Descriptive Summary
| Abstract: |
Writings, working files, diplomas, awards, recognitions, memorials, and audiovisual materials of Harriet McBryde Johnson.
Materials document Johnson's disability and civil rights advocacy and activism, her career as an author and an attorney, and
her participation in Charleston city and county politics. Disabled due to a congenital degenerative neuromuscular disease
she came to prominence after debating Peter Singer concerning his views on disability-based infanticide and for her annual
public demonstrations of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. As an author Johnson published two books, a memoir, Too Late to Die Young: Nearly True Tales from a Life, and a young adult novel, Accidents of Nature, as well as numerous articles for various disability press, newspaper, and legal periodicals on such topics as living with
a disability, disability and civil rights advocacy, and accessibility issues.
|
| Title: |
Harriet McBryde Johnson papers |
| Creator: |
Johnson, Harriet McBryde, 1957-2008 |
| Date(s): |
1971-2010 |
| Extent: |
6.0 linear feet
(6 cartons, 1 oversize folder, 5 audiocassettes, 4 cds, 5 videocassettes)
|
| Repository: |
Special Collections, College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: (843) 953-8016
Fax: (843) 953-6319
URL: http://archives.library.cofc.edu
|
| Call Number: |
Mss 0156 |
| Language of Material: |
Materials in English |
Biographical Note
Harriet McBryde Johnson (1957-2008) was a disability rights advocate and activist, attorney, and author. Disabled due to a
congenital neuromuscular diease, she earned a B.S. in history from the Charleston Southern University in 1978, a Master's
in Public Administration from the College of Charleston in 1981, and a law degree from the University of South Carolina in
1985. Shortly after graduating from the University of South Carolina she went into private practice, focusing on benefits
and civil rights claims for poor and working people with disabilites. In 2002 she came to prominence after debating Peter
Singer, Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, concerning his views on disability-based infanticide. The encounter
was chronicled in her New York Times Magazine cover story "Unspeakable Conversations or How I Spent One Day as a Token Cripple at Princeton University." She also drew national attention for her public protests of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. Prompted by Lewis' "If I Had Muscular Dystrophy" article for Parade Magazine in which he referred to disabled children as "half persons," Johnson criticized the telethons "pity-based tactics" and "charity mentality" and protested the telethon for nearly twenty years. She also wrote numerous articles for various disability press and legal
and newspaper periodicals, and was the author of two books, a memoir, Too Late to Die Young: Nearly True Tales from a Life, published in 2005, and the young adult novel, Accidents of Nature, published in 2006. Politically active Johnson served in the City of Charelston Democratic Party for eleven years, first
as secretary, then as chair. She was also a County Council candidate in 1994 and a national convention delegate in 1996. In
additon she was a member of the board of directors of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilites and served on the
steering committee of the National Lawyer's Guild.
Collection Overview
The collection consists of the papers of Harriet McBryde Johnson from 1971 to 2010 and document Johnson's disability rights
advocacy and activism, her career as an author and an attorney, and her participation in Charleston city and county politics.
The collection includes writings, working files, awards, memorials and tributes, photographs, and audiovisual materials.
Writings include Johnson's typescript for her young adult novel Accidents of Nature, and published short stories, memoir excerpts, profiles, interviews, and articles for various disability press, legal, and
newspaper periodicals on such topics as living with a disability, disability advocacy and civil rights, and accessibility
issues. A large portion of the collection is made up of Johnson's working files comprised of correspondence, faxes, clippings,
photocopies, printed materials, handwritten notes, and other ephemera relating to her accessibility lawsuit against the Ashley
Hall Foundation, her political activities as the City Party Chair and Secretary of the City of Charleston Democratic Party,
her county council campaign, and her annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon demonstrations, including protest signage and
a "Dump Jerry Lewis" button. Her working files also contain correspondence between Johnson and Joseph P. Riley, Strom Thurman, and Ernest F. Hollings
regarding accessibility issues in downtown Charleston and her support or opposition to various bills and political nominations
as well as other assorted professional correspondence, requests for article contributions for local and national journals
and newspapers, and thank you letters and notes. Also included are files relating to Johnson's literary career, including
speech notes, fan mail, and publicity materials, and scattered legal files. The arrangement scheme for Johnson's working files
was imposed during processing. There are also diplomas, awards, and recogntions awarded to Johnson including her college diplomas
from the Charleston Southern University and the University of South Carolina, certificates of appreciation, a city resolution
for Harriet McBryde Johnson day, and Senate and House resolutions passed on her death. Also included are memorial materials
and audiovisual materials including radio interviews on the topic of living with a disability and her memoir as well as videocassette
recordings of her county council campaign commercial, professional training workshops, speeches, and conference presentations.
Collection Arrangement
| 1. |
Writings, 1971-2008 |
| 2. |
Working files, 1971-2008 |
| 3. |
Diplomas, awards, and recognition, 1985-2008 |
| 4. |
Memorials, 2008, 2010 |
| 5. |
Audiovisual materials, 1992-2010 |
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person,
family, or organization, by topical subject, by place, and by types of material.
Names
- Johnson, Harriet McBryde
- Lewis, Jerry, 1926-
- Singer, Peter, 1946-
Subjects
- People with disabilities -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Authors with disabilities -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- Lawyers -- South Carolina -- Charleston
- People with disabilities -- Civil rights -- United States
- People with disabilities -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States
- Disability awareness -- South Carolina -- Charleston
Types of Material
- Files (document groupings)
- Periodicals
- Correspondence
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Photocopies
- Diplomas
- Certificates
- Audiocassettes
- Compact discs
- Videocassettes
- Color photographs
Detailed Description of the Collection
Close All |
Open All
1. Writings, 1971-2008
Disability press periodicals, 1993-2008
Ability, "The Utterly Reasonable," 2005
box 1
| folder 1
Ability, "Too Late to Die Young: Nearly True Tales from a Life" excerpt, 2005
box 1
| folder 2
Disability Rag, "Hope for Judenrats," letter to the editor, 1993 July-August
box 1
| folder 3
Disability Rag, "We Should Know Better," letter to the editor, 1994 March-April
box 1
| folder 4
Exchange, "The Future of Disabilities: Celebrating 25 Years of Advocacy," 2006 Fall
box 1
| folder 5
Mouth Magazine, "Not Another Peep Out of You," #79, Volume 14, Number 3, 2003 September-October
box 1
| folder 6
Mouth Magazine, "More News on Eugenics at the Holocaust Museum, Harriet McBryde Johnson Testifies on Language and Institutions," #93 and #94, Volume 16, Numbers 5 and 6, 2005 January-April
box 1
| folder 7
Mouth Magazine, "I Can Tell You About Not Moving," #104 and #105, Volume 18, Numbers 4 and 5, 2007 November-2008 February
box 1
| folder 8
New Mobility, "Return to Cuba," 1998 May
box 1
| folder 9
New Mobility, "My Spin: Power Dressing," 1998 December
box 1
| folder 10
New Mobility, "A Celebration for the Day of the Dead", 1999 October
box 1
| folder 11
New Mobility, "Conventional Wisdom, Part One," 2000 September
box 1
| folder 12
New Mobility, "Conventional Wisdom, Part Two," 2000 October
box 1
| folder 13
New Mobility, "My Spin: Voice Lessons," 2001 January
box 1
| folder 14
New Mobility, "School of Hard Knocks, A Painful Coming of Age at Duke University," 2001 June
box 1
| folder 15
New Mobility, "Body Hunger," 2002 April
box 1
| folder 16
Article is written under the pen name "Miss Jane."
New Mobility, "Physician Assisted Death, Are We Asking the Right Questions," 2003 May
box 1
| folder 17
New Mobility, "Person of the Year: Harriet McBryde Johnson," 2004 January
box 1
| folder 18
New Mobility, "One Life," 2005 March
box 1
| folder 19
New Mobility, "Celebrating Barry," 2005 September
box 1
| folder 20
New Mobility, "Barry Corbett: Embedded," 2007 January
box 1
| folder 21
Ragged Edge, "Reclaiming Our Civil Rights," 1999 September-October
box 1
| folder 22
Ragged Edge, "On Answering Personal Questions About My Disability From Children I Meet on the Street," 1999 July-August
box 1
| folder 23
Support Magazine, "Wie Mag Leven?" [Who Should Live?], 2004 May
box 1
| folder 24
TASH Connections, "Worth Living," Issue Number 7, Volume 29, 2003 July
box 1
| folder 25
Fiction, 1995-2003
Accidents of Nature typescript, 1995 October
box 1
| folder 26
Accidents of Nature photocopied typescript, 1995 October
box 1
| folder 27
Notre Dame Review, "Marriage of Convenience," Number 8, 1999 Summer
box 1
| folder 28
Point, "Marriage of Convenience," Volume 11, Number 102, 2001
box 1
| folder 29
The Post and Courier South Carolina Fiction Project, "Sight Seeing," 2003
box 1
| folder 30
Legal publications and periodicals, 1981-2007
College of Charleston Masters Thesis "Rights of Handicapped People in Public Employment Under Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973," 1981 April 30
box 1
| folder 31
The Elder Law Journal, "Civil Rights and Long-Term Care: Advocacy in the Wake of Olmstead v. L. C. Ex Rel. Zimring," 2002
box 1
| folder 32
Guild Notes, "Tearing Down the Walls: The Fight Against State-Created Segregation," Volume XIV, Number 2, 2000
box 1
| folder 33
Guild Notes, "Guild Disability Rights Committee Activities," 2002
box 1
| folder 34
Legal Rights of Handicapped People: A Survey for South Carolina Advocates, 1981 March
box 1
| folder 35
The National Lawyers Guild Newsletter of the Labor and Employment Committee, "Unions Urged to Reconsider Support of Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon," 2003 May
box 1
| folder 36
Paralysis Resource Guide, Second Edition, "Legal Basics: Job Hunting with a Disability," 2007
box 1
| folder 37
Perspectives on Taxing and Spending Limitations in the United States, "David Meets Leviathan: Remarks on Myth, Attitudes, and Political Articulation of Protest in the Great Tax Revolt of Seventy-Eight," 1981
box 1
| folder 38
Review of Public Personnel Administration, "Who is Handicapped? Defending the Protected Class under the Employment Provisions of Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973," Volume 2, Number 1, 1981
box 2
| folder 1
South Carolina Bar, Continuing Legal Education: Social Security Disability Practice from Kindergarten to College, "Kindergarten: First Contact," 2001 July 27
box 2
| folder 2
South Carolina Jurisprudence: A Complete, Narrative, and Encyclopedic Statement of South Carolina Law, "Eminent Domain," 1993
box 2
| folder 3
South Carolina Lawyer, "The Americans with Disabilities Act: Some Highlights for South Carolina Lawyers," 1991 March-April
box 2
| folder 4
Newspaper periodicals, 1971-2008
New York Times Magazine, "Unspeakable Conversations or How I Spent One Day as a Token Cripple at Princeton University," 2003 February 16
box 2
| folder 5
Includes typescript draft.
New York Time Magazine, "Stairway to Justice," 2004 May 30
box 2
| folder 6
New York Times Magazine, "Wheelchair Unbound," 2006 April 23
box 2
| folder 7
New York Time Magazine, "Happy Nevertheless: An Ongoing Conversation About a Disabled Life," 2008 December 28
box 2
| folder 8
The Post and Courier, "High Profile: Harriet McBryde Johnson," 2003 April 12
box 2
| folder 9
Clippings, 1971-1982
box 2
| folder 10
Why Freedom Matters, "Courage" essay, 2003
box 2
| folder 11
2. Working files, 1971-2008, undated
Accessibility, 1985-2004, undated
Charleston County Courthouse, 1985-1988
box 2
| folder 12
City of Charleston, 1997-2004, undated
box 2
| folder 13
College of Charleston, 1993-1999, undated
box 2
| folder 14
Hibernian Hall, 1999
box 2
| folder 15
Advertising, 2002-2008
box 2
| folder 16
America's Overlooked Minority: The Sociology and Politics of Disability teaching file, 1977, 1982, undated
box 2
| folder 17
Ashley Hall Foundation accessibility lawsuit, 1989-2002, undated
Americans With Disabilities Act general file, 1989-1997, undated
box 2
| folder 18
Ashley Hall general file, 1999-2000
box 2
| folder 19
Drafts, 1999-2002
box 2
| folder 20
Pleadings, 2000-2001, undated
box 2
| folder 21
Barry Corbett, 1993, 2000-2007, undated
box 2
| folder 22
Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment, Charleston Chapter, 1993-1995, 2000, undated
box 2
| folder 23
Charleston County Democratic Party, 1988-2000, undated
Executive committee, 1988-2000, undated
box 3
| folder 1
Executive committee, 1991-1995, undated
box 3
| folder 2
Harkin committee, 1991-1992, undated
box 3
| folder 3
City of Charleston Democratic Party, 1989-2000
City Democratic Party general file, 1991-1998, 2001
box 3
| folder 4
City Democratic Party general file, 1997, undated
box 3
| folder 5-9
City Democratic Party general file, 1997, 1999, undated
box 3
| folder 10
City Democratic Party general file, 1999, undated
box 3
| folder 11
Democratic convention, 1999
box 3
| folder 12
Democratic Party candidacy filings, 1999
box 3
| folder 13
Executive Committee minutes, 1989-1995
box 3
| folder 14
Executive Committee minutes, 1997
box 3
| folder 15
Executive Committee minutes, 1998-1999
box 3
| folder 16
Get out the vote, 1997
box 3
| folder 17
Janie Anderson, Clerk of Court candidate, 1992
box 3
| folder 18
Petition receipts for Alma Dungee and Caliph R Hanesworth, 1997
box 3
| folder 19
Precinct data, 1999-2000, undated
box 4
| folder 1
Precinct reorganization, 1991, undated
box 4
| folder 2
Precinct reorganization, 1993, undated
box 4
| folder 3
Primary, 1999
box 4
| folder 4
Primary and run off, 1997, undated
box 4
| folder 5
State Ethics Commission disclosure manual and forms, 1992, undated
box 4
| folder 6
Unofficial tally results by precinct, 1999
box 4
| folder 7
Correspondence, 1971, 1980-1987
General, 1971, 1983-1987
box 4
| folder 8
General, 1989
box 4
| folder 9
General, 1990
box 4
| folder 10
General, 1991
box 4
| folder 11
General, 1994, 1996
box 4
| folder 12
General, 1997
box 4
| folder 13
General, 1998
box 4
| folder 14
General, 1999
box 4
| folder 15
General, 2000-2001
box 4
| folder 16
General, 2002
box 4
| folder 17
General, 2003
box 4
| folder 18
General, 2004
box 4
| folder 19
General, 2005-2008
box 4
| folder 20
County council campaign, 1994-1995, undated
Expenses, 1994
box 4
| folder 21
Expenses, 1994-1995
box 4
| folder 22
Printed materials, 1994
box 4
| folder 23
Harriet McBryde Johnson County Council campaign yard sign, 1994
Oversize Paper Folder 1(Flat Storage)
Debra B. Henson v. Berkeley County School Board Brief of Appellant, 1999
box 4
| folder 24
Democratic National Convention, 1996, undated
box 4
| folder 25-27
Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon protest, 1990-2007
Anti-telethon, 1990-1991, undated
box 4
| folder 28
Anti-telethon, 1992-1993, 2001
box 4
| folder 29
Dump Jerry Lewis button, undated
box 5
| folder 1
Telethon protest, 1990-1992, undated
box 5
| folder 2
Telethon protest, 1993, undated
box 5
| folder 3
Telethon protest, 1994, undated
box 5
| folder 4
Telethon protest, 1995, undated
box 5
| folder 5
Telethon protest, 1996, undated
box 5
| folder 6
Telethon protest, 1997, undated
box 5
| folder 7
Telethon protest, 1998, undated
box 5
| folder 8
Telethon protest, 1999, undated
box 5
| folder 9
Telethon protest, 2000, undated
box 5
| folder 10
Telethon protest, 2001, undated
box 5
| folder 11
Telethon protest, 2002, undated
box 5
| folder 12
Telethon protest, 2003
box 5
| folder 13
Telethon protest, 2004, undated
box 5
| folder 14
Telethon protest, 2005
box 5
| folder 15
Telethon protest, 2006-2007, undated
box 5
| folder 16
Assorted protest signs, undated
Oversize Paper Folder 1(Flat Storage)
Literary and public speaking career, 1985-2008, undated
Accidents of Nature correspondence, 1993-1996, 2004, undated
box 5
| folder 17
Accidents of Nature and Too Late to Die Young book publicity, 2004-2007, undated
box 5
| folder 18
Fan Mail, 2005, undated
box 5
| folder 19
Goin to Carolina 2004 NAELA Symposium, "Disability Rights: A Liberation Movement for All People," 2004, May 20-23
box 5
| folder 20
Literary agents correspondence, 2003-2005, undated
box 5
| folder 21
Literary contests, 2001-2005
box 5
| folder 22
Short Fiction, 1994-2002, undated
box 5
| folder 23
Speeches and articles, 1985-1995, undated
box 5
| folder 24
Speeches and articles, 1996, undated
box 6
| folder 1
Speeches and articles, 1999
box 6
| folder 2
Speeches and articles, 2000
box 6
| folder 3
Speeches and articles, 2001
box 6
| folder 4
Speeches and articles, 2002
box 6
| folder 5
Speeches and articles, 2003
box 6
| folder 6
Speeches and articles, 2004, undated
box 6
| folder 7
Speeches and articles, 2005, undated
box 6
| folder 8
Speeches and articles, 2006
box 6
| folder 9
Speeches and articles, 2007
box 6
| folder 10
Speeches and articles, 2008
box 6
| folder 11
Unspeakable Conversations, 2003
box 6
| folder 12
National Conference on Independent Living Service Regulations, 1979
box 6
| folder 13
Nurse Practice Act S.977, 2002
box 6
| folder 14
Olmstead v. L.C., 1999-2001, undated
box 6
| folder 15
Petition of Writ of Certiorari in Wright v. Universal Maritime Service Corp., et al., 1997
box 6
| folder 16
School file, 1975-1987, undated
box 6
| folder 17
Includes several photographs of Johnson graduating from Charleston Southern University.
Second International Conference on the Rights of People with Disabilities, Havana, Cuba, 1997-1998
box 6
| folder 18
South Carolina Coalition for Handicapped Persons, 1983-2000, undated
Client Assistance Program and Vocational Rehabilitation, 1985-1993, 2000, undated
box 6
| folder 19
Minutes and Newsletters, 1983-1988, undated
box 6
| folder 20
3. Diplomas, awards, and recognition, 1985-2008
Certificates of appreciation, 1992, 2004-2008
box 6
| folder 21
City of Charleston proclamation and House and Senate resolutions, 2003-2008
box 6
| folder 22
College Diplomas, 1978-1986, 1999
Oversize Paper Folder 1(Flat Storage)
Jean Galloway Bissell award nomination packet, 1998, 2005
box 6
| folder 23
Miscellaneous awards, 1985-2008, undated
box 6
| folder 24
4. Memorials, 2008, 2010
Harriet McBryde Johnson: A Celebration of Life memorial pamphlet, 2008
box 6
| folder 25
Harriet McBryde Johnson Scholarship programs, 2010
box 6
| folder 26
"Memory Hold the Door," South Carolina Bar Convention, Kiawah Island, SC, 2010
box 6
| folder 27
"Remembering the Past, Charting the Future," C.A.F.E. (The Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment) tribute, 2010
box 6
| folder 28
"We Shall Overcome!!!" bumper sticker, 2008
box 6
| folder 29
5. Audiovisual materials, 1992-2010, undated
Audiocassettes, 1992, 1997, 2000, undated
(Special Collections Audiocassette Box 2 | 4 audiocassettes)
"A. Bryant Election Protest," 8/15/1997, 1997 August 15
audiocassette 0156-a01
"Harkin Speech, Morris Street Baptist, 1992," 1992
audiocassette 0156-a02
"Harriet Johnson- Radio Show," undated
audiocassette 0156-a03
"The Infinite Mind with Dr. Fred Goodwin, Courage (#130)," 2000
audiocassette 0156-a04
"Wisconsin Public Radio, 0314 D," undated
audiocassette 0156-a05
Compact Discs, 2000, 2005, 2010
(Special Collections Compact Discs Box 1 | 9 compact discs)
"The Hearts and Minds Project," undated
CD 0156-cd01
"HOLT Author Harriet McBryde Johnson, Audio TT: 2:54, Henry Holt, 07/13/04," 2004 July 13
CD 0156-cd02
Too Late to Die Young: Nearly True Tales from a Life radio promo.
"The Kojo Nnamdi Show, 11-10-05 Hr 1, Living With Serious Illness," 2005 November 10
CD 0156-cd03
"Memory Hold the Door," South Carolina Bar Convention, Kiawah Island, SC, 2010
CD 0156-cd04
"On A Roll: Talk Radio on Life and Disability, Hour 1, 9/3/2000," 2000 September 3
CD 0156-cd05
"On A Roll: Talk Radio on Life and Disability, Hour 2, 9/3/2000," 2000 September 3
CD 0156-cd06
"Remembering the Past, Charting the Future," C.A.F.E. (The Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment) tribute recording, 2010 October 23
CD 0156-cd07
"Remembering the Past, Charting the Future," C.A.F.E. (The Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment) tribute supplemental materials, 2010 October 23
CD 0156-cd08
Includes PowerPoint presentations, event photographs, and honoree biographies.
"Your Day Today, 10-31-07, NPR Broadcast, Federal Project to Aid Elderly to Return/Stay Home," 2007 October 31
CD 0156-cd09
Videocassettes, 1993-1997, 2005, undated
(Special Collections Videocassette Box 1 | 5 videocassettes)
"Harriet McBryde Johnson, Mediator's Opening Statement, Circuit Court Mediation Training, August 19, 1993," 1993 August 19
videotape 0156-v01
"Harriet McBryde Johnson, Teleconference Olmstead Training," undated
videotape 0156-v02
"Harriet McBryde Johnson/‘Too Late to Die Young,’ Cable Market, CNN NewsNight with Aaron Brown, 3/23/2005, 10:35 pm, (5:30)," 2005 March 23
videotape 0156-v03
"Harriet McBryde Johnson, Working Women's Conference, 9/7/1997 Morning Session, 1997," 1997 September 7
videotape 0156-v04
"Harriets' Campaign Commercial For ComCast," 1994
videotape 0156-v05
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may
be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership
of most archival materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright
law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of
copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be
fully credited with the source.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Harriet McBryde Johnson papers, College of Charleston Libraries, Charleston, SC, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Materials were donated in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014 by Elizabeth Johnson.
Processing Information
Processed by Joshua Minor, December 2014.
Encoded by Joshua Minor, December 2014.
