William johnson biography artist jane

Photographs of Johnson taken from his own scrapbook
courtesy of William H. Johnson papers, 1922-1971, bulk 1926-1956.
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

The continued story from part one of our William H.

Johnson Biography detailing the artist’s obscure early years.

Little is documented about the childhood of African-American artist, William Henry Johnson.

William johnson biography artist jane

The years of Johnson’s childhood (1901-1918) were spent here in the city of Florence, South Carolina. During these years Florence experienced notable economic growth thanks to the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, a railroad conglomerate that owned a network of roads that spanned along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Florida.

The ACL’s presence in Florence served as an economic backbone during the turn of the century. The Johnson family was one of many families that benefited from the railroad’s presence. In 1911, The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad funded the constru