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Johnson (Elmer and Vivienne) Collection of Farming Home
Movies
MP 002
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
Title: Elmer and Vivienne Johnson collection of farming home movies
Identifier/Call Number: MP 002
Physical Description:
.5 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1945-1964
Condition Description: Original
reels are in good condition. The reels have been digitized for access and
preservation.
Abstract: The collection comprises 12 reels of
original 16mm home movies of rice and almond farming in Colusa and Yolo counties,
California, from the mid 1940s though to 1964. The silent films show Elmer Johnson and farm
workers on the Johnson's rice farm and almond orchards in the Central Valley and document
farming activities including planting, harvesting, fertilizing and cropdusting, as well as
the almond orchards in full bloom. The films also include footage of Elmer Johnson and his
wife, Vivienne, and their son Edward at the family home and enjoying various recreational
activities. The majority of the films were taken by Vivienne Johnson. Along with the films
is a typewritten family history by Elmer and Vivienne's son, Edward Johnson.
Language of Material:
English .
The collection comprises 12 reels of original 16mm home movies of rice and almond farming
in Colusa and Yolo counties, California, from the mid 1940s though to 1964. The silent films
show Elmer Johnson and farm workers on the Johnson's rice farm and almond orchards in the
Central Valley and document farming activities including planting, harvesting, fertilizing
and cropdusting, as well as the almond orchards in full bloom. The films also include
footage of Elmer Johnson and his wife, Vivienne, and their son Edward at the family home and
enjoying various recreational activities. The majority of the films were taken by Vivienne
Johnson. Along with the films is a typewritten family history by Elmer and Vivienne's son,
Edward Johnson.
Reels 1, 2, 3 and 5 and 7 and 9 mostly comprise footage of the Johnson family at home or on
vacation enjoying various recreational activities, including road trips to Utah and
Wyoming.
Reel 4 shows the rice fields flooded with water for planting, and a crop duster flying over
the rice fields to drop the germinated rice seed. Reel 4 also shows rice being harvested
with a reaper, and bags of sown rice stacked and ready for transport. The reel depicts rice
transported via a pipe above a platform on the left side of the harvester, and the bottom of
the pipe is shaped like an inverted "Y" with a lever that can direct the rice down one side
or another. A burlap bag is attached on the side for filling. Once the bag is full, it
slides down to the ground where it is picked up.
Reel 6 shows an almond orchard, farm machinery, aerial footage, and Vivienne Johnson
getting into the family's new 1947 Buick Roadmaster.
Reel 8 shows rice farming, including Elmer Johnson wading through the rice fields as water
is pumped in from the canal to flood the rice fields. Later footage shows rice as it is
harvested and loaded onto a truck by conveyor belt. Also depicted is the seeding of rice by
plane. Reel 8 also includes footage of the almond trees in bloom, as well as farm workers
harvesting almonds by hand. When the almonds are ready to be harvested, a low wagon is
driven up to each tree and a large tarp placed around the base of the tree. Workers use axe
handles with tire tread wrapped around the end to knock tree trunks and shake nuts loose and
onto the tarp. Almonds are then gathered and loaded with shovels into sacks. This reel shows
filled sacks stacked on top of each other ready for transport.
Reel 10 includes footage of the rice harvest in 1964 showing workers using combines to reap
and thresh the rice, as well as the transportation and storage of the rice in large, metal,
grain bins.
Reel 11 is from the fall of 1964 and shows the rice harvest.
Reel 12 shows aerial footage of farmland and crops.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edward Johnson, 2021.
Elmer Johnson was the son of Swen John Johnson and Elise Pearson, Swedish immigrants who
came to the US with their parents as young children. After WWI, the Johnsons, along with
Elmer and his three young siblings, moved from Minnesota to California's Central Valley,
where they purchased about 55 acres of farmland on Mumma Road near Arbuckle in Colusa
County.
The Johnsons first planted grapes to be used for raisins and also apricots, neither of
which proved profitable. They then planted almond trees, turning the land into an orchard
and raising Texas, Nonpareils, and IXL almonds. Elmer grew up on the farm and as an adult
became a farmer. He bought 80 acres of land near Dunnigan in Yolo County, just a few miles
from the family's original almond orchard. He also rented about 1000 acres of rice land from
a local family east of Dunnigan on Road Seven.
In 1938 Elmer married Vivienne Peterson from Eagle Bend, Minnesota. From the latter part of
the 1940's to 1964, Vivienne used a Keystone camera to take 16mm Kodachrome home movies of
their farm. The films document farming practices, and the use of labor and machinery in
California's main agricultural region over a twenty-year period for both rice and almond
farming, including planting, harvesting, fertilizing, and aerial seeding.
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the
Johnson family were transferred to the California Historical Society (CHS) in October 2021
by Ed Johnson. Reproduction or publication of materials in this collection beyond that
allowed by fair use requires the written permission of CHS. Please contact
rights@calhist.org.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The film reels were digitized in 2023 by California Revealed and digitized copies are
available to stream on California Revealed's website.
Due to the fragile nature of the format, access to the original film reels is restricted.
Researchers must use digital copies that are available on California Revealed's website.
https://californiarevealed.org/partner/california-historical-society
[Identification of item, date]; Elmer and Vivienne Johnson collection of farming home
movies, 1945-1964, MP 002; [reel number]; California Historical Society.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Farmers -- California
Agriculture -- California
Rice -- California
Agricultural laborers -- California
Rice farming -- California
Agriculture--California--Yolo County.
Agriculture -- California -- Colusa County
Family vacations
Amateur films.