Johnson, Osa, 1894-1953

Exist Dates

1894 - 1953

Biographical or Historical Note

Film maker

Osa Leighty Johnson met her future husband at the age of sixteen, married him a month later, and helped him with his tour of his first film, South Sea Island Adventures. After the five African expeditions, the Johnsons made an expedtion to Borneo, 1935-1936, and planned a new lecture tour with their resulting film. Their plane crashed on January 13, 1937, killing Martin Johnson. Osa survived to complete the planned tour in a wheel chair. She later published two books about her life with Martin Johnson, made silent lecture films and narrated a TV series. She died on January 7, 1953

Sources

Library of Congress Name Authority File

From biographical note for Johnson's archive collection at the AMNH Library, Mss .J63-.J65, written by Ann Herendeen.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History. Akeley Hall of African Mammals.
With Martin Johnson took photographs which served as reference for habitat groups. Also gifted specimens to the Museum for the Akeley Hall.

spouseOf

Johnson, Martin, 1884-1937

Related Resources

Martin Johnson papers, (bulk 1923-1937)
Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Mss .J63-.J65

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