J. Ambler Johnston Papers
Scope and Content
The J. Ambler Johnston Papers pertains to his many activities throughout his professional and personal life, especially the Civil War Round Table (CWRT) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The collection is arranged by topic into five series.
Series I: Civil War Round Table, 1953-1973, includes files, notes, and recordings related to the CWRT, a national organization that promotes the study of the American Civil War through lectures, battlefield tours, and other events. This series has been divided in Subseries A: Files, arranged chronologically, and Subseries B: Recordings and File Packets.
Series II: Civil War, 1930-1972, contains files about the Civil War (not related to the CWRT), such as Johnston's work with the Richmond Civil War Centennial Commission, his ancestor's Civil War service, excursion notes, and book manuscripts.
Series III: Organizations and Societies, 1936-1972, contains files regarding Johnston's involvement in several historic and civil societies: the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Society of the Cincinnatti, Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Jamestowne Society, Virginia Historical Society, Society of Colonial Wars, Society of the Sons of the Revolution, Virginia Institute for Scientific Research, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquites, and the Southern Historical Society.
Series IV: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1901-1974, contains files regarding Johnston's long personal and professional relationship with Virginia Tech, including Alumni Association files and correspondence, domintory dedication speeches, correspondence with members of the History Department, including Dr. James I. Robertson, photographs of class reunions, an Johnston's personal diary when he was a student at Virginia Tech in 1901.
Series V: Assorted, 1933-1971, consists of American Revolution book correspondence, maps, and genealogical correspondence not specific to the Civil War.
Dates
- 1901 - 1974
Creator
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Architectural engineer, American Civil War historian, and civic benefactor, J. Ambler Johnston (1885-1974) graduated from Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1904 with B.S and in 1905 with an M.S. In 1906, he received another M.S. from Cornell University and became co-founder of the architectural firm of Carneal and Johnston in Richmond, Virginia. Carneal and Johnston was responsible for many buildings on the campuses of VPI, Virginia Military Institute, and the University of Richmond (which later awarded Johnston an honorary D.Sc.). Johnston helped rewrite Richmond's building code, was a charter member of the Richmond Rotary Club, and helped found a Civil War Round Table (CWRT) at the State Penitentiary.
During World War I, Johnston served with the Richmond Light Infantry Blues (Home Guard). He held offices in several historical and scientific organizations, including the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of the Cincinnatus, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Association for the Protection of Virginia Antiquities (APVA), the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Historical Society, and the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research.
A native of Rockbridge County, Virginia, Johnston was the son of a Civil War veteran. For more than forty years, he was closely associated with Douglas Southall Freeman, noted Civil War author. Both men owned land on which a number of Civil War battles were fought and later donated these lands to the National Park Service. After Freeman's death in 1953, Johnston often presented on the life of his fellow historian. His lecture tours earned him honorary membership in CWRTs in Kansas City, Chicago, Louisville, New York City, the Confederate Historical Society of England, and Richmond. In 1965, he served as chairman of the Richmond Civil War Centennial Committee.
Throughout his life, Johnston maintained close ties with his alma mater. He served as president of the VPI Alumni Association and received the 1961 Distinguished Alumni Citation. In 1966, the university named the dormitory Ambler Johnston Hall after him. He lived in Richmond until his death in 1974.
Extent
15.4 Cubic Feet (11 boxes)
Abstract
The J. Ambler Johnston Papers pertains to his many activities throughout his professional and personal life, especially his involvement with the Civil War Round Table (CWRT) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Materials consist of correspondence, publications and ephemera, organizational and committee reports, and photographs, relating to Johnston's involvement with historical and civic organizations including the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Society of the Sons of the Revolution, Virginia Institute for Scientific Research, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquites, and the Southern Historical Society and association with Douglas Southall Freeman and the VPI Alumni Association.
Arrangement
Materials in the collection are arranged into five series by topic, and each series is arranged by subtopic or chronologically. The collection preimarily remains in original processed order from 1974.
Series
- Series I: Civil War Round Table, 1953-1973
- Subseries A: Files, 1953-1973
- Subseries B: Recordings and File Packets, 1952-1973
- Series II: Civil War, 1930-1972
- Series III: Organizations and Societies, 1936-1972
- Series IV: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1901-1974
- Series V: Assorted, 1933-1971
Physical Access
Please note: This collection is in off-site storage and requires 2-3 days notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.
Source of Acquisition
The J. Ambler Johnston Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1974. An small addition was donated in 1980.
Appraisal
The following maps were deaccessioned in 2019 due to poor condition and availability of information elsewhere.
Deaccessioned maps
- Railroads in Virginia, 1861-1865. 1963. 29 x 61 in. 2 copies.
- Second Bull Run Campaign. undated. 11 maps, 26 June - 1 September 1862. Each map 34 x 42 in.
- Antietam Campaign. undated. 11 maps on 5 sheets, 7 September - 17 September 1862. Each sheet 34 x 43 in.
- Fredericksburg Campaign. undated. 6 maps on 4 sheets, 7 November - 13 December 1862. Each sheet 36 x 43 in.
- The American Civil War: Principal Campaigns of the War. undated. 31 x 40 in.
- Battle of Cold Harbor (3 June 1864) and Vicinity of Richmond: Situation at Cold Harbor and Bermuda Hundred (1 - 12 June 1864). Undated. 2 maps on 1 sheet. 31 x 40 in.
- Movement to the James River (12 - 16 June 1864). undated. 31 x 39 in.
- Peninsular Campaign. undated. 13 maps on 9 sheets, 11 March - 29 June 1862. Each sheet 31 x 40 in.
- The Seven Days Battle. undated. 33 x 43 in.
- Richmond National Battlefield Park. 1948. 36 x 47 in.
- The Second Manassas Campaign. 1960. 34 x 43 in.
Separated Materials
The J. Ambler Johnston collection of Civil War maps were separated to the Special Collections and University Archives Historical Map Collection.
A model sculpture of Sacrifice, one of the Pylon statues in the War Memorial Court, was separated to the Artifact Collection.
Several books have been separated to the Rare Book Collection.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the J. Ambler Johnston Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the J. Ambler Johnston Papers was completed in November 2021. Minimal description was completed 1974, January 2011, and November 2019.
- 1) Railroads in Virginia, 1861-1865. 1963. 29 x 61 in. 2 copies. 2) Second Bull Run Campaign. undated. 11 maps, 26 June - 1 September 1862. Each map 34 x 42 in. 3) Antietam Campaign. undated. 11 maps on 5 sheets, 7 September - 17 September 1862. Each sheet 34 x 43 in. 4) Fredericksburg Campaign. undated. 6 maps on 4 sheets, 7 November - 13 December 1862. Each sheet 36 x 43 in. 5)The American Civil War: Principal Campaigns of the War. undated. 31 x 40 in. 6) Battle of Cold Harbor (3 June 1864) and Vicinity of Richmond: Situation at Cold Harbor and Bermuda Hundred (1 - 12 June 1864). Undated. 2 maps on 1 sheet. 31 x 40 in. 7) Movement to the James River (12 - 16 June 1864). undated. 31 x 39 in. 8) Peninsular Campaign. undated. 13 maps on 9 sheets, 11 March - 29 June 1862. Each sheet 31 x 40 in. 9) The Seven Days Battle. undated. 33 x 43 in. 10) Richmond National Battlefield Park. 1948. 36 x 47 in. 11) The Second Manassas Campaign. 1960. 34 x 43 in.
- Civil War
- Faculty and staff
- Students and alumni
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- University Archives
- University History
- Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
- Title
- J. Ambler Johnston Papers, 1901-1974
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Miles Abernethy, Student Worker, and Special Collections and University Archives Staff
- Date
- 2021 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu