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Stephen R. Johnson Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0341

Scope and Contents

The Stephen R. Johnson Collection was gifted to the UMKC University Libraries by Debra F. Johnson and Russell Johnson in March 2016.

Housed in LaBudde Special Collections, the manuscript collection contains a diverse assortment of materials from the music video and television director, animator, painter, and writer’s personal and professional life. There are awards and accolades, storyboards and screenplays, and newspaper clippings about Johnson’s work. There are photographs of Johnson himself along with photographs from various projects (e.g. the “Road to Nowhere” and “Sledgehammer” music videos, a Kool-Aid commercial, and the Amnesty International Universal Declaration of Human Rights film). There are also items from Johnson’s personal collection of comic books and periodicals, including numerous issues of MAD magazine and adult-themed comic books. Of historical importance is Johnson’s collection of stereoscopic images: there are over one hundred images from circa 1890-1915; View-Master reels from circa 1950-1980; and homemade stereoscopic images from Johnson himself. Lastly, the collection contains a handful of books Johnson owned, which have been integrated by call number into the LaBudde Special Collections rare book collection.

Housed in Marr Sound Archives, the audiovisual materials consist of films and videos created by Stehen R. Johnson, including music videos for Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, and Dire Straits. It also includes tapes of the first season of Pee-Wee's Playhouse, which Johnson directed.

Dates

  • 1890 - 2012

Creator

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status is unknown

Extent

33 Linear Feet (LaBudde: 12 Linear Feet, 14 Manuscript Boxes. Marr: 21 Linear Feet, 34 films, 9 Open Reel Videotapes, 38 U-matic tapes, 151 VHS Tapes, 8 Optical Discs, 3 Open Reel Audiotapes, 3 Compact Cassettes, 65 Cylinder Recordings.)

Language of Materials

English

Author
LaBudde: Dillon Henry, Stuart Hinds (supervising archivist). Marr: Helena Collins-Gravitt.
Date
LaBudde: March 2018. Marr: 2018.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Special Collections and Archives Repository