Peter Johnson papers and pictorial material, 1945-2001

MLMSS 9749/Boxes 1-9
MLMSS 9749/Box 10X
PXD 1419

fonds

1945-2001, 2019

Textual Records, Architectural and Technical Drawings, Clippings, Design Drawings, Photographs

1344853

1.5 metres of textual material (9 boxes, 1 outsize box)
50 architectural drawings
2 photographs
13 items of textual material

Peter Johnson served in the RAAF during World War II on bombing missions over Germany and France. After his plane was shot down he was hidden by the French Underground for six months. After the war he studied architecture at the University of Sydney and by the 1960s had one of the most respected practices in Australia. Buildings he designed or was involved in included the University of Sydney’s Law School, the Australian Defence Force Academy, and the master plan for Darling Harbour. The house he designed for his family at Chatswood in 1963 won the Wilkinson Award for a house of outstanding architectural merit and ‘was a seminal work that greatly influenced the development of the Sydney School’.

In 1967 he was appointed Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney. He was Head of the School of Undergraduate Studies in Architecture, and, between 1968 and 1986, Dean of the Faculty. In 1988 he became foundation Chancellor of the University of Technology. In these roles he greatly influenced the teaching of architecture throughout Australia. He received several awards for services to education and architecture including the Royal Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal, a Companion to the Order of Australia and a Life Fellowship of the RAIA.

References:
UTS Newsroom. http://newsroom.uts.edu.au/news/2003/06/university-mourns-foundation-chancellor (accessed 15 April 2016)
ArchitectureAU. http://architectureau.com/articles/obituary-peter-richard-norman-johnson/ (accessed 15 April 2016)

Includes correspondence both professional and personal, talks, writings, diaries, newscuttings, architectural drawings, photographs, certificates, awards, items re his WW2 service, biographical material and printed material.

MLMSS 9749

BOX 1
Folders 1-2: Speeches, published articles, correspondence, invitations, documents relating to role of Chancellor at UTS, various UTS newsletters, convocation programmes, and annual reports, 1990-1999.
2 photographs of oil painting portrait of Peter Johnson by Imants Tillers.
Folder 3: Various obituaries written by Peter Johnson, 1977-1996.
Folder 4: Articles, notes from talks, ideas for articles, personal recollections, memos, art exhibition programmes, articles relating to architecture, architectural surveys, newspaper cuttings relating to Sydney Opera House, journal entries ca 1995, papers relating to book ‘Australian houses of the sixties’.
Folder 5: Conference papers and programmes, 1963-1985.

BOX 2
Folder 6: Papers relating to NSW Hospital Planning Advisory Committee, 1977; papers relating to Building Science Forum of Australia, ca 1970s; various architecture conference papers and programmes, ca 1972; cuttings and handwritten notes on architecture.
Folder 7: Articles and talks by Peter Johnson, 1957-ca 1970.
Folder 8: Papers, cuttings, press releases, articles, talks, and correspondence relating to architecture and buildings, 1976-1983.
Folder 9: Papers, articles, correspondence, reviews, and talks relating to architecture, 1964-1974.
Folders 10-11: Articles, notes, research, obituaries, government reports, and bibliographies relating to Leslie Wilkinson (1882-1973), including research for book by Johnson, ‘Leslie Wilkinson : a practical idealist’, transcripts of speeches and letters written by Wilkinson, 1929-1993.

BOX 3
Folders 12-14: Articles, notes, research, obituaries, government reports, and bibliographies relating to Leslie Wilkinson (1882-1973), including research for book by Johnson about Wilkinson, ‘Leslie Wilkinson : a practical idealist’, transcripts of speeches and letters written by Wilkinson 1929-1993. (Folder 12 contains photographs of Wilkinson, and home of Wilkinson).
Folder 15: Various articles, cuttings, CVs, and biographical information relating to Johnson’s career at University of Sydney, and house at 29 Greville Street, Chatswood, 1985-1996.
Folder 16: Transcripts of speeches and formal addresses delivered by Peter Johnson, ca 1990-1999.

BOX 4
Talks, papers, articles, speeches, conference programmes, 1971-2000.
Folder 17: Correspondence, reports, and papers relating to the Australian Council of Professions, 1985-1997.
Folder 18: Correspondence, memorandums, and papers relating to the appointment and employment of Lloyd Rees as a teacher in the architecture and art departments at Sydney University, 1953-1988.
Folder 19: Papers relating to the appointment of Peter Johnson as Professor of Architecture and Head of the School of Undergraduate Studies at Sydney University; University of Sydney Schedule of salaries and Associated Costs of Academic and Non-Academic Positions, 1967-1988.
Folder 20: Letters to the editor from Peter Johnson, 2001-2003.
Folder 21: Papers relating to various artworks purchased and loaned by Peter Johnson, 1977-1979, 1999.

BOX 5
Conference papers, articles, speeches, and news cuttings, 1957-1990. Includes folders titled: ‘Women in architecture’, ‘Australian Schools of Architecture Conference 1971’, ’Metals in buildings’, ‘Luna Park forum’, and paper by Peter Johnson: ‘Denotics, manipulation, and design: issues and confusions’.
Correspondence of McConnel, Smith & Johnson, 1971-1985.

BOX 6
Speeches, correspondence, reports, and pamphlets relating to the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, ca 1980; correspondence, and notes relating to the National Australian Archives headquarters building design competition, Canberra, 1983; reports relating to construction work at Parliament House, Canberra, 1979; programme, photographs, correspondence and papers relating to Johnson receiving Order of Australia, 2002; various certificates and papers relating to Johnson’s service in Royal Australian Air Force, 1973.

BOX 7
Business cards, address and telephone number books, and diaries, 1957-1987, including project management notes relating to construction of Chatswood home.

BOX 8
News cuttings and articles relating to architecture, construction, urban planning, and tertiary education, 1969-1997; letters of congratulations after receiving RAIA Gold Medal Award, 1985; correspondence, 1985-1994; articles, speeches, and conference programmes relating to architecture in Australia; family photographs and slides ca 1969; journal kept by Johnson during first year studying architecture at Sydney University, containing lists of names, photographs, scores of sports matches, and news cuttings, 1946.

BOX 9
Papers, pamphlets, periodicals, newsletters, news cuttings, and letters to the editor relating to architecture, art, and urban planning, 1951-1983.
Personal correspondence, 1945-1951.
Book ‘Changing the future: engineering education into the future’ (1996) containing foreword by Peter Johnson.
Booklet with details of architecture staff at schools of architecture in Australasia, 1980.
Drawings, contracts, plans, and tenders relating to Johnson’s house in Chatswood.
Papers relating to conservation of Colong Caves, 1967-1972.
Additional material from Davina Jackson: List of David Moore photographs of McConnel Smith & Johnson architecture and portraits of Peter Johnson, with photocopies of contact sheets; heritage report on Peter Johnson house, Chatswood, 2019; article on the 'Sydney School', 2019.

BOX 10X
Scrapbook containing news cuttings from Sydney newspapers relating to architecture, building and construction, infrastructure projects, town planning, employment prospects of university graduates, 1974-1975.

PXD 1419

Folder 1
18 architectural drawings and sketches from university assignments of Peter Johnson, with annotations and comments from marker. Subjects include: design drawing for roundabout on rice paper; postage stamp sketch design, 1950; three design drawings for weekend house; timber stair and door construction, 1947; corinthian columns, 1946; timber factory construction, 1947; suburban house; athletics stadium.

Folder 2
2 design drawings on rice paper of Chancellor’s Chair, and Table for Mace, at the University of Technology Sydney.
2 photographs of Peter Johnson sitting in lecture theatre among large group of students.
13 certificates, awards, and fellowships relating to architecture, 1944-2000.

Folder 3
30 architectural drawings on tracing paper and paper vellum, relating to Johnson’s house at 31 Greville Street Chatswood. Subjects include: floor plans, cross section elevation views, basin unit details - bathroom, front door, reinforced concrete beams, electrical layout, fireplace detail, stair detail, cupboards, mullions.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed: Applies to items where copyright is held by the State Library of New South Wales
Copyright holder:: State Library of New South Wales
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales