Guide to the Records of Camp Johnson (Beaver County, Pa.), 1939-1995
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Records of Camp Johnson (Beaver County, Pa.)
- Creator
- Wray, Wendell
- Collection Number
- MSS#229
- Extent
- .25 cubic feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1939-1995
- Abstract
- Camp Johnson was the first camp for African American children in the Pittsburgh area, and at the time of its establishment, one of first in the country. Camp Johnson was named after the first African American executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), James Weldon Johnson. These records include minutes, publications, histories, photographs and other miscellaneous materials documenting both the history of the camp and subsequent reunions in 1984 and 1995.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Historical Sketch of Camp Johnson (Beaver County)
Camp Johnson was the first camp for African American children in the Pittsburgh area, and at the time of its establishment, one of first in the country. Camp Johnson was named after the first African American executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), James Weldon Johnson. The camp was situated on 150 acres of Raccoon Creek State Park in southern Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Camp Johnson was open during the summers from 1939 until 1967. The initial contribution to start the camp was made by Pittsburgh Courier Editor Robert L. Vann in the amount of sixty dollars. The first director of the camp was Urban League's Recreation Secretary Edwin C. "Uncle Bill" Berry from 1939-1944. Other directors included Dr. Ruby B. "Robin" Pernell, and John M. "Bud" Holt. The camp focused on teaching African American history and providing role models for the campers. The counselors were all African American college students who sought to promote a drive for higher education amongst the campers. Among campers at Camp Johnson was Dr. Marcus Allen, who published a book of his camp memories. The camp closed in 1967 when summer camps became integrated and the need for camps specifically for African-American children waned.
In 1995, Wendell Wray organized reunion of camp alumni (former campers and employees of the camp). Mr. Wray is Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh and is an alumnus of the camp. The 1995 reunion was the second held for participants of the Camp, the first being in 1984. The 1995 reunion was held at the Marriott Hotel in Greentree (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania and at the site of the camp.
Scope and Content Notes
These records include minutes, publications, histories, photographs and other miscellaneous materials documenting both the history of the camp and subsequent reunions in 1984 and 1995. Wendell Wray, through his work on these reunions, assembled these records. The historical materials includes a seven page history of the camp that outlines the start of the camp and includes the names of its directors, original flyers and a map of the Raccoon Creek area. The bulk of these records document Mr. Wray's work on organizing the reunion in 1995. The list of alumni includes participants, their addresses and, in a few cases, includes a brief biographical note with their favorite camp memories. Material on the Marriott Hotel includes promotional publications and financial documents related to the cost of the reunion. Reunion Planning materials include minutes of meetings from the committee that organized the 1995 reunion; ideas for events; form letters sent to alumni, and outlines of speeches on camp life that were written by Wendell Wray for the reunion. Programs for the 1995 reunion include the camp song, a newspaper article about the camp and a separate program for a memorial service that was held for those participants of the camp who had died. The Miscellaneous Materials include newspaper articles about the reunion, the camp itself, and of Wendell Wray's father, Arthur J. Wray. Other items include a photocopy of chapter eight in Daybreakers, a history of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, which refers to the camp, and a letter written by Margaret "Peg" Albert about the chapter with the pages relevant to the camp listed.
Arrangement
The Camp Johnson Records are housed in one archival box and are arranged alphabetically by folder title with miscellaneous materials arranged to the rear.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession in 1995.
Acc# 1995.0278 Gift of Wendell Wray, (Records. Mr. Wray was one of the organizers for the Camp Johnson reunion in 1995).
Preferred Citation
Records of Camp Johnson (Beaver County, Pa.), 1939-1995, MSS# 229, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Tanya Walls on Febrauary 14, 1996.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- NAACP
- Allen, Marcus
- Johnson, James Weldon
- Wray, Arthur J
- Wray, Wendell
- Beaver County (Pa.) -- African Americans
- Beaver County (Pa.) -- Recreation
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- African Americans
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Recreation
- Raccoon Creek State Park (Pa.)
- African Americans -- Recreation
- Camps and Camping -- Pennsylvania -- Beaver County