of the Province of Manitoba (APEM) and the Continuing Education Division, three 3 ¼ computer diskettes regarding the PPS, his correspondence and copies of meeting minutes relating to service on the board of the Winnipeg Community and Long Term Care Authority (before its amalgamation with the Winnipeg Hospital Authority to form the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority in December of 1999), reference materials on the geographic and social context of the works of the English novelist Thomas Hardy, and three images of the early twentieth century University of Manitoba building in what is now Memorial Park.

Source of supplied title: Title is based on provenance of fonds.

Restrictions: Access to two folders in A.04-89 with class lists from the Professional Practice Seminar in 1995 and 1997 is restricted, as is the folder containing 1999-2000 budget figures for the Winnipeg Community and Long Term Care Authority.

Accruals: Further accruals to this fonds are expected.

Finding aid: Printed finding aids are available in the Archives reading room and on-line finding aids are available for the 2001 and 2004 accessions at the links below:

MSS 158 (A.01-49)

MSS 158, EL 5 (A.04-89).