<!-- ************************************************ * Using {{R|Ref}} style for readability. * * References at the end under {{reflist|refs=}}* * Please continue using this style * ************************************************ --> {{Short description|American archaeologist (1905-1967)}} {{Infobox person | name = Jotham Johnson | image = Jotham Johnson.jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_date = October 21, 1905 | birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, US | death_date = {{Death date and age|1967|02|08|1905|10|21|mf=y}} | death_place = New York City, US | alma_mater = Princeton University BA (1926), University of Pennsylvania PhD in Greek (1926) | occupation = Archaeologist, author, professor | years_active = 1926-1967 | known_for = Mediterranean archaeology and calendars | notable_works = }} '''Jotham Johnson''' (October 21, 1905 – February 8, 1967) was an American classical archaeologist in Mediterranean archaeology. He was educated at Princeton University (1926) and the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his doctorate in 1931. He taught at the University of Pittsburgh and then joined the faculty of New York University. He was the chairman of classics at the time of his death.
He was involved in archaeological fieldwork at the site of Dura Europos in Syria. Later, he became involved in the excavations at the site of Minturnae in Italy, under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania. Johnson conducted fieldwork at Aphrodisias in the early 1960s. In 1961, he became president of the Archaeological Institute of America, where he served until 1964. Johnson was also the first editor of the Institute's magazine ''Archaeology''. ==Early life and education== Jotham Johnson was born October 21, 1905 in Newark, New Jersey to physician Jotham Clarke Johnson and Edith Jennette Compson Johnson.{{R|proof of parents}} Older sister Katharine (born 1896) was an editor for ''Vogue magazine'' in Paris and then "special writer" for ''Look Magazine'' until just before she died in 1955.{{R|Katharine}}
Johnson graduated from Princeton University in 1926 and transferred to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and became a fellow in 1927.{{R|NYT Obit}} He received his PhD in Greek from the University of Pennsylvania.{{R|phd in greek}} and was "field director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum excavations at Minturno, Italy" from 1931 to 1934.{{R|Bristol}} He served in the Mediterranean "as a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve in 1942-45".{{R|NYT Obit}}{{R|WWII}} ==Career== In 1946, Johnson became a professor at New York University and was "named chairman of the classics department in 1948 ... and of the entire university in 1958". In 1951-1952, he became the Norton Lecturer and "was a research scholar at the University of Rome." He served as the President of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) from 1961-1964.{{R|phd in greek}}{{R|Former Presidents}}
Johnson produced a CBS three-day-a-week show for a New York audience called "Sunrise Semester - Classical Civilization - Mediterranean Archaeology" in 1961.{{R|Erie}} Also, he was host of the West German television program "Footsteps to the Past".{{R|phd in greek}} ==Archaeologist== His expertise was Mediterranean archaeology and primitive time-reckoning.{{R|Bristol}} With the use of the planetarium in Pittsburgh in 1940, he was able to work out the precise date that the ancient Egyptians used as their starting date of their calendar, June 18, 3,251 B.C.E..{{R|Sterling}} He ruined plans for Columbia University in 1956 who had been planning the 2,000th anniversary of the Ides of March when he notified them that it would only be the 1,999th anniversary as "'March 15, 1 B.C. to March 15 1 A.D. equals one year', he pointed out that there was no zero year."{{R|NYT Obit}}
The University of Pennsylvania Museum, led by Johnson, excavated Minturnae and collected over "100 pieces of sculpture" from 1931-1933. The majority of the sculptures were left in Italy, where "many were misplaced or lost in the course of World War II."{{R|Romano book}}
Discovered scratched into a plaster wall of a private home in Dura-Europos Johnson found a sketch of the zodiac and words in Greek. He managed to read that this was the horoscope of an infant child provided by an astrologer based on the date of birth of the baby. When Johnson returned to Yale, he took his work to the astronomy department, which used the sketches of the planets and determined that the child had been born July 3, 176 C.E. at about 10pm.{{R|Bertman book}}
Johnson believed that because of looting, "[T]he greatest archeological discovers ... will be made underwater". Although many shipwrecks held common cargoes of amphora jugs, occasionally a ship "had a cargo of some of the finest marble and bronze statuary of the ancient world, bound for the villas and public buildings of Rome. ... They await us in almost mint condition."{{R|Sunken}} [[File:Dura-Europos archival photograph, YUAG negative number dura-e2~01 -object-id-12171.jpg|thumb|Dura-Europos unknown year - Jotham Johnson (second from left standing) with Henry F. Pearson (standing holding kitten) and Clark Hopkins (sitting without kitten)]]
==Works== Served as a editor for ''New Century Classical Handbook'', ''Classical Weekly'', ''Archaeological Newsletter'', ''Archaeology'' and ''Horizon''.{{R|Bristol}} *[dissertation] ''Dura studies'' (Roma, Tip. ditta f.lli Pallotta, 1931). * 1935. ''Excavations at Minturnae.'' Philadelphia: University Museum by the University of Pennsylvania Press. * 1933. ''Excavations at Minturnae, II. Inscriptions, Part I, Republican Magistri.'' Philadelphia: University Museum by the University of Pennsylvania Press.[https://books.google.com/books?id=suQ_AAAAYAAJ] ==Professional organizations and associations== * American Philological Association (APA){{R|Bristol}} * Classical Association of the Atlantic States{{R|Bristol}} * New York Classical Club{{R|Bristol}} * Vergilian Society{{R|Bristol}} ==Personal life== Johnson was married to Sarah Jean Coates in 1941, and they had one child, Jotham Johnson Jr., who died in 2022.{{R|Obit for son}}{{R|wedding of parents}}
From 1954-56, Johnson wrote a personal column called "For the Record," which was published in many publications across the United States. Some articles were about archaeology news, his opinion of the future of archaeology,{{R|sea floor}} stories he had heard,{{R|Italians}} politics{{R|cartoon}}{{R|Handouts}} and often his belief that college campuses should challenge the students' opinions they brought with them as Freshmen.{{R|colleges ban}} Free discussion of topics and unpopular opinions should be offered. He encouraged professors to take an opposite opinion of a subject during a discussion, "the more feelings they hurt, the longer the discussions will be remembered", and "If a college education stands for anything, it means that the graduate has been taught to do his own thinking and to reject canned or predigested ideas."{{R|professors and politicos}}
Johnson died of a heart attack during a meeting of department heads on Washington Square. He was 61 years old.{{R|NYT Obit}}
Four generations of Johnson men graduated from Princeton University, starting with Jotham Clarke Johnson M.D., class of 1879, Jotham Johnson, class of 1926, son Jotham Johnson Jr, class of 1964, and Jotham Thomas Johnson in the class of 2000.{{R|Obit for son}} ==References== <references>
<ref name="NYT Obit">{{cite web |title=Prof. Jotham Johnson, 61, Dies; Chairman of Classics at N.Y.U. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/02/09/archives/prof-jotham-johnson-61-dies-chairman-of-classics-at-nyu.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=28 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610181540/https://www.nytimes.com/1967/02/09/archives/prof-jotham-johnson-61-dies-chairman-of-classics-at-nyu.html |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |page=39 |language=English |date=February 9, 1967}}</ref>
<ref name="Sterling">{{cite book |last1=Sterling |first1=Guy G. |authorlink=Guy Sterling|title=The Famous, The Familiar and the Forgotten: 350 Notable Newarkers |date=2014 |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |page=67 |isbn=978-1-4990-7990-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=laWQBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA78 |access-date=28 April 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="Romano book">{{cite book |last1=Romano |first1=Irene Bald |title=Classical Sculpture: Catalogue of the Cypriot, Greek, and Roman Stone Sculpture in the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology |date=2011 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=9781934536292 |page=162 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ta04lu10P0YC&q=Jotham+Johnson+&pg=PA162 |access-date=28 April 2025 |language=English |chapter=Sculpture from Colonia Minturnae (83-90)}}</ref>
<ref name="Bertman book">{{cite book |last1=Bertman |first1=Stephen |title=Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia Facts on File Library of world history World history |date=July 14, 2005 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=9780195183641 |page=171 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1C4NKp4zgIQC&q=Johnson&pg=PA171 |access-date=28 April 2025 |language=English}}</ref>
<ref name="Obit for son">{{cite web |title=Jotham Johnson Obituary |url=https://www.matherhodge.com/obituaries/Jotham-Johnson?obId=27304821 |website=mttherlodge.com |publisher=The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home |access-date=29 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916153359/https://www.matherhodge.com/obituaries/Jotham-Johnson?obId=27304821 |archive-date=September 16, 2024 |language=English |date=2022}}</ref>
<ref name="wedding of parents">{{cite news |title=Pitt Faculty Member Weds Sarah J. Coates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-marriage-of-coat/171317673/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=September 9, 1941 |page=12 |language=English |quote=is a daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. George Rollings Coates of Penn avenue, and is a graduate of Ursuline Academy and the Georgetown Visitation Convent, Washington D. C.}}</ref>
<ref name="proof of parents">{{cite web |title=Certificate of Marriage |url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9279/records/116680941 |website=ancestry.com |publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia |access-date=29 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429030351/https://www.ancestry.com/offers/join?dbid=9279&gsfn&gsln&h=116680941&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ancestry.com%2Fdiscoveryui-content%2Fsearch%2Fcollections%2F9279%2Frecords%2F116680941 |archive-date=29 April 2025 |language=English |date=August 16, 1941}}</ref>
<ref name="phd in greek">{{cite news |title=Famed Archaeologist Slates Talk at A&M |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bryan-college-station-eagle-jotham-johns/171312401/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |publisher=Bryan-College Station Engle |date=December 1, 1964 |page=8 |language=English}}</ref>
<ref name="WWII">{{cite news |title=Application for World War II Compensation - to be used by Honorably Discharged Veteran or Person still in Service |access-date= |agency=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |publisher=ancestry.com |date=May 11, 1950}}</ref>
<ref name="professors and politicos">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jotham |title=Professors and Politicos |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/buffalo-courier-express-for-the-record-c/171312723/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=Buffalo Courier Express |date=May 16, 1955 |page=16 |language=English}}</ref>
<ref name="colleges ban">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jotham |title=Should Colleges Ban Conservative Studies? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ledger-star-1956-jotham-johnson-for-the/171313373/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=Ledger-Dispatch and Star |date=January 20, 1956 |page=5 |language=English}}</ref>
<ref name="sea floor">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jotham |title=Mediterranean Sea Floor Yields Historical Data |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-for-the-record-by-jot/171311536/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=The Ann Arbor News |date=December 10, 1954 |page=4 |language=English}}</ref>
<ref name="cartoon">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jotham |title=Nixon Upsets Leftists by Stand on Cartoon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-the-flint-journal-1955/171311780/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=The Flint Journal |date=September 29, 1955 |page=33 |language=English}}</ref>
<ref name="Italians">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jotham |title=Italians Find American Prosperity Incredible |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-jotham-johnson-tells/171311314/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=The Ann Arbor News |date=June 13, 1955 |page=4 |language=English}}</ref>
<ref name="Handouts">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jotham |title=Federal Handouts Could be Useful |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-world-news-what-jotham-johnson-would/171321943/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=The World-News |date=May 4, 1962 |location=Roanoke, Virginia |page=7 |language=English |quote=Well, as one taxpayer who has no desire for a cabin cruiser and who would not spend a vacation in Cuba if you paid me, I have complied for the White House my own list of handouts ... a new roof on the house ... a new portable typewriter ... an efficient desk ... a tape recorder ...}}</ref>
<ref name="Former Presidents">{{cite web |title=Former Presidents of the AIA |url=https://www.archaeological.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Former-Presidents-of-the-AIA-rev.-Jan-2021.pdf |website=archaeological.org |publisher=Archaeological |access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="Erie">{{cite news |title=Institute Head Scheduled to Speak in Erie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lake-shore-visitor-1961-photo-of-jotham/171312959/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=Lake Shore Visitor |date=April 7, 1961 |page=16}}</ref>
<ref name="Bristol">{{cite news |title=Classical Archaeologist To Visit King This Week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-photo-of-jotham-j/171312891/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=Bristol Herald Courier |date=February 28, 1965 |page=6}}</ref>
<ref name="Sunken">{{cite news |title=New York Professor Sees Big Future for Archeology in Sunken Art Treasure Recovery |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian-the-oregonian-1966-jotham/171312215/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=The Oregonian |date=March 4, 1966 |page=16}}</ref>
<ref name="Katharine">{{cite news |title=Katherine Johnson, Magazine Writer, 59 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-evening-star-may-12-1955-k/171388733/ |access-date=30 April 2025 |agency=newspapers.com |publisher=Evening Star |date=May 12, 1955 |page=38 |language=English}}</ref>
</references>
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Jotham}}
Category:1905 births Category:1967 deaths Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni Category:American classical archaeologists Category:New York University faculty Category:University of Pittsburgh faculty Category:Princeton University alumni Category:20th-century American archaeologists Category:Presidents of the Archaeological Institute of America