Nan Johnson papers

Collection

Identifier: D.266

Staff Only

Biographical / Historical note

Nancy Jean Heffelfinger was born in 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Barnard College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and received her Masters in Political Science from the University of Rochester in 1960. She did advanced coursework at Cornell Law School (1952–1953) and at the Warner School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester. From 1976 to 1990, she served as a Trustee of the State University of New York, and, from 1984 to 1999, was Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Rochester.

"Nan" Johnson was first elected to the Monroe County Legislature in 1975, and was reelected six times, serving for twenty years. In 1978, she was the first woman and Democrat to serve as majority leader of the 29-member legislative body, and she ran for the newly crafted office of Monroe County Executive in 1983. As legislator, Johnson served for six years as Chairwoman of the Human Services Committee, overseeing the largest part of the County budget, and was instrumental in the formation of the Maternal, Infants and Children Policy Group.

In 1995, she founded and was named Director of the Susan B. Anthony University Center at the University of Rochester, a position she held until 1999. She served as the Center's 1995 Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Woman Suffrage, "95/75." In 1998, Johnson was co-chair of "Forum 98: Taking Action for Women in the 21st Century," held in Geneva, Rochester, and Seneca Falls, N.Y. She was active with numerous civic organizations, including the East Avenue Association, the Landmark Society of Western New York, and the Greater Rochester Area Branch of the American Association of University Women. She was a Trustee of the National Women's Hall of Fame and was founding President of the Friends of the Women's Rights National Historical Park.

She received numerous awards, including the 1993 Hannah Solomon Award from the National Council of Jewish Women, the Florence K. Thiede Award for Perinatal Health Service, the 1995 Civic Award from the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the 1998 Trailblazer Award from the Greater Rochester AAUW. She is mother of two children, Reed and Miranda, and is married to James William Johnson, Professor Emeritus in the Department of English at the University of Rochester.

Scope and Contents

The Nan Johnson Papers are made up of two series: Campaigns, and Activism and Recognition. The campaign materials relate to Johnson's career in the county legislature and is arranged chronologically, followed by material from Johnson's campaign for county executive. These folders include campaign literature, photographs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. Material from 95/75, which marked the 75th anniversary of women's suffrage, includes correspondence from organizations requesting use of the event's logo. The remainder of the collection includes material from her other political and social activities.

Creator

Johnson, Nan, 1930-2022 (Person)

Dates

Creation: 1975–2005

Language of Materials

English

Extent

2.47 cubic feet (6 boxes and 1 oversized folder)

Access

The Nan Johnson Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were the gift of Nan Johnson, 1999 May 14 and 2008 September 23.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Nan Johnson Papers, D.266, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester