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The Correspondence series (1.3 linear feet) dates from 1960 to 2002. Arranged chronologically, the general correspondence includes letters between Johnson and his University of Michigan colleagues and former and current students, as well as colleagues throughout the world. This series also includes family correspondence from his wife and children while he was visiting in Sierra Leone in 1980, correspondence with his sister and brother-in-law regarding an upcoming visit, and other family members regarding family issues and their poetry. In 1995 an email group called Leonenet was formed for Sierra Leone ex-patriots to stay in touch with each other and discuss issues affecting their homeland. Johnson printed out many of the threads of this electronic correspondence. They are arranged chronologically. Also found here are email printouts of Johnson's Africa Book Talk where he discusses African authors such as Athol Fugard and Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka; African themes such as Apartheid, the Garden of Eden, and Shakespeare; and issues that Johnson was exploring in his own work, such as African erotica and universal themes such as feminism and oppression. Researchers might consult GEFAME, an on-line scholarly journal promoting communication in the field of African Studies. Volume 1, no. 1 is dedicated to Johnson and his work. The url is http://www.hti.umich.edu/g/gefame/

The University of Michigan series (.6 linear feet) is divided into three subseries reflecting Johnson's teaching and involvement at the university. The Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (1972-1998) includes announcements, correspondence dating from 1974 to 1991, and a Ford Foundation grant report. The publications of the center in this collection include articles written by Johnson on the topic of black literature in the Americas. The Department of English Language and Literature (1978-2001) contains syllabi and notes for courses taught by Johnson for the years 1991 through 2001 with several undated. Researchers will also find records from other University of Michigan units including the Royal Shakespeare Company Residence Committee (2000-2001) and the Scientific Club (1990-1999).