Guion Griffis Johnson of Chapel Hill,N.C., was a professor, author, scholar, journalist, women's advocate, and generalcivic leader. Johnson held a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of NorthCarolina. She published three books: A Social History of the Sea Islands (1930),Antebellum North Carolina (1937), and Volunteers in Community Service (1967). Herhusband was Guy Johnson, professor of sociology at the University of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill. In the 1920s and 1930s, Johnson and her husband worked together atthe Institute for Research in Social Science at University of North Carolina. Correspondence, writings, subject files, and othermaterials relating to Johnson's professional and family life. Topics of primaryinterest include civil rights, race relations, volunteerism, women's equality,education, school desegregation, poverty, international cooperation, and generalpublic welfare. The bulk of the materials relate to Johnson's work with numerouswomen's, church, fraternal, and public service organizations at both the local andnational levels. Among Johnson's more important organizational affiliations were theAmerican Association of University Women, Chi Omega Fraternity for Women, the NorthCarolina Council of Women's Organizations, the North Carolina Federation of Women'sClubs, the North Carolina Council for World Affairs, the Methodist Church, andUnited Church Women (Church Women United). There is also a large collection ofJohnson's writings, including material from her books and copies of speeches fromher many speaking engagements. Also included are a small number of items relating toher student and teaching careers at the University of North Carolina and elsewhere;family correspondence; and a few family documents, including photographs andgenealogical materials relating to the Johnson and the Griffis families, chieflyrelating to North Carolina and Texas.
