Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State
University
Special Collections and Archives Johnston Memorial Library P.O. Box 9406 Virginia State University Petersburg, Virginia 23806 USA Phone: (804) 524-5582 Fax: (804) 524-6959 Email: refdesk@vsu.edu URL: https://library.vsu.edu/
A Guide to the Records of James Hugo Johnston Sr.,
Accession # VSU-RG 2/2, Special Collections and Archives,
Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University,
Petersburg, VA.
James Hugo Johnston Sr. was born in Richmond, Virginia,
July 29th, 1858. Not much is known about his parents. He
graduated from the Richmond Normal School in Richmond, in
1876, and that fall he was elected a teacher in the public
schools of his native city. He began in the lowest grade of
the system and made his way upward until he was elected
principal of the Baker Street group of schools, having twelve
teachers under him.
in 1886, Governer Fitzhugh Lee, appointed him a member of
the Board of visitors of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate
Institute. He was also elected Secretary of the Board because
of his record as Principal of the Baker Street School in
Richmond. Mr. Johnston would also take charge of Virginia
Normal and Collegiate Institute, as President, January 1,
1888. Under his administration a three year course of study
was approved by the State Superintendent and began in the
Institute in June 1889.
In addition to serving as President, he was professor of
philosophy, and Political Economy. It was in recognition if
his ability and worth that Shaw University, at its
commencement held on May 23, 1889, conferred on him the degree
of A.M.; and, in 1892, the Ph.D.
James Hugo Johnston Sr.'s administration was full of
controversy. During his administration the state of Virginia
pressured the University to adopt a style of education modeled
after Hampton. The correspondence reflects Johnston's day to
day activities as president of the University as well as some
correspondence with leaders of the local black community.
Additional information concerning James Hugo Johston's term as
President may also be found in the James Hugo Johnston Papers
acc# 1963-9 located at Virginia State University.