Washington District of Columbia
Biographies

Frances Benjamin Johnston
(1864 - 1952 )
Furnished by : John Sharp

Frances Benjamin Johnston
in her office
circa 1900.


Frances Benjamin Johnston in her office circa 1900.

Frances Benjamin Johnston
on the balcony of the Treasury Building
dated 1888.

Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952)
born in Grafton Virginia but was a resident of Washington DC for most of her long life. Johnston was an early photo-journalist and a noted freelance photographer; she was one of the first American women to achieve prominence as a photographer. Trained at the Académie Julian in Paris, she studied photography upon her return to Washington, D.C., in the mid-1880 and opened a professional studio circa 1890. Her family's social position gave Miss Johnston access to the First Family and leading Washington political figures and launched her career as a photojournalist and portrait photographer. One of her scoops as a correspondent for the Bain News Service was to board Admiral Dewey's flagship with a letter of introduction from Theodore Roosevelt and interview the "Hero of Manila Bay" en route from the Philippines. Johnston's documentary work was exemplary and included a renowned series of photographs commissioned by Booker T. Washington for the Hampton Institute in 1899 and the Tuskegee Institute in 1906. While she specialized in the photos of the powerful and elite she also on occasion did scenes of workers and working class life about 1905 she did a remarkable series of photographs depicting mechanics and laborers at work at the Naval Gun Factory.
Today the Library of Congress is the principal repository of the writings and photographs of Frances Benjamin Johnston. She was one of the first contributors to the Library's Pictorial Archives of Early American Architecture and executed a systematic survey of southern architecture with the support of the Carnegie Corporation.

	Frances Benjamin Johnston on the balcony of the Treasury Building dated 1888.
Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952) born in Grafton Virginia but was a resident of Washington DC for most of her long life. Johnston was an early photo-journalist and a noted freelance photographer; she was one of the first American women to achieve prominence as a photographer. Trained at the Académie Julian in Paris, she studied photography upon her return to Washington, D.C., in the mid-1880 and opened a professional studio circa 1890. Her family's social position gave Miss Johnston access to the First Family and leading Washington political figures and launched her career as a photojournalist and portrait photographer. One of her scoops as a correspondent for the Bain News Service was to board Admiral Dewey's flagship with a letter of introduction from Theodore Roosevelt and interview the "Hero of Manila Bay" en route from the Philippines. Johnston's documentary work was exemplary and included a renowned series of photographs commissioned by Booker T. Washington for the Hampton Institute in 1899 and the Tuskegee Institute in 1906. While she specialized in the photos of the powerful and elite she also on occasion did scenes of workers and working class life about 1905 she did a remarkable series of photographs depicting mechanics and laborers at work at the Naval Gun Factory. Today the Library of Congress is the principal repository of the writings and photographs of Frances Benjamin Johnston. She was one of the first contributors to the Library's Pictorial Archives of Early American Architecture and executed a systematic survey of southern architecture with the support of the Carnegie Corporation.

Photographs by : Frances Benjamin Johnston
All of these photos are from the Library of Congress

This 1898 photo shows a
group of African American children on
a field trip to the Library of Congress. Photo is of
Washington DC school children
about 1900.

One of Frances Benjamin Johnston's society portraits.
This photo is of Theodore Roosevelt's daughter,
the beautiful and witty Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
This photo was taken in 1902 in the White House Garden.

This photograph was taken at the Naval Gun Factory by Frances Benjamin Johnston about 1905 most likely for the Bain News Service.
This photo was done as part of her series on work and workers at the Naval Gun Factory. Her photo shows Naval Gun Factory workers putting the finishing touches to guns used by naval landing parties.
The older man in the photo is probably Leadingman, Machinist George S. Stewart, born September 1, 1851 he first worked at NGF on November 10, 1869.
The other individuals in this photo are mostly likely apprentices. Naval Gun Factory (till its closing in 1962) had an extensive apprenticeship program.
This Naval Gun Factory apprenticeship program turned out some of the most highly trained machinist's in the world.
Naval Gun Factory apprentices received both on the job and class room instruction but key to the whole training effort was men like George Stewart who loved their work and enjoyed passing on their trade knowledge to the next generation. Steward worked at Naval Gun Factory for over fifty years retiring in 1920.
Portait of an
Naval Gun Factory Mechanic and Apprentice
1905.

The above information is from:
Library of Congress, Photographic Archive the Frances B. Johnston Collection,
      National Archives and Records Administration, Civilian Records,
     Official Personnel Folder for George S. Steward
and
The Washington Navy Yard An Illustrated History
      by Edward J Marolda published Naval Historical Center 1999

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Photographs by : Frances Benjamin Johnston All of these photos are from the Library of Congress

This 1898 photo shows a group of African American children on a field trip to the Library of Congress.		Photo is of Washington DC school children about 1900.


One of Frances Benjamin Johnston's society portraits. This photo is of Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, the beautiful and witty Alice Roosevelt Longworth. This photo was taken in 1902 in the White House Garden.


This photograph was taken at the Naval Gun Factory by Frances Benjamin Johnston about 1905 most likely for the Bain News Service. This photo was done as part of her series on work and workers at the Naval Gun Factory. Her photo shows Naval Gun Factory workers putting the finishing touches to guns used by naval landing parties. The older man in the photo is probably Leadingman, Machinist George S. Stewart, born September 1, 1851 he first worked at NGF on November 10, 1869. The other individuals in this photo are mostly likely apprentices. Naval Gun Factory (till its closing in 1962) had an extensive apprenticeship program. This Naval Gun Factory apprenticeship program turned out some of the most highly trained machinist's in the world. Naval Gun Factory apprentices received both on the job and class room instruction but key to the whole training effort was men like George Stewart who loved their work and enjoyed passing on their trade knowledge to the next generation. Steward worked at Naval Gun Factory for over fifty years retiring in 1920.		Portait of an Naval Gun Factory Mechanic and Apprentice 1905.

The above information is from: Library of Congress, Photographic Archive the Frances B. Johnston Collection, National Archives and Records Administration, Civilian Records, Official Personnel Folder for George S. Steward and The Washington Navy Yard An Illustrated History by Edward J Marolda published Naval Historical Center 1999

Washington District of ColumbiaBiographies

Washington District of Columbia
Biographies