Sound and Visual Collection
Elmer Andrew (Hjalmar Andreas) Johnson (1879–1961) was born in Husum, Grundsunda, Sweden to Andrew and Malin Johnson. He attended school through the 8th grade then went to work to help support his family. He worked as a lumberman (North Woods) and became a skilled carpenter and tinsmith. Elmer became a naturalized citizen in 1895 and helped his father build the Boarding House in 1900. He married Agnes C. Trantina (Truntle) (1882-1962) on September 6th, 1906 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with a reception at the Boarding House. She was born in Bohemia to Thomas Trantina (1854-1933) and Rosalia Kadlec (1858-1938). Agnes finished the 8th grade and then became a factory girl at the Neven’s Shirt Factory at 106-1/2 First Avenue North. They had three children; Ellsworth, Virgil, and Evelyn. He built their house at 3955 Colfax Avenue North, Minneapolis in 1924.
Virgil Sylvester Johnson (1909-1993) was born in Minneapolis to Elmer A. Johnson and Agnes C. Trantina. His early years were spent on the claim in Ralph, South Dakota and in Minneapolis. He graduated from North High School in 1930. Virgil S. excelled in sports. He lettered in football and hockey in high school and continued his hockey career playing for the Minneapolis Millers (1931-1934, 1945-1947), the Saint Paul Saints (1934-1937, 1938-1942), the Chicago Black Hawks (1937-1938, 1943-1945), the Hershey Bears (1942-1943), and the Cleveland Barons (1944). He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974. Virgil S. married Helen E. Emmings (1905-1987) on May 23, 1936 at Gethsemane Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. Helen was born in Roscoe, South Dakota to Fred R. Emmings (1875-1957) and Emma Shipke (1876-1930). They had three children; Virgil Charles (1939-), Holly Anne (1940-1942), and Alan David (1945-2006). The family lived with the Emmings in Minneapolis and then various places around Minneapolis, Excelsior, Wayzata, and Hopkins.
Information is condensed from biographical sketch by Virgil C. Johnson which is included in materials.
Professional team photographs and postcards within sports images are in copyright. Please consult the reference staff for more information.
Accession number: AV2017.171
Processed by: Karen Obermeyer-Kolb, February 2018
Catalog ID number: 990089275370104924
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John Berg, Andrew Johnson's nephew, built his home next door to the boarding house.
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Includes views of Andrew and Malin Johnson's children with their spouses and children.
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Includes street scenes and and shop interiors, including Hansen Grocery and the Ford Garage.
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Includes views of Virgil S. Johnson playing hockey and football, portraits, teammates, and Helen Emmings Johnson on horseback.
Includes correspondence from Virgil Johnson to Helen Emmings and Agnes C. (Trantina) Johnson.
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Includes views of Andrew and Malin Johnson's eldest child, Elmer, his wife Agnes, and their children.
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Includes views of Helen's parents, employees of Chicago Paints, and unique folk-art Christmas tree and decorations.
Includes accompanying notes, slides have numbering system that corresponds to notes.
Slideshow and notes document the first 50 years of the Johnson family narrative in America, covering 1882-1932. Many images duplicated in collection.
Includes index to people and places featured in photograph albums.
Albums include snapshots and postcards documenting the courtship of Virgil Johnson and Helen Emmings; wedding anniversary parties on Lake Minnetonka; celebrations with other hockey players and their families; trips to the North Shore; family get-togethers; and residences in various cities during hockey season.
Many images duplicated in collection.
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