|
Available Versions of the Photo:
Type: eGIF, Size: 234 (KBytes)
Type: eGIF, Size: 56 (KBytes)
Photo Information:
Editor's Comments:
The following information has been copied from books and Newspapers.
Anna Johnson was born in Logan, Utah, but has lived in Salt Lake City, Ut. nearly all of her life. She has found it easy. to express her reaction to life, people and countries in poetic form. She is a true cosmopolite and loves people regardless of color, creed., or nationality. The extent of her verse can be equaled only by the wideness of her travel, which has taken her throughout Europe, Asia, Alaska, Hawaii as well as in the United States. Canada and Mexico. The subject matter of her poetry has been gathered largely from her travels, through incidents, scenes, or the people whom she met.
The "Spring Anthology," published by the Mitre Press of London has solicited and published verses of hers three consecutive years. For one of these poems, "Ester," published in 1937, Miss Johnson was given the Walter K. Lewis gold medal for its excellence. In his letter announcing the award, Mr. Lewis said, "I cannot imagine anything lovelier than Miss Johnson's description of Queen Esther and her entry into the king's presence. Every word tells, and it leaves one thrilled and breathless."
Her published books of poetry are, "Echoes," written largely on the Pacific ocean and in the Hawaiian Islands, printed by Zion's Publishing Company, Independence. Missouri, while the author was on a cruise to the Far East. and published by the Deseret News Press, Salt Lake City, Utah in 1933.
"Star Dust," written while in a hospital convalescing from a broken neck and a broken back, sustained in a rickshaw accident in Hong Kong, China. It was Published by the Deseret News Press in 1934 - this volume in a thought-a-day book.
"Viking Verse," written while touring Norway and published by the Deseret News Press in 1935.
"The Trail of the Exile," written on the old Mormon Trail and published by the Deseret News Press in 1936.
"Silver Rain," which is another thought-a-day book, published in 1940 by the Christopher Publishing Company, Boston, Massachussetts.
"Ships of Adventure," published by the New York Poetry Center was written while Miss Johnson was visiting England.
"Shamrock Lyre," was written in Ireland.
"Heather Blossoms," was written in Scotland.
"Twilights," was written in Alaska.
"Driftwood," is a collection of character sketches gathered from here and there during Miss Johnson's travels.
In 1932 Miss Johnson wrote three books of children's verse: "Sunbeams," "Sea Caves," and "Elfin Lands."
Although writing verse is really a hobby with Miss Johnson , since she makes a living in another way, her primary hobby is people. She loves to talk with them and learn their joys and problems, thus learning also to understand them. Particularly do children interest her, and she enjoys recording their conversation in poetry form. The Salt Lake Tribune in commenting on this hobby said, "Clever sayings of children interwoven into jingles and verse have found their way into homes and hearts of children in every state in the Union, also foreign countries and isles of the sea."
"Hopscotch," "Playtime Pals," "Rollicking Rhymes," and "Rainbow Bridges," published by the Giles Press and Pipe Dreams, published by Stevens and Wallis Inc. are children's booklets. They were published in 1942-1943.
She has also a hobby which has brought foreign countries closer to her friends and neighbors. This is a fine collection during her various trips and which to her represent the people in whom she is so interested. This collection is now in the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"Hopscotch Valley," Volume One was published by the Deseret News Press in 1944. The poems had appeared in the Hopscotch Valley Column of the Deseret Evening News prior to the publication of the book.
Since that time there have been twenty seven collections of Hopscotch Valley verse come out in mimeographed books.
Hopscotch Valley Twelve contains the music of fifty-five songs written by William M. Foxley and the music of eight songs written by Norma M, Foxley. The words for all of songs were written by Anna Johnson. Some of these songs have appeared in the Children's Friend, Sunday School papers, the Deseret News and other Hopscotch Valley collections.
The poems in Hopscotch Valley Five, originally appeared in the Deseret News and in a very small Hopscotch Valley paper used in the Southern California Mission by saints and investigators. It contained suggested bedtime stories and a little poem as a follow-up for each story. In the Hawaiian Mission they were used again as helps in teaching the very young members of the Sunday Schools and Primaries.
The Hawaiians sang them to tunes they knew and tunes they made up, which were never written. Later, Dr. Schreiner wrote tunes for them.
Hopscotch Valley five, with its fifty-three songs, is out of print, but it can be found in Hopscotch Valley Fifteen which is a collection of cute phrases, humorous or wise statements, or clever acts of children which have been written into rhyme by Anna Johnson. The music for the 99 songs in this collection was written by Dr. Alexander Schreiner.
Her unpublished books are: "Lofoten Crags," outlined and partly written in Norway, and "Land of Deseret," a story of giants who once inhabited the regions in and around Salt Lake.
She hopes that at some future time she will be able to put Hopscotch Valley and her genealogical work aside long enough to complete these two books.
From the Deseret News - Saturday September 18,1948.
Anna Johnson - News special feature- writer leaves on L.D.S. mission
MISSION CALLS ANNA JOHNSON
Miss Anna Johnson of 426 Wall street, a special feature writer for the Deseret News has accepted a mission call from the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, it was announced Saturday. Miss Johnson will depart soon for the Hawaiian Mission.
A farewell testimonial in her honor will be held Sunday at 5 P.M. in the Capitol Hill Ward, Third North and Columbus Streets. Speakers at the testimonial will be Dr. John A. Widtsoe of the Council of the Twelve, Bishop Ray G. Wood, and the missionary. Musical selections will be given by the Capitol Hill Ward Choir, the ladies Chorus and a group of Hawaiian entertainers. The invocation will be pronounced by Elmer J. Hartvigsen, and the benediction by Arthur C. Ridd.
Miss Johnson is a clerk in the Y.W.M.I.A , and besides being a special feature writer for the Deseret News is author of the popular children's column "Hopscotch Valley," which has appeared in this paper for several years.
******************
Because of the Shipping Strike, Miss Johnson labored in the Southern California Mission until October 28th. She was then sent to Canada, and she sailed from there on a motor ship.
Associated Persons and Marriages:
|
